News updates written by CIWM’s commercial partners.
| EPIC Media |
EPIC Media’s Charity Golf Day Raises Over £1,500 for Blood Cancer UK
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| CRJ Services | The brand-new CRJ Hire-Hub is here! |
| WasteRecruit | 1st Green Skills Report 2025 released |
| Fleetclear | Smarter, Simpler, Swifter Vehicle Checks with Fleetclear Go |
| Beyondly |
Beyondly and Partners Show How Collaboration Cuts Recycling Contamination
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| Wood Recycler’s Association | WRA launches updated Fire Prevention Plan Guidance |
| Vision Techniques |
Vision Techniques return to Blackburn after a very successful RWM and ESS
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| VEV |
Driving the Future Together: VEV at Resource Waste Management Expo and the CIWM Fellows’ Lunch
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| Plan B | Growth of the Plan B Business Development Team |
| Contel |
Contel partners with Biffa to deliver game-changing data-connected bin technology for food waste collection
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| Greyparrot |
KSI Recycling boosts recovery rates by 10% with Greyparrot’s Analyzer AI
|
EPIC Media | EPIC Media’s Charity Golf Day Raises Over £1,500 for Blood Cancer UK
EPIC Media is proud to announce that its annual Charity Golf Day, held on Wednesday 3rd September 2025 at the Weald of Kent Golf Course, has raised £1,571 for Blood Cancer UK, with further donations still coming in.
Despite heavy rain at the start of the day, players and guests demonstrated remarkable spirit, ensuring the event was both memorable and impactful.
This year’s Golf Day was held in honour of two inspirational individuals:
- Nicola Welfare, EPIC Media’s General Manager, who was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Follicular Lymphoma in 2022 and has shown extraordinary courage throughout her treatment and remission journey.
- Paul Street, owner of the Weald of Kent and a long-standing friend of EPIC, who is proudly 17 years in remission from Hairy Cell Leukaemia and continues to be a tireless supporter of Blood Cancer UK.
Together, their stories highlight the vital importance of ongoing research, treatment, and support for those affected by blood cancer.
EPIC Media extends sincere thanks to everyone who attended and contributed, and in particular to those who generously donated prizes for the fundraising raffle, including:
- Paul Street, owner of the Weald of Kent Golf Club
- Fleetclear through Jason Maddern, Head of Municipal
Their support, along with the commitment of all players and attendees, helped make the event a resounding success.
Funds raised will go directly to Blood Cancer UK, supporting vital research and resources that bring hope to patients and families across the UK.
For those who wish to contribute, donations can still be made via EPIC Media’s fundraising page.
CRJ Services | The brand-new CRJ Hire-Hub is here!
From booking to delivery, CRJ have made it easier for you to hire heavy plant equipment across the UK and Ireland.
Whether you need machinery for short-term projects or long-term operations, the CRJ Hire Hub allows you our customer to find the perfect equipment with confidence. Navigating our online Hire Hub is effortless, with our extensive fleet organised into three dedicated categories from shredding, screening, and sorting.
Real-time calendars provide up-to-date availability, allowing you to plan and reserve slots securely. Our inventory features top-quality equipment from renowned brands, including slow-speed and high-speed shredders, trommel screeners, picking stations, deck screeners, water baths, and more. This streamlined approach helps you match the right machine to your job requirements without any hassle or delay.
Meet our Hire Controllers
At CRJ, we pride ourselves on delivering a seamless and reliable equipment hire experience. This new efficient process ensures you get the right machine, at the right time and at a competitive price, complete with full insurance confirmation for total peace of mind. Backed by over 25 years of expertise, our straightforward hire process is designed to save you time and reduce costs, with everything included and no hidden fees, typically within just five working days. Beyond the hire, we offer ongoing support and follow-up to guarantee long- term success with every piece of equipment you choose.
Meet Lucy Nicklin and AJ Atherton, our dedicated Hire Controllers. Backed by a team of seasoned professionals, they bring deep industry knowledge to help you get the right machine, at the right time, and at the right price.
Our streamlined hire process saves you time and resources while delivering top-quality shredders, chippers, and composters. From initial consultation to delivery and setup, every step is handled with precision and professionalism. Clients benefit from access to state-of- the-art machinery that guarantees optimal performance and reliability, no matter the size of your operation.
We don’t just stop at delivery. CRJ provides ongoing support and maintenance nationwide, with prompt mobile engineer services and regular check-ups to ensure smooth, uninterrupted operations. Our dedicated Hire Controllers, Lucy and AJ, are always on hand to assist, your trusted link to a seamless, effective hire experience. Start your hire journey by accessing the CRJ Hire Hub today!
WasteRecruit | 1st Green Skills Report 2025 released
Identifying green skills enabling growth in resource management.
Currently, there are more than 1661 waste management service businesses in the UK. It’s a sector that has experienced a 10,4% growth rate. These statistics show the prime potential that exists for resource management. However, selling waste solutions isn’t your average sales pitch.
Waste and recycling: It’s something most companies need more than they actually want to spend money on. Compliance, regulations and even public perceptions dictate that they do.
Growth opportunities need to be matched by green skills
While the benefits of waste management solutions may seem obvious, it takes more than talking about them to bring in contracts. Growth comes from investing in people with strong business development skills.
The challenge is that selling waste solutions is also nuanced. The sales approach changes depending on the customer, service, solution, industry or even area. There are no sales hacks for success, but there is a way to recruit people with the skills, attitudes and behaviour that indicate their potential for success.
The 1st Green Skills Report 2025, brought to you by WasteRecruit, highlights what’s unique about selling each type of waste solution, because each requires a different approach and skillset. The report draws from 30 years’ experience recruiting for the resource and renewable sectors and focuses specifically on sales and business development. It aims to give companies insight into what great sales people look like in terms of skills.
The 2nd and 3rd Green Skills Reports will be released in October 2025. These reports outline the behaviours, attitudes, and skills needed to be successful in different types of operations and compliance roles.
Combined, the reports cover the three critical aspects shaping the industry. Resource management has evolved, becoming instrumental in creating renewed value in supply chains and markets. There’s an opportunity to shape change and influence policy to help business transition towards a circular economy. Having key skills in place will make all the difference.
Green skills are more than a job description
While the term – green skills – is very broad, the reports narrow down the skills characteristics of top performers in each role. Consideration is also given to company culture, sector specifics and the complexities of formulating and managing specific waste solutions. Business development in Total Waste Management can look completely different to Food Waste Management or Industrial Services.
The Green Skills Reports highlight the value of industry experience in understanding which skills and behaviours need to be assessed for each role. An awareness of what these skills look like, in terms of high performance in successful candidates, also helps companies make informed hiring decisions, based on data, not just gut feel.
“When hiring a Hazardous Waste Business Development Manager, WasteRecruit’s industry knowledge, combined with a consultative approach, ensured that we found candidates who not only met the technical requirements but also aligned with key behaviours.” – Connor Benton, Technical Director, Go 4 Greener
The Green Skills Reports provide companies with insights in how green skills are defined based on attitude and approach to different work situations. Most companies have had the experience of someone looking great on paper, and not being able to deliver on sales targets.
The Green Skills Report is the guide to accurately defining green skills and understanding what great sales people look like, in terms of skills, to greatly improve hiring success. The reports are free to download. The first can be accessed here: 1st Green Skills Report 2025.
Fleetclear | Smarter, Simpler, Swifter Vehicle Checks with Fleetclear Go
Fleet operators can throw away their clipboards and save up to 35% of the time drivers spend on vehicle walkarounds, by switching to Fleetclear’s new vehicle check app – Fleetclear Go.
Fleetclear Go enables drivers to complete quick, efficient checks, report defects with photos and access key vehicle documents from their mobile device. It eliminates the need for paperwork, streamlines the inspection process, enhances safety, reduces the risk of non-compliance and helps to reduce operational costs. Savings of up to £34k per month per vehicle are achievable considering potential DVSA fines, maintenance costs and admin time.
Mike Crowther, Business Development Director, Fleetclear: “The benefits of Fleetclear Go are significant and it is proving very popular with customers. Drivers like it because they can complete their daily vehicle checks faster and more efficiently, recording either pass or fail responses for every aspect of the vehicle’s operations. Operators like it because they can make sure every vehicle is safe, roadworthy and compliant, minimise VOR time and avoid costly DVSA fines.”
The app can be configured for different vehicles or equipment types and customised depending on individual operational requirements.
Automated checks, alerts, real-time incident or defect capture, risk scoring and daily notifications provide valuable information to fleet managers, allowing any issues to be dealt with quickly before they impact productivity. An offline mode keeps everything running even when there is no signal. Customised inspection forms, pre-filled digital forms and auto-filled fields via optional telematics integration also help to eliminate 80% of the back-office admin burden.
A stand-alone app, Fleetclear Go can also be integrated with telematics data via the Fleetclear Connect platform for an all-in-one bird’s eye view of fleet operations.
Why Fleetclear? With over 15 years of expertise delivering credible solutions proven in the field, Fleetclear helps fleets operate safely, efficiently and responsibly. With fully qualified in-house engineers and leading after sales support and warranties, Fleetclear is your fleet safety partner.
Beyondly | Beyondly and Partners Show How Collaboration Cuts Recycling Contamination
Visitors to the recent Resource & Waste Management Expo at NEC Birmingham (17–18 September) may have caught Beyondly’s Charlotte Davies, CIWM Early Careers President, chairing a session showcasing Beyondly’s latest project with RECOUP and Preston City Council.
The session offered attendees an inside look at the project’s innovative approach and the real-world impact it’s already making, setting the stage for even greater achievements to come.
This project delivered a citywide recycling campaign under the Pledge2Recycle Plastics programme. The initiative tackled key barriers to effective recycling – such as contamination and confusion around plastics – through effective, targeted education and collaboration.
The campaign’s clear, consistent messaging allowed it to reach more than 265,000 residents, leading to a 13% drop in recycling contamination reports and a 19% reduction in material rejections at sorting facilities. Preston City Council also recorded an additional 11 tonnes of plastics, glass, and cans collected in 2024/25 compared with 2023/24, alongside fewer crew-reported contaminants such as general waste and plastic bags in recycling bins.
Councillor Freddie Bailey, Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety commented “The outcomes of this campaign are brilliant. Preston residents want to do the right thing when it comes to recycling, and this campaign helped make that easier. By combining local pride with practical information, we empowered people to recycle more and better.”
The campaign prioritised direct engagement with communities in Plungington, Deepdale and the City Centre, where housing types and language barriers present ongoing challenges, through school visits, supermarket events, and a dedicated recycling van at the city’s Flag Market. Surveys conducted during engagement revealed that while many residents want to recycle more, they often struggle with understanding what’s accepted and how to prepare materials properly.
Katherine Fleet, Head of Sustainability and Circularity at RECOUP commented, “Education remains a vital part of the recycling puzzle. By using visuals, clear messages, and trusted community channels, this campaign helped to reduce confusion and increase confidence in recycling.”
Beyondly, who supported delivery of the campaign as well as providing grant funding through their Fund for Change programme, also praised its impact and inclusive approach.
“At Beyondly, we’re proud to support initiatives that empower communities to make lasting environmental change,” said Charlotte Davies, Senior Consultant Resource Efficiency and Circularity at Beyondly. “This campaign in Preston is a fantastic example of how collaboration and clear communication can reduce contamination, increase recycling, and build a more sustainable future.”
Looking ahead, Preston City Council plans to build on the learnings from the campaign, including strengthening relationships with local schools, improving access to recycling for households without kerbside bins, and considering the needs of neurodiverse residents.
Building on the success of the recycling campaign, Beyondly is excited to apply to learnings and recommendations to future projects and campaigns continuing to work with industry leaders to drive meaningful change and embed sustainable practices. The company takes pride in working across the industry, with partners and associations alike, to drive initiatives that deliver measurable business results while keeping the planet at the heart of every decision. Adding to this achievement, the project has been nominated for Best Communications Campaign of the Year at the LARAC Awards.
To learn more about Beyondly’s work across partners and industry, please visit our website.
Wood Recycler’s Association | WRA launches updated Fire Prevention Plan Guidance
The Wood Recycler’s Association (WRA) has today (September 15) launched updated Guidance on Fire Prevention Plans (FPPs) for waste wood storage sites, drawing on the latest best practice in managing fire risk.
The update follows a sharp fall in fires at waste wood sites and an increase in bespoke permits being issued for wood recycling sites which are more flexible than standard FPPs.
Fire Prevention Plans are a requirement of any site operator with an environmental permit that receives combustible waste with the aim of minimising the likelihood of fire.
The updated Guidance – which has been reviewed by the Environment Agency – provides updates to the WRA’s 2020 Fire Prevention Plan Guide and details agreed alternative measures in Fire Prevention Plans for waste wood storage sites since 2019, based on recent trends, experience and learning.
It is hoped that the Guidance will help provide more flexibility on storage which can be a challenge for operators due to the seasonal nature of the waste wood market – with more waste wood produced in the summer and more demand in the winter – while further minimising fire risk.
Vicki Hughes, Technical Lead on the WRA Board, said: “We are delighted to launch this updated Guidance, which reflects our learning over the last 4-5 years. The risk of fires at waste storage sites is now significantly reduced, which is a result of increased professionalism in the industry.
“Obviously each site will have or need a permit and FPP which are site-specific so it is important to note that what works on one site, may not be applicable or work on another. However, by understanding best practice and learning as we go, the aim is to reduce the overall environmental impact of how we operate, whilst also providing first class recycling and recovery solutions.”
The Guidance sets out suggestions with regards to stack heights, storage duration, separation distance, fire detection, suppression systems and fire breaks.
It also offers recommendations things to consider when preparing a new FPP or applying for a permit and should be seen as an aid to operators, regulators and the Fire and Rescue Service to learn from best practices in the sector.
Peter Buckley, Senior Fire Adviser at the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency worked with the WRA on the original sector-specific Fire Prevention Plan Guide. Since the original Guide was developed, technology and practices have changed which allows a more creative approach to developing Fire Prevention Plans. This addition to the original Guide will be a useful reference for site operators and environment officers.”
The updated FPP Guidance can be viewed here.
Vision Techniques | Vision Techniques return to Blackburn after a very successful RWM and ESS
Commercial Vehicle Safety and Security specialists, Vision Techniques, have returned to their head office following a highly successful appearance at the Resource and Waste Management Expo (RWM) and Environmental Services and Solutions Expo (ESS).
The long established company returned to the NEC in Birmingham on September 17 and 18, engaging with both new and existing customers while showcasing their latest innovations in vehicle safety and hinting at exciting things potentially coming in the future.
A highlight of their stand this year was their VT Darts Competition, which proved to be a crowd favourite.
Attendees were invited to compete for the highest core using six darts, with the top scorer across both days winning a luxurious night away for two in the Cotswolds and a meal at The Farmers Dog, Jeremy Clarkson’s Proper British Pub.
The winning score of 163 secured the coveted prize.
Vision Techniques also proudly sponsored the wine bottle collars at this year’s CIWM Gala Dinner, where they ran a second competition for another overnight getaway.
Both winners have now been contacted and Vision Techniques wants to say a big thank you to all those who took part and to all those who they networked with.
Managing Director Dave Smith said: “What a brilliant expo! We loved returning to the RWM in September to network and reconnect with many of our customers, both existing and new.
“I had the chance to pop down on the Wednesday and it was great to walk around the expo and explore all the new innovations coming to the industry.
“I also enjoyed seeing everyone’s response to the darts competition – who doesn’t love Jeremy Clarkson.
“On behalf of myself and the team we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to stop and chat with us, we look forward to seeing you all again in the future.
“Congratulations to our competition winners too – well deserved!”
To find out more about Vision Techniques’ products go to: www.vision-techniques.com.
VEV | Driving the Future Together: VEV at Resource Waste Management Expo and the CIWM Fellows’ Lunch
RWM is always a milestone in the industry calendar – a place where the waste and resources sector come together to share ideas, showcase innovation, and collaborate on shaping the future.
This year, VEV was proud not only speak at RWM but also to sponsor the Chartered Institution of Waste Management (CIWM) Fellows’ Lunch, an afternoon planned to bring together leaders, experts, and changemakers from across the sector.
For VEV, the connection is a natural one. As a business dedicated to accelerating fleet electrification, we know that transformation only happens when people come together. The Fellows’ Lunch is about more than a meal – it is a forum where experience meets ambition, where conversations spark new collaborations, and where the industry can look forward with confidence.
The waste sector sits at the sharp end of the net zero challenge. For local authorities and operators alike, the electrification of refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) is becoming one of the most important levers for change. With noise, air quality, and cost all under the spotlight, the move to electric is no longer a question of if, but how fast and how well.
VEV’s role is to make that transition simple, scalable, and sustainable. Our end-to-end solutions span every element of the journey from initial analysis and grid upgrades through to charger installation, smart energy management, vehicle provision, and flexible financing. At the heart of this is VEV-IQ, our proprietary platform that connects vehicles, charging, energy, and infrastructure to give operators the insights they need to cut costs, optimise performance, and keep fleets on the road.
We’ve seen from our own projects how electrification can deliver real, tangible benefits today. Trials with waste operators have already demonstrated significant emissions reductions, quieter operations, and the potential for total cost of ownership (TCO) to undercut diesel equivalents when fleets are optimised correctly.
But electrification is not a journey any business takes alone. It demands collaboration between operators, technology providers, energy partners, regulators, and policy-makers. That’s why spaces like the CIWM Fellows’ Lunch matter. They provide an opportunity to step back from the day-to-day, to share learning, and to explore how together we can overcome challenges ranging from grid constraints to workforce engagement.
As CIWM Fellows gathered this year, the conversations were inspiring: How do we scale electrification across whole fleets? How do we ensure resilience in infrastructure? How can innovation in software, storage, and charging strategy accelerate the path to net zero?
VEV is proud to help facilitate these discussions. Because while technology and investment are essential, it is people – sharing knowledge, challenging assumptions, and building partnerships – who will ultimately drive the future of our industry.
Plan B | Growth of the Plan B Business Development Team
Plan B Management Solutions has recently strengthened its Business Development team that will be growing the company’s Managed Services business.
To support the growth of the Business Development team, Plan B has recently recruited three new staff members; Andy Peters as Head of Business Development and Joanna Dixon and Jayne Willis as Business Development Managers.
The Managed Services business provides full operational and back-office management of environmental services on behalf of local authorities covering three distinct areas:
- Outsourced Services Management – full management of waste and recycling collection, household recycling centres, transfer stations, grounds maintenance and street cleansing services on behalf of local authority clients.
- Interim Services Management – interim management of environmental services on behalf of local authority clients looking to introduce new services or transitioning between service delivery models.
- Direct Service Organisation (DSO) / Local Authority Trading Company (LATCo) Support – provision of specialist services to develop a tailored delivery model to support DSOs and LATCos with the direct delivery of their services.
Andy will provide leadership to the existing Business Development team and will develop and implement the Managed Services growth strategy in line with the company’s Vision 2030 plan. To achieve this, Andy will bring together a high-performing team that will produce compelling and successful bid submissions.
“The environmental services outsourced market has constricted over the last decade and the opportunity is ripe for a new entrant to the market.” says Andy. “I feel Plan B Management Solutions can take advantage of a gap in the market to deliver services that are flexible and customer focused that the large corporates often fail to provide.”
Joanna and Jayne will lead on new bids for the Managed Services contracts, strengthening Plan B’s presence in the industry. Jayne is no stranger to Plan B having worked for the company as a consultant over the recent years, supporting both the Consultancy and Managed Services sides of the business.
Joanna is driven by the huge potential she sees in innovative solutions to create real impact for local authorities. With her deep experience and passion for sustainability, Joanna is ideally placed to help clients in the local authority sector navigate a period of significant change.
“The agile approach demonstrated by Plan B means they are ideally placed to provide innovative solutions and make circular living more of a lived reality, and that’s something I really want to be a part of,” Joanna says.
Plan B is uniquely placed in a market which is often dominated by large corporates and brings the agile, innovative approach pioneered by the Consultancy side of the business to Managed Services.
This ensures the 250+ years of expertise within the Consultancy side of the business is available to support the design and development of services using best in class solutions which are truly tailored at the unique needs of each local authority.
Whether it’s managed services for local authority clients, materials marketing and sales or consultancy expertise, Plan B is ready to be your circular economy partner. Get in touch to find out more.
Contel | Contel partners with Biffa to deliver game-changing data-connected bin technology for food waste collection
Sensor equipped bins developed by Contel provide real-time participation data, empowering councils to improve recycling rates and optimise services.
Contel has announced the successful trial of its pioneering data-connected bin technology, developed in partnership with Biffa, to transform the way local authorities understand and manage household food waste collections.
The innovative solution is currently undergoing real-world testing on Biffa’s household waste collection rounds in Stratford District, South Warwickshire. The system uses industrial-grade sensors, engineered by Contel, to record real-time service participation data and bin location. This information is transmitted securely to the Contel Connected cloud platform, then forwarded for analysis by Biffa’s planning and insight team.
Steve Cole, Managing Director, Biffa Municipal, said:
“Local authorities will be able to procure the joint expertise of Biffa and Contel in a packaged solution to provide sampling and analysis, receiving detailed service intelligence and tailored reports to refine and evolve their service design.”
With an impressive 99.8% accuracy rate, the technology delivers granular, street-level insights without tracking individual households, ensuring privacy while enabling councils and operators to allocate resources more effectively.
The insights generated open up opportunities for targeted recycling campaigns in areas with lower engagement, helping councils boost participation and support the national push for more sustainable waste management.
Andy Kelly, Co-CEO & Founder of Contel Ltd, commented:
“The technology has been in development for nearly two years, overcoming the challenges posed by the tough everyday conditions of the waste industry. From extreme weather to constant vibrations and varied bin handling practices, the solution has been engineered to be both robust and resilient.”
The technology, while currently focused on food waste, has the potential to be adapted for other waste streams in the future. Contel and Biffa’s long-term vision is to deploy a rotating set of smart bins across waste rounds, enabling continuous data sampling. Local authorities will then be able to procure the joint expertise of both organisations as a packaged solution, providing detailed service intelligence and tailored reports to refine service design and improve sustainability.
Julie Lewis, Stratford District Council’s Head of Environmental & Neighbourhood Service, added:
“We welcome any innovation that provides deeper insight into how our residents engage with recycling services and the District Council is pleased to support the trial of this innovative food waste bin technology. Access to accurate data is key to improving recycling behaviours, enabling us to identify where support is needed and to deliver targeted education that helps residents recycle more effectively.”
Greyparrot | KSI Recycling boosts recovery rates by 10% with Greyparrot’s Analyzer AI
KSI Recycling have shared the results of a recent test conducted with Greyparrot’s Analyzer system in a new video, with Process Engineer Tjerk Wiersma explaining his methodology and the test’s impact on recovery rates.
KSI, one of the Netherlands’ largest recycling organisations, processes over 75,000 tonnes of plastic packaging each year.
The company isn’t just a recovery leader, though – it’s also at the forefront of AI deployment. As one of the earliest adopters of Greyparrot’s waste intelligence technology, KSI’s team has been able to experiment with process changes.
One recent test based on Greyparrot Analyzer data translated into a 10% increase to resource recovery and a measurable compliance boost.
Creating a fast, reliable feedback loop on facility performance
Wiersma helps drive process improvements at KSI. Traditionally, improving facility performance meant Wiersma would make a change, then wait on a slow and labour-intensive process to get the results.
“We would run an experiment maybe once a week, then wait one to three weeks for results,” Wiersma explained. **“We couldn’t run multiple tests at a time, because it would be too much material for the quality team to sample.”
AI has turned that process into a rapid feedback loop. While mandatory compliance sampling is still done by KSI’s staff, the Analyzer system has enabled Wiersma to automate non-mandatory tests to maximise facility performance:
“Now, we can do several tests in a single shift.” Wiersma said. “Instead of waiting for results or overloading our team, we get live data.”
How residue data led to a 10% recovery boost
Simple, AI-powered experiments can reveal major opportunities for performance improvements. KSI recently shared a striking example that came after testing the impact of cleaning sorting machinery.
KSI’s Netherlands facility faces penalties if recyclable materials (not including fibre) make up more than 25% of residue line material. Wiersma knew that sorting machinery was less effective when dirty, but didn’t have the data to make a business case for more frequent cleaning stoppages.
“We knew that performance would drop as sorting machines became more dirty — but not by how much, nor what time it was going to be dirty enough to have an effect,” he said. “We also didn’t know what kind of materials were making up the residue, so it was hard to tell whether we were over the 75% threshold for residue and fibre material before it was too late.”
Suspecting that dirty machinery could be contributing to lower recovery rates — and risking higher residue contamination — Wiersma conducted a test using live Analyzer data. His team was able to see the effect immediately:
In the morning, machinery was left uncleaned, and plastics such as PET and PP steadily increased in residue. After cleaning the machinery in the afternoon, performance rebounded instantly, pushing recyclable content back within regulatory thresholds.
“Before this, we were losing around 30% of our valuable commodities. Now, optimising based on data, we’re losing just 20% — and our residue composition is back within regulatory thresholds,” Wiersma said.
Adopting a data-led approach to facility performance
AI-powered performance testing is now a key enabler for Wiersma and his staff. His team can alter near-infrared (NIR) parameters or separator angles and immediately measure the impact, turning small changes into measurable efficiency gains.
“Before we had this technology, shift leaders had to make decisions on past experience,” said Wiersma. “Now, they have the power to make those decisions with facts. We gave them access to the data, and they started coming up with their own questions.”
Looking ahead, Wiersma sees AI waste analytics as a technology that will enhance his team’s expertise, rather than replace it. While AI is on track to automate certain adjustments, he believes there will always be a role for skilled operators.
“This technology will soon be able to make some of the decisions that an operator does,” he said. “But we use AI to help make the people we already work with even better, not just automate the picking process.”
The spread of waste intelligence
Greyparrot’s team have offered their perspective on these encouraging results from their Analyzer system.
“This is what waste intelligence is really about,” said Greyparrot COO Gaspard Duthilleul. Professionals like the team at KSI Recycling are using Greyparrot Analyzer to combine actionable analytics with their operational expertise, and drive real change. It’s a powerful demonstration that targeted improvements, unlocked by access to continuous and granular data, can have a huge impact on both performance and revenue.”
Greyparrot’s team have shared more results from Analyzer deployment at facilities across the UK, EU and USA on their website, and say that they are preparing to release a study on a major multinational AI installation in the coming weeks.