Denmark Inaugurates First Robotic Sorting Plant for Construction Waste

The facility’s robotic system is designed to adapt to future industry needs, learning continuously through AI to sort emerging waste materials with even greater accuracy.

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): Solum, a leading Danish company in recycling, has inaugurated the first robotic facility dedicated to the sorting of construction waste in Denmark. The new plant, located in Roskilde, represents a milestone step forward in the country’s green transition efforts in a sector responsible for almost 40% of Denmark’s total waste output. Designed to drastically increase recycling rates, the robot, manufactured by ZenRobotics®, is set to transform waste management practices by enabling more precise and efficient sorting, reducing landfill waste, and significantly cutting CO₂ emissions.

The inauguration, held on October 7, 2024, and attended by prominent figures including Kaare Dybvad Bek, Minister for Immigration and Integration, and Deputy Mayor of Holbæk, Camilla Hove Lund, marked an inspiring day for the industry’s shift toward a more circular economy. With advanced sensor technology, the robot is capable of sorting waste into specific recyclable fractions, such as wood, plastic, metal, and concrete, achieving up to 90% purity in separated materials. This is a vast improvement over traditional manual sorting methods, which previously achieved only around 10% recycling efficiency.

Christian B. S. Christensen, Solum’s CEO and founder explained, “This facility is a milestone not only for Solum but for Denmark’s broader vision of sustainability. Solum has always embraced innovation, and today we are ushering in a new era for construction waste management. With the capacity to process 25,000 tonnes of construction waste annually and perform 40 sorting operations per minute, the robot offers both immediate environmental benefits and long-term adaptability. The robot’s learning capacity enables it to evolve with industry needs, ensuring it remains responsive to future waste management challenges and material advancements.”

The facility’s robotic system is designed to adapt to future industry needs, learning continuously through AI to sort emerging waste materials with even greater accuracy. Attendees of the inauguration witnessed a live demonstration of the robot’s abilities, including its fine-tuned recognition of detailed material characteristics, such as paint on wood, ensuring only uncontaminated wood waste is directed for recycling. This precision allows reclaimed wood, for example, to be repurposed into new products such as chipboard for the furniture industry, directly reducing the carbon footprint associated with new production.

During his address, Minister Dybvad Bek commended Solum’s initiative as a leading example of green innovation aligned with governmental climate goals. He highlighted Denmark’s ambitious plans for the green transition, and how Solum’s new robotic plant is a testament to the integration of economic growth and environmental responsibility. Deputy Director of DI, Karin Klitgaard emphasised that efficient waste management will increasingly drive economic value in Denmark’s eco-conscious future.

Peter Ry Schmidt, Sales Consultant, ReTec Miljø ApS, the company that supplied and supports the ZenRobotics robotic equipment in Denmark, said, “It is an honour to be part of such a transformative solution that aligns so closely with ReTec’s mission to turn waste into valuable resources. By providing tailored, high-quality sorting technology, we help our clients achieve the most profitable solutions from materials previously considered unusable. This project is not only a testament to Solum’s forward-thinking vision but also to the potential of our collaboration to drive meaningful change in the industry.”

The event concluded with a tour and Q&A session, where media representatives and industry experts discussed the long-term impacts of robotic sorting on the construction sector.

Rainer Rehn, Regional Sales Manager for ZenRobotics said, “By embracing our advanced waste sorting robots, Solum is in a position to make a significant contribution to Denmark’s circularity goals and reduce the country’s dependence on raw materials. This inaugural event marks a pivotal step in Denmark’s mission to increase its circularity, which according to the Circularity Gap Report, is only 4 per cent—a figure the country aims to substantially improve as it drives sustainable resource utilisation.”

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com

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