Waste disposal company Republic Services has unveiled an advanced recycling facility in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Arizona, US. 

The 51,000ft² centre is equipped with five optical sorters and AI. Using digital recognition, the sorters identify and separate paper or plastic in milliseconds. 

The AI system helps minimise contamination and generates data for operators to optimise recycling processes in real time. 

The Salt River Recycling Center is capable of processing up to 40t of recyclables in an hour, including paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, metal cans, and glass jars. 

Designed to bolster recycling efforts in Phoenix and the surrounding Valley communities, the facility will handle recyclables for approximately 1.4 million residents and more than 2,000 businesses.  

Plastics processed at the Salt River Recycling Center will be transported to Republic's Polymer Center in Las Vegas, US, where they will be refined for reuse, ensuring a closed-loop recycling system for plastic bottles containers and jugs. 

Republic area president Javara Perrilliat said: "The new Salt River Recycling Center reinforces Republic Services' commitment to circularity, sustainability and the community. This facility will help meet growing demand for recycling throughout the Valley and help our customers achieve their sustainability goals." 

Republic Services, which is one of the leading recyclers in the US, manages five million tons of recyclable materials across 75 facilities nationwide annually. 

The company and its subsidiaries offer a complete set of products and services, including recycling, special waste, hazardous waste, and field services.