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

Deepening China-Gabon relations meets the common expectations of the people of both countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday during his talks with visiting Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in Beijing.

The two leaders announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a China-Gabon community with a shared future for the new era during their talks.

"I am very pleased to see you again, Mr. President. I visited Gabon in the 1990s and was deeply impressed by the development achievements of this 'land of green gold' of Africa. The traditional friendship between China and Gabon has a long history. For more than half a century, the two countries have adhered to equality, mutual support and common development, and China-Gabon relations have withstood the test of changing international circumstances and remained rock-solid," Xi said.

"Deepening China-Gabon relations meets the common expectations of the people of both countries and follows the trend of the Global South seeking strength through unity. To this end, I propose elevating our bilateral relations to a China-Gabon community with a shared future for the new era," Xi added.

"Political mutual trust is the cornerstone of our partnership. This meeting vividly reflects the profound friendship and brotherhood between our two countries over more than half a century. In recent years, our cooperation has been full of vitality, with a series of major projects in key areas being implemented. Today, we have the opportunity to further expand the scale of our cooperation and better benefit the peoples of both countries," said Nguema.

Deepening China-Gabon relations meets peoples' common expectations: Xi