Robot Knows How To Sort, Recycle Plastic
Writing by Evan Ackerman on Wednesday, 3 of March , 2010 at 5:35 am
Despite the fact that plastics are used everywhere, especially in products which are intended to be disposable, the recycling rate for plastics compared to metal, paper, and glass is utterly abysmal. It’s at like 6%, which means that 94% of potentially recyclable plastics end up in landfills or the tummies of sea turtles. The problem, as you have probably noticed, is that it’s a gigantic pain in the butt to do the obligatory pre-recycle sort with plastics. Yeah, there are recycle numbers stamped on most plastic containers, but I’ll bet you didn’t know that plastics with the same number often can’t actually be recycled together. Basically, it’s a mess.
Mitsubishi Electric Engineering Corp and Osaka University are tackling this problem with a robot, as well they should, since we humans have proven ourselves to be absolutely no good at plastic recycling. As you might expect, the the robot has some capabilities that we don’t, namely five lasers of different wavelengths that can be used to determine the reflectivity index, and therefore composition, of most plastics. The robot will automatically sort plastics into six different types, which takes the hard work of manual identification out the whole plastic recycling process.
There aren’t any details on how much plastic one of these robots can sort through every day, but there is a commercial version in the works, which should be available (at some point) for around $55k. At that price, it’s not going to be resource neutral anytime soon, but at least it will make you feel better about your recycling habits. And the sea turtles will thank you.
[ Osaka University ] VIA [ Telegraph ]
Comments (15)
Category: Eco-Friendly,Industrial
- Add this post to
- Del.icio.us -
- Digg
Comment by Barrett Ames
Made Thursday, 4 of March , 2010 at 7:51 am
dangit another of my great ideas stolen and implemented by the japaneese…. they must be reading my mind or something.
Comment by aaron
Made Friday, 5 of March , 2010 at 10:17 am
I just found this related article on a new recycling robot. It is called the DustBot and rides around on a Segway piking up trash. Pretty cool! Now if we could just combine the two we would be set.
http://thegreenertruth.com/2010/03/recycling-robot-the-dustbot/
Comment by Hannah Hall
Made Wednesday, 28 of July , 2010 at 1:31 am
we should always think about recycling our waste products to help the environment.”";
Comment by Brenda Bagby
Made Saturday, 20 of November , 2010 at 7:50 am
I have just started trying to live a “green life”. Plastic recycling is a lot more complicated than it seems. This robot is a wonderful idea. I’ll bet the cost of training humans to do it effectively is probably not the most efficient way.
<a href=http://ezinearticles.com/Plastic-The Dark Knight of Recycling
Comment by Brenda Bagby
Made Saturday, 20 of November , 2010 at 8:06 am
Plastic recycling is one of the hardest ideas to comprehend. Robots are a wonderful answer. Training people is probably not the most cost effective answer right now.
Comment by Brenda Bagby
Made Saturday, 20 of November , 2010 at 8:08 am
I have just started trying to live a “green life”. Plastic recycling is a lot more complicated than it seems. This robot is a wonderful idea. The cost of training humans to do it effectively is probably not the most efficient way right now.
Comment by Samsung un46d6000
Made Thursday, 4 of August , 2011 at 12:01 am
Great goods from you, man. I have be aware your stuff prior to and you’re simply too magnificent. I really like what you have acquired right here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which wherein you say it. You’re making it entertaining and you continue to care for to stay it smart. I can’t wait to read much more from you. That is actually a terrific website.
Comment by Wei Houp
Made Tuesday, 6 of September , 2011 at 4:13 am
I’m just thankful for your support and in addition have high hopes you comprehend what a powerful job you’re getting into instructing some other people by way of a blog.
Comment by recycling plastic products
Made Monday, 3 of October , 2011 at 2:44 am
Thanks for sharing this! As an owner of a plastics recycling company, I am an avid supporter of anything that is recycled. green planet! I love the idea of machines helping us sort out our plastics. I use many of them (of course these are not for the average consumer, but they will be soon!) and they help up my efficency.
Comment by Actron CP9185
Made Monday, 7 of November , 2011 at 5:42 am
I read your article very much.
Actron CP9185
Comment by seo company brisbane
Made Thursday, 10 of November , 2011 at 3:01 am
Whoa! that post was quite helpful thanks.
Comment by north shore gutter cleaning
Made Wednesday, 23 of November , 2011 at 3:43 am
Good information you. Many thanks for sharing.
Comment by Gossi Tomi
Made Thursday, 24 of November , 2011 at 9:30 pm
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the blog post. I’ll certainly return. Gossi Tomi
Comment by best deal on womens ugg boots
Made Tuesday, 29 of November , 2011 at 7:19 pm
strongzz naturally like your web site but you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll surely come back again.
Comment by north shore gutter cleaning
Made Tuesday, 6 of December , 2011 at 8:40 am
nice posts and nice site Great post man! Continue the good work!
