Two of the biggest global consumer brands, Unilever and Alibaba, have combined forces to create a recycling system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and sort plastic waste. They are attempting to combine Unilever’s packaging technology with Alibaba’s operating system to create a closed-loop plastic recycling system. 
How Does it Work?
The AI-powered plastic recycling machine system works by allowing users to scan the QR codes on their plastic bottles and then place them into the bin-like machine. The AI technology then analyses the item, and identifies which type of plastic it is. Each item is then fast-tracked to a different waste stream recycling centre to be treated. The plastics are broken down into granules, which are then incorporated into new Unilever products to re-start the recycling loop. So far, Unilever and Alibaba have distributed 20 machines across Shanghai and Hangzhou. Their plans for 2021 see the distribution of 500 more. Their estimation is that each machine will collect over 1 metric tonne of plastic throughout the year.AI Recycling Machines
