10020954Plastic packaging, a complete recognition and monitoring system based on AI and fusing RGB-based computer vision with Near Infrared spectral Imaging (NIR SI)ClosedCollaborative R&DISCFBy 2040, c.3billion tons of waste will be produced globally, with plastic waste doubling to 430million tons. It is predicted that only 13% will be recycled due to inefficient, inaccurate (manual) auditing and processing, driven by a lack of data, thus inhibiting the effective sorting of waste. Sorters using Near InfraRed (NIR) cameras, in place today, provide a partial solution; however they are extremely expensive (£200k-£300k/unit), and technically limited (NIR vision is unable to differentiate all types of waste), meaning plastics packaging recovery/recycling rates are significantly lower than current UK Plastics Pact targets (c.50% in 2019, WRAP-2020 vs. 70%-target). To address the challenge, Greyparrot (GP) in collaboration with Blue Green Vision (BGV) are developing a hybrid waste recognition and monitoring system to complement and enhance NIR sorting machines, and tackle the lack of accurate data with a holistic approach. The system will combine Greyparrot's AI-based technology using RGB cameras (Red-Green-Blue i.e.human vision) with BGV's high-speed point-to-point NIR system (5-10x cheaper than current hyperspectral NIR cameras) to provide automated, cost-effective, accurate recognition of plastics waste (with transferability to all waste types) at-scale. Critically, the system will enable the identification of all types of material and packaging, e.g including black plastics or Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles with a Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) sleeve, not currently recognised/sorted by existing NIR systems. By providing accurate and real-time data required to improve processes in the plant, and integrating the proposed system to enhance sorting machines, the partners anticipate a conservative 5% increase in plastics recovery rates; making a significant contribution towards delivering the 3rd target of the UK Plastics Pact. The unique waste recognition and monitoring system will enable waste companies to accurately and comprehensively audit waste at-scale, critical to meeting strict Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation set to take effect in 2023,(with which samples will be required as often as every 8 tonnes against every 125 tonnes currently) providing greater accountability and increased recycling rates. This project will be a catalyst to deliver such a service. In addition, the system will support new approaches to carry out a global optimisation of entire plants instead of local optimisations in singular sorters, leading to better recovery rates in all waste categories and helping to build a stronger UK recycling system.