AI technology empowers garbage sorting process

Cities across China are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance garbage sorting, transforming waste into valuable recyclable materials.

In south China's Guangzhou City, a waste compression station has introduced AI-powered sorting machine equipped with hyperspectral imaging technology. The system scans every piece of plastic and precisely classifies materials that are difficult for the human eye to distinguish, automatically putting them into different categories.

"The machine can accurately separate materials that were previously indistinguishable to the human eye, such as PP (polypropylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and HDPE (high-density polyethylene). It can also separate waste plastic films according to their different materials," said He Tingxuan, head of AI sorting technology at Xinke Waste Compression Station.

Since its pilot implementation, the AI-powered sorting machine has processed 26,000 tons of raw waste, separating more than 10,000 tons of recyclables and saving 1.7276 million yuan (about 254,500 U.S. dollars) in garbage processing fees.

In east China's Xiamen City, a garbage sorting center has also adopted AI technology to efficiently recycle low-value recyclables such as fast food boxes, express delivery packaging bags, and milk cartons. The center can process up to 50 tons of such materials daily.

"We use visual recognition and infrared scanning technologies to automatically identify and decompose low-value recyclables, including waste plastics and wastepaper. We can produce 16 different types of recyclable products, with a sorting accuracy rate of over 95 percent," said Nian Minmo, general manager of Xiamen Haicang Investment Group Municipal Company.

China aims to raise its urban household waste recycling utilization rate to above 76 percent by the end of 2030, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said Monday.

The announcement came as the country launched its fourth national urban household waste sorting publicity week, running from May 25 to 31.

AI technology empowers garbage sorting process

China's 2026 summer box office has continued to gather steam, with total ticket revenue surpassing 8.12 billion yuan (about 1.2 billion U.S. dollars) as of Friday night, driven by a slate of standout Chinese and international releases.

The season's top three earners so far are the domestic hits "Kung Fu Soccer" and "All Wishes Come True," along with the imported blockbuster "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."

This year's summer season has seen a wave of homegrown animated features hit theaters in concentrated succession. Among them, "All Wishes Come True" has emerged as an audience favorite, reimagining the classic Chinese legend of the Eight Immortals through the stories of eight ordinary people.

The film redefines what it means to be "immortal," showing that true immortality lies not in invincibility or eternal life, but in compassion for all and an unwavering commitment to goodness. By drawing on the philosophical depth and emotional richness of traditional Chinese culture, the film explores universal themes of love, growth, and courage with sincerity and heartfelt emotion.

The film's cumulative box office has exceeded 1.3 billion yuan (about 193 million U.S. dollars), earning it a place among the top ten highest-grossing animated films in Chinese box office history.

The film is also set for release in multiple countries and regions worldwide, bringing China's beloved Eight Immortals to global audiences in a brand-new way.

Beyond domestic productions, imported films have also made a significant splash this summer. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" currently ranks third on the season's box office chart.

The film premiered in Chinese mainland on July 29, two days ahead of its North American debut, underscoring Hollywood's growing confidence in the Chinese market.

On its opening day alone, Chinese moviegoers spent 210 million yuan (about 31.1 million U.S. dollars) at the box office, helping propel the film past the 1 billion U.S. dollar mark globally in just one week.

China's 2026 summer box office maintains strong momentum