·  Digital technologies such as robotics, the internet of things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics, have a major impact on the efficiency of the waste industry. 

·  AI image processing techniques supported by robotic sorters are growing rapidly and are already in use by several global manufacturers of commodities such as electronics, to enable high-level recycling by sorting. 

·  Supporting digital technologies requires substantial energy, materials for infrastructure, computing machines, sorting robots and other elements. All infrastructure has a lifespan after which it becomes waste itself. However, the environmental benefits seem to outweigh these concerns.

Access article: European Environment Agency