Westchester County has installed new robotics equipment at its Material Recovery Facility in Yonkers as part of a continued effort to increase recycling rates and reduce contamination in curbside recyclables. The Department of Environmental Facilities partnered with EverestLabs to add a robotic arm and AI-powered optical cameras that identify common items and remove contaminants from the sorting line.
The technology is designed to improve the volume and quality of material recovered for processing and sale. The facility processes more than 65,000 tons of material each year, including aluminum, ferrous metals, cartons, plastics coded 1 through 7, plastic boat wrap, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, and mixed paper.
The robotic system can pick items within a 36-inch range, complete up to 60 picks per minute and has an accuracy rate of about 80 percent. The equipment also produces detailed data that will guide operational decisions and support the County’s public education efforts.
County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Westchester County has been a regional leader in recycling since the MRF opened in 1992. Investing in new technology shows our continued commitment to strong environmental stewardship. These upgrades also save money by increasing the amount of material we can recover and sell.”
First Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Facilities, Louis Vetrone, said: “Westchester County’s recycling rate far outpaces both the national and the New York State rates. Our County MRF is one of the main hubs of our recycling program, where all of the Refuse District’s recyclables are processed and sorted. Investing in new MRF technology, like robotic equipment, helps us increase waste diversion and removes contamination from the recyclables we sell to recyclers. This results in higher revenue and ultimately saves money for our residents.”
Residents, schools and community groups can schedule tours of the MRF by emailingMRFTours@westchestercountyny.gov. An educational video about the recycling process is also available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgyspK451GU.
For more information on Westchester County’s Department of Environmental Facilities, follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WestchesterCountyDEF or call the Recycling HelpLine: (914) 813-5425
