CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Recyclers across the United States are struggling. Several plants are short workers and rising costs are making recycling way too expensive to sustain, but there could be a new solution.

Artificial intelligence (AI) could help boost recycling rates.

New data show across the country, recycling is down several percentage points in the past few years, but now AI could help boost numbers by doing a lot more of the sorting work.

The Wall Street Journal reports humans are only able to sort about 50 pieces a minute. But with the help of AI, a thousand pieces could get sorted in the same amount of time, and it could help fill the labor shortage gap. 

Most recycling cites are staffed between 20% and 80% — that means facilities cannot operate at full capacity. But these new AI-powered machines could address worker shortfalls, and boost recycling rates nationwide.

WCNC Charlotte’s Wake Up Charlotte has the latest news and weather from the WCNC Charlotte morning team. Watch all the latest stories from the Wake Up Charlotte morning team in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.

All of WCNC Charlotte’s podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.