The Era of Intelligent Recycling: How AI is Shaping Waste Management

Dunja Jovanovic: Could you please introduce yourself to our listeners and tell us a bit about what Everlast Lab does?

Apurba Pradhan: Hi, I’m Apurba Pradhan, Head of Product and Marketing at EverestLabs in Silicon Valley. We're an AI company that focuses on addressing the challenge of packaging waste. By integrating AI technology and automation, such as robotics, we assist recyclers in significantly improving their recycling capabilities, thereby contributing to a circular economy. Since our inception in 2018, we've been scaling our products and gaining traction, particularly in North America.

DJ: Can you elaborate on the types of packaging waste you handle?

AP: In the US, around a third of all waste generated is packaging waste. This encompasses a wide range of items, from aluminum cans and cardboard boxes to plastic bottles and food containers. Despite their potential for recycling, a majority of these materials unfortunately end up in landfills or oceans, largely due to operational inefficiencies in recycling. Our mission at Everest Labs is to solve this problem.

DJ: What inspired the creation of EverestLabs?

AP: Our founder, JD Ambati, established Everest Labs in 2018, specifically to tackle the critical issue of packaging waste, which is a significant challenge in terms of sustainability. The company name reflects this ambition – 'Everest' symbolizing the scale of the challenge and 'Labs' indicating our experimental approach to finding solutions. We believe in the importance of not only improving sustainability but also realizing the economic advantages of recycling materials like aluminum and plastics.

DJ: Can you explain how your AI-powered system helps in addressing this issue?

AP: Our AI technology plays a dual role. Firstly, it enables recycling facilities to operate more efficiently by providing them with valuable data. Secondly, it automates their sorting processes. For instance, recycling facilities traditionally operate with minimal data input, lacking real-time insights into their processes. Our technology addresses this gap, enhancing efficiency and recovery rates. Additionally, we've introduced high-speed robotic sorters that streamline manual sorting tasks, further increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs.

DJ: What kind of impact have you seen from implementing this technology?

AP: The impact has been substantial. Our technology not only improves material recovery rates but also significantly reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills – by up to 50% in some cases. This also translates to increased revenue for recycling facilities through the sale of recovered materials. Moreover, we're helping downstream reprocessors by enhancing the quality and availability of recycled materials.

DJ: With your recent Series A funding, what are your plans for utilizing these resources?

AP: The funding is instrumental in scaling our technology and demonstrating its value across various recycling facilities. Our solutions offer a rapid return on investment, often within six months, making them appealing to both small and large recycling companies. Our focus now is on expanding our commercial operations, first in the US and then globally, to replicate our success across more recycling facilities.

DJ: Are there any collaborations or partnerships in the sustainability space that you'd like to highlight?
AP: While we primarily sell directly to recycling facilities, we do have technological partnerships. We work closely with industry leaders like Fanuc for industrial robotics and Nvidia and Intel for AI processing. As we expand internationally, we're exploring potential commercial partnerships to help us enter new markets.

DJ: Looking to the future, where do you see EverestLabs in the next several years?

AP: We envision our AI and robotics continuously evolving to tackle more sorting challenges within recycling facilities. But beyond that, the real opportunity lies in the data we're gathering. This data has the potential to revolutionize the recycling supply chain, aiding manufacturers in meeting their sustainable packaging goals and bringing transparency to the market for recycled commodities.

DJ: Despite these advancements, recycling rates remain low. What are the primary challenges in this area?

AP: The main challenge is creating a more efficient recycling market. Currently, the supply chain struggles to offer high-quality recycled materials at competitive prices, stemming from high operational costs at recycling facilities. By addressing these inefficiencies and aligning with policy changes, we can make significant progress. Technology and operational improvements are key to bridging these gaps.

DJ: How can individuals and companies contribute to better recycling practices?

AP: Beyond adopting proper recycling habits, consumers can influence broader change through their purchasing decisions and political advocacy. Supporting policies that hold producers responsible for packaging waste is essential. In Europe and Canada, we see the rise of producer-funded recycling models, and similar movements are gaining momentum in the US.

DJ: For startups in the clean tech space, do you have any advice on fundraising, scaling, or partnerships?

AP: The key is to solve problems that deliver tangible economic benefits. This creates a strong foundation for your business, which can be further boosted by policy changes and sustainability trends. Addressing today's challenges is crucial for long-term success. Startups should focus on offering solutions that are economically viable now, not just in the future.

DJ: Lastly, what emerging technologies or trends are you most excited about, especially concerning sustainability?

AP: Besides AI, I'm particularly excited about advances in chemical recycling processes like pyrolysis and gasification. These technologies can convert recycled plastics back into high-quality materials or energy sources, effectively closing the recycling loop. This innovation gives me hope that the efforts we're making in recovery will be complemented by technologies that can reuse these materials in meaningful ways.