Suzanne Mitchison, Waste Services Director at Everflow, explains how AI can change the waste management landscape.
Every year, the UK generates more than 215 million tonnes of waste, and too much of it ends up in the wrong place – heading straight to landfill or incineration.
As local councils face budget constraints and landfill targets tighten, the question is clear: how can we handle our waste more efficiently and sustainably? AI holds great promise as a potential solution.
Often associated with self-driving cars and chatbots, AI is now stepping into one of society’s grittiest challenges: waste management.
With its ability to process massive amounts of data, automate complex tasks, and adapt in real-time, AI could be the key to unlocking a circular, low-emission future for the UK’s waste industry.
The potential of AI in the sector
Despite years of investment in recycling infrastructure and awareness campaigns, the UK still faces significant challenges in waste management.
Contamination rates in recycling streams remain high, often due to improper sorting or confusion about what belongs in which bin.
Manual sorting at material recovery facilities is time-consuming, labour-intensive, and prone to error.
Meanwhile, waste collection routes are often static, leading to unnecessary fuel consumption and emissions, collecting bins even when only half full.
The problem isn’t just inefficiency – it’s impact. Landfills contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and improperly disposed waste harms ecosystems and communities alike.
In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions from landfills in the UK totalled approximately 14.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent.
At the same time, we’re throwing away valuable materials that could otherwise be reused or recycled. It’s clear that the system is due for a technological leap.
How AI can transform the sector
AI offers several transformative tools that can make the waste lifecycle smarter — from bin to processing facility.
Smart sorting with computer vision
One of the most promising applications of AI lies in automated sorting. Using machine learning and computer vision, AI systems can identify and categorise mixed waste items on conveyor belts with remarkable accuracy.
The result? Cleaner recycling streams with less contamination and higher material recovery rates reduce the volume of waste going to landfill, driving down operational costs incurred from landfill fees.
Optimised collection routes
AI can also improve the efficiency of waste collection. Sensors embedded in bins can monitor fill levels in real-time, feeding data into AI systems that dynamically plan the most efficient collection routes.
This not only reduces unnecessary trips collecting bins before they are full but also cuts fuel consumption and associated emissions.
Predictive analytics for better planning
AI’s ability to analyse historical and real-time data also opens the door to predictive insights. Councils could forecast waste generation based on population density, events, weather patterns, or time of year.
This kind of foresight allows for better planning of resources, from scheduling collection crews to positioning temporary bins during festivals or public holidays.
Environmental and social benefits
Cleaner sorting processes mean more material is actually recycled, supporting the UK’s circular economy goals and reducing the need for raw material extraction. Lower vehicle emissions contribute to climate targets and improve urban air quality.
AI also empowers businesses to move up the waste hierarchy – from disposal and recycling toward waste reduction, reuse, and prevention.
This shift not only cuts costs but also aligns businesses with sustainability commitments and regulatory pressures.
The time to act is now
AI is no longer a far-off concept – it is already proving its value in pilot projects and commercial deployments. The question isn’t whether AI can transform the UK’s waste management system, but whether we have the foresight and will to act.
Public-private partnerships could accelerate the rollout of AI tools, while clear regulations can ensure ethical and inclusive deployment.
If the UK wants to lead in both sustainability and innovation, it is time to put smart waste on the national agenda.
