Along the same lines as the EU, which is making the digital transition a priority, the European Environment Agency states in a briefing note published on Wednesday 3 February that advanced digital technologies, such as robotics, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, will help improve the sustainability of European waste management systems.
According to the EEA, increased use of these technologies can contribute to more efficient waste management across Europe, by improving logistics and recycling rates and enabling consumers to make better purchasing and sorting decisions.
However, most applications are currently only at the innovation stage, says the EEA, which sees their use as crucial in helping to move towards circular and sustainable patterns of production, consumption and waste disposal.
As examples that can already be found at different stages of waste management, the note cites robots capable of identifying and sorting recyclables and critical materials through image recognition, autonomous street sweepers, intelligent bins with identification systems, control of incineration plants or data collection on landfills by drones.
The EEA considers that digital technologies can also help citizens and businesses to understand the consequences of their own behaviour so that they can then help prevent waste or facilitate recycling.
See this note: http://bit.ly/3pEjiM1 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)