First AI Optical Sorter for C&D Waste in Europe
Recycleye, the British developer of AI-powered sorting technology, has successfully commissioned its Recycleye QuantiSort unit at Heydt’s construction and demolition (C&D) waste facility in Germany.
“Delivered in partnership with global plant builder specialist Stadler, the project marks a European first: the use of AI-only optical sorting to separate mineral fractions – including brick from concrete”, Recycleye emphasized. In June, both companies completed the installation of a new sorting stage at the German plant with the QuantiSort system, “enabling the facility to accurately identify and extract complex materials such as brick, concrete, gypsum, breezeblock, metals, wood, plastic, tile and glass”.
Output fractions: brick and non-brick (Photo: Recycleye)
For Heydt, also active in C&D waste recycling, the project would enable brick extraction and upcycling for the first time – a breakthrough in inert material recovery, the British firm stated. “Historically, NIR optical sorters have failed to perform this sort due to their sensitivity to dust, impurities and surface defilements, and are often not economically viable options. While VIS (RGB) sorters can detect color, they are limited to surface features and do not offer the depth or adaptability needed for complex, dirt-covered or irregular materials.” Recycleye QuantiSort would overcome these limitations using Recycleye CogniScan, a proprietary AI vision system trained on over one billion waste images. “With machine learning models making 28.6 billion decisions per second, the system replicates human visual recognition – factoring in color, texture, shape and contextual cues – and accurately classifies each item. Combined with the SuperEject pneumatic system, the sorter reliably separates large brick fragments from mixed aggregates and fines, even when materials are dusty or soiled.”
Stadler provided engineering leadership and expertise regarding the mechanical sorting unit as a whole, as well as on system and site integration, ensuring seamless deployment within Heydt’s established operation.
(Published in GLOBAL RECYCLING Magazine 3/2025, Page 41, Photos: Recycleye)
