AI recovery robots can select cans and plastic bottles on their own, enabling high-quality recycling by simplifying the process of disposal, transportation and classification. (image: KB Kookmin Bank)
SAMCHEOK, Feb. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Samcheok City in Gangwon Province is planning to install artificial intelligence (AI) robots that can easily retrieve recyclable resources, including cans and plastic bottles.
The current recycling system is used to remove and transport cans along with scrap metal, and plastic bottles along with plastic.
Contamination, such as damage by chemicals in the classification process resulting from such mixed disposal leads to lower recycling rates and quality.
AI recovery robots can select cans and plastic bottles on their own, enabling high-quality recycling by simplifying the process of disposal, transportation and classification.
Citizens will also be able to receive points for the cans or plastic bottles that they put into the AI recovery robots.
Because the points can be used like cash, it is also expected that the program will encourage citizens to recycle.
The city will go through a trial run from April and then start pilot operations at around eight locations from July.
Officials then plan to evaluate the performance of the operation for one year to decide whether to expand it or not.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
