Amp Robotics partners with Waste Connections

Amp Robotics Corp. (Amp), a Denver-based creator of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics used to recover recyclables reclaimed as raw materials, has signed a long-term agreement with Waste Connections Inc. to deploy 24 AI-guided robotics systems.       

“We’re excited to partner with Amp to expand the deployment of state-of-the-art technology in our materials recovery facilities, furthering our sustainability initiatives and increasing returns,” says Worthing F. Jackman, president and CEO of Toronto-based Waste Connections. “Waste Connections is committed to expanding resource recovery capacity, and we believe Amp’s robotics systems align with our goals to enhance safety, increase productivity and improve recovered resource quality.”  

Amp’s technology recovers plastics, cardboard, paper, cans, cartons and many other containers and packaging types that can be reclaimed for raw material processing. For example, its AI platform identifies different types of plastics, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS), sorted further by color, clarity and opacity, along with different form factors—lids, tubs, clamshells, cups and more.

Amp’s technology can adapt to container packaging introduced into the recycling stream with recognition capabilities to the brand level—increasingly critical as demand for sufficient quantities of high-quality recycled material grows to meet consumer packaged goods companies’ commitment to use of postconsumer recycled content. 

“We’re thrilled to be supporting Waste Connections’ commitment to expanding resource recovery as we extend our efforts to modernize recycling operations and advance a more circular economy,” says Matanya Horowitz, founder and CEO of Amp Robotics. “To see such a robust expansion of our pipeline and mark this milestone in a year upended by COVID-19 is a testament to our industry-leading technology—and working with a visionary company like Waste Connections helps enable and strengthen an essential public service.”

Since the onset of COVID-19, businesses turned to automation to keep employees safe amid social distancing requirements, navigate ongoing labor shortages to remain operational, and adapt to spikes in residential volume and material types caused by abrupt shifts in consumer buying patterns.

Within the United States, Amp's footprint covers more than 20 states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin, in addition to those with forthcoming Waste Connections installations and other projects in development.