A Diversys Deep Dive by Dejan Jovanovic, CTO
April 2025
The Problem: Why Waste Needs a Smarter Solution
Waste is growing at a staggering pace. By 2050, the world is expected to generate 3.4 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually—a 70% jump from 2016 (World Bank, 2018). Worse still, over 30% of that waste is mismanaged, ending up in dumps or unregulated landfills.
Traditional systems struggle to keep up. Landfills are overflowing, sorting is error-prone, and municipalities often spend up to 20% of their budgets on waste. Paper-based logs and inconsistent tracking make it nearly impossible to verify what really gets recycled.
Waste management urgently needs smarter, more accountable systems—and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is stepping in to help.
“Without accurate data, everything downstream is suspect.”
—Roger Barlow, Co-Founder, Diversys
Enter Diversys: Digitizing the Circular Economy
Diversys is a cloud-based digital platform designed to track, manage, and report waste and recycling activity. Our software ensures full chain-of-custody visibility, helping stakeholders comply with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws and meet sustainability goals.
But the next frontier is intelligence. That’s why we’re integrating AI into our platform to:
- Automate sorting and reporting
- Detect fraud and anomalies
- Optimize pickup routes
- Forecast waste trends
- Enhance transparency
AI doesn’t just make waste management easier. It makes it smarter, faster, and more trustworthy.
What AI Can Do for Waste Management
AI combines machine learning, computer vision, robotics, and natural language processing to automate complex tasks. In waste management, AI applications include:
- Smart Sorting at ScaleAI-powered robots in recycling plants use cameras and sensors to identify materials by type (e.g., PET plastic vs. aluminum) and sort them with precision.
- AMP Robotics claims a 50% increase in recovery rates for facilities using their systems (Forbes, 2024).
- In Japan, one city saw a 50% boost in sorting efficiency with AI-guided bots.
- Optimized Waste CollectionSensors inside smart bins notify collection teams when they’re nearly full. AI then generates dynamic routes that reduce fuel, time, and emissions.
- Cities using AI-powered routing have reported up to 36% reduction in driving distance and 13% lower collection costs.
- Predictive Analytics for PlanningAI analyzes historical trends to forecast future waste generation. Waste programs can use this insight to scale facilities, deploy resources, and anticipate seasonal changes.
- Fraud Detection and Quality ControlAI can flag unusual data patterns, such as a sudden spike in collected volume or discrepancies between expected and actual waste types.
- Image-based analysis detects contamination in real-time, preventing rejected loads and improving recycling purity.
- Large Language Models (LLMs)Chatbots powered by LLMs answer resident FAQs, summarize compliance data, and generate reports. They also help train staff and create community education content.
“AI is the brain. Blockchain is the memory. Together, they create trust and intelligence in recycling systems.”
Real-World Results: Global Case Studies
- Amsterdam uses AI to fine-tune waste collection frequency and bin placement city-wide.
- Toronto reduced overflow incidents by 90% during a smart bin AI pilot.
- Denver’s recycling plant improved recovery by 50% with AMP Robotics.
- Greyparrot in the UK helps recycling companies audit waste in real-time using AI cameras.
- Plastic Bank uses AI to direct community-level recycling incentives in developing countries.
These examples prove AI is adaptable across contexts and scales—urban or rural, developed or emerging markets.
How Diversys Will Use AI
We’re building AI directly into our platform to help stakeholders manage recycling programs with more precision and less guesswork. Five key areas of integration:
- Anomaly Detection & Fraud Prevention
AI will continuously scan load data for outliers—helping stop data manipulation before it spreads. - Route Optimization
Using GPS and fill level data, AI will dynamically adjust routes to reduce mileage and emissions. - Image Recognition & OCR
Uploaded load images will be scanned by AI to verify contents and flag contamination instantly. - Forecasting & Scenario Modeling
AI will project seasonal volume changes and simulate policy outcomes (e.g., “What happens if we add a deposit system?”). - Automated Compliance Reporting
AI will auto-generate reports that meet regulatory requirements and flag non-compliance.
Challenges to Watch
AI adoption is not without hurdles:
- Technical: Waste is messy. AI needs clean data and durable sensors.
- Cost: Hardware and system upgrades require capital. ROI takes time.
- Policy Gaps: Regulations need to catch up to AI’s capabilities.
- Workforce Shift: Roles will change. Training and upskilling are critical.
Still, these are solvable problems. Pilot programs, standardization, and public-private partnerships are key to scaling.
The Future Is Intelligent, Transparent, and Circular
AI will power next-gen waste systems:
- IoT Integration: Bins, trucks, and plants will talk to each other.
- Robotic Automation: Smarter robots will clean, sort, and even dismantle for reuse.
- Blockchain Integration: Immutable records will build trust and fight greenwashing.
- AI for Design: Manufacturers will use AI to create products that are easier to recycle.
The path forward blends technology with collaboration and values. AI provides the optimization; blockchain builds the trust; people set the purpose.
Let’s Build Smarter, Together
Diversys is more than a software company. We’re building the digital nervous system for a circular economy. By integrating AI into our platform, we’re giving regulators, producers, and recyclers the tools they need to:
- Track more accurately
- Plan more effectively
- Prove results with confidence
If you’re ready to transform waste into value—with clarity, compliance, and circularity—we’re ready to help.
