Robots move in as waste firms struggle to find staff
Sharp Group, a waste management firm in east London, is using a robot called Alpha to sort through mixed recycling, aiming to reduce staff turnover and improve efficiency. The robot, developed by TeknTrash Robotics, is being trained to identify and pick items from conveyor belts.
Sharp Group's recycling plant in Rainham, east London, processes 280,000 tonnes of mixed recycling annually. The facility employs 24 agency workers on its conveyor belts, but staff turnover is 40% due to the hazardous and unpleasant nature of the work. To address this, the firm is trialling a robot called Alpha, built by RealMan Robotics in China and adapted by TeknTrash Robotics. Alpha is being trained to pick through rubbish using a VR headset to record human movements and a system called HoloLab to deliver data from multiple cameras. The robot's ability to mimic human movement allows it to fit into existing plants without redesigning machinery. If successful, Alpha could work 24/7 without breaks, holidays, or sick days, potentially making life easier for the firm.
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