AI Summary
An AI-powered recycling machine in Zhangjiagang, China, can sort 220 pounds of used clothes in just 2 to 3 minutes. Developed by DataBeyond, this technology aims to reduce textile waste, which is a significant global pollutant, particularly from synthetic materials.
- The Fastsort-Textile machine uses artificial intelligence to sort textiles by composition quickly and efficiently.
- It can process 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of clothes in 2 to 3 minutes, significantly faster than manual sorting, which takes about four hours for one worker.
- The machine operates at Shanhesheng Environmental Technology Ltd., a recycling facility in Zhangjiagang, and was installed in 2025.
- Synthetic textiles, which make up around 70% of global textile production, are a major contributor to pollution, with China being the leading exporter.
- The AI scanner sorts textiles into recyclable and non-recyclable categories, reducing the percentage of unrecyclable textiles sent to landfills from 50% to 30%.
- The goal of such technology is to create automated facilities that can operate continuously, minimizing human labor and maximizing efficiency.
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