London Startup Greyparrot Tackles Global Waste With AI Vision
Greyparrot uses computer vision and machine learning to automate and improve the accuracy of waste sorting in recycling facilities.
London-based startup Greyparrot uses computer vision and machine learning to improve waste management by making sorting more efficient. The company trains its system with images of various waste types, such as glass, paper, cardboard, and multiple plastics, allowing a simple camera and computer to identify and sort waste in a fraction of a second.
This technology proves especially valuable in sorting facilities, where machines handle the initial separation but humans often manually remove remaining impurities. Greyparrot steps in at this final stage to assess the purity of conveyor belts and pinpoint problematic objects, providing exact coordinates to robotic arms so they automatically extract contaminants.
By ensuring recycled bales like PET plastics are pure enough, Greyparrot helps prevent international shipping rejections from countries like Indonesia. The startup currently tests its solution in facilities in the U.K. and South Korea, has raised $1.2 million in funding, and plans to expand its AI into smart bins and reverse vending machines.