Greyparrot makes next-generation MRF material analyzer available

Greyparrot's next-generation Greyparrot Analyzer unit designed to inspect material recovery facility (MRF) streams is available.

The London-based firm says its new unit, which is positioned above conveyor belts in MRFs and uses cameras to capture images and produce data on material flows, is made of lightweight recyclable materials and uses 10 percent to 15 percent less energy than the previous model.

Greyparrot says its analyzer gives MRFs 100 percent visibility into the composition of materials passing underneath on conveyors in their facilities and has helped customers divert some 66,000 tons of recyclable material from landfills, incineration or the environment.

The unit transitions from a fully metal chassis to a lightweight polycarbonate unit with metal bracing and other recyclable materials. It achieves the majority” of its energy savings because of its new graphics processing unit (GPU), which Greyparrot says saves energy while in use.

“Recycling facilities need superpowers to identify and classify the value of their waste streams, and Greyparrot’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered waste analyzer does exactly that,” says Tony Fadell, Greyparrot backer, investor in Build Collective and inventor of the iPod and Nest. "It distinguishes the type of material, brand, size, mass, function, monetary value and emissions potential of each piece of our trash. Greyparrot turns trash into treasure accurately, quickly and cost-effectively.”

The launch also includes a rollout of a major software update for the Greyparrot Analyzer platform that is fully compatible with the current hardware version.

One update is a significant enhancement to the widely used alerts feature. Greyparrot Analyzer Alerts notify MRFs of dips in purity and other sudden changes in material composition via Greyparrot's Analyzer portal and via text message or email.

By identifying material composition shifts against set thresholds, the system alerts operators to quality issues and potential blockages, preventing escalations and reducing manual interventions, according to Greyparrot.

Greyparrot's next-generation analyzer is available for preorder and the software update is being rolled out to all customers.

“The launch of our latest waste analyzer is a huge leap forward for enhancing waste analytics, and we’re thrilled to have Tony aboard for this step in our mission,” says Ambarish Mitra, Greyparrot co-founder.

“We’ve certainly taken some inspiration from him in aiming to be the ‘Apple of the waste industry,’ with a product designed with both best-in-class hardware and software. By bringing this latest hardware and its corresponding software update to the market, we’re providing MRFs with a sleeker, more sustainable, and low-powered AI solution to increase global recycling rates. MRFs can now better unlock the financial value of their waste to support a transition to a more circular economy, which can keep our environment clean for generations to come.”

In the United States, more information about Greyparrot analyzers can be obtained from Connecticut-based technology provider Van Dyk Recycling Solutions.