টুইনস সিটিস রিসাইক্লিং প্ল্যান্ট কৃত্রিম বুদ্ধিমত্তা ব্যবহার করে
Twin Cities’ main regional recycling plant has completed a $23 million renovation to increase capacity, as the state aims to recycle more and dispose of less. Troy Hanson, WM’s director of post-collection operations, showed off the recently updated plant. The 15-year-old facility — just off Broadway in northeast Minneapolis — was due for improvements, Hanson said. “The population’s growing, recycling is becoming more popular — we’re going to need more capacity,” Hanson said. Improvements include new AI-powered sorting technology, instead of some manual sorting. Separating different materials is a crucial step in the process – missorted items can send waste to landfills. Sorting needs to move fast. The WM plant in Minneapolis processes dozens of tons of recyclables each day, which are transported from Minnesota, the Dakotas, northern Iowa and western Wisconsin. Employees recycle Thursday at the Twin Cities WM recycling plant in Minneapolis. Estelle Timar Wilcox | MPR News The new artificial intelligence tools use cameras and laser scan content as they travel along the factory’s conveyor belts. They can differentiate between a polypropylene yogurt container and other plastics, for example, Hanson said that are often overlooked during the sorting process because it’s small. “With our older technology, they were difficult for them to pick,” Hanson said. “Now, we’re able to recognize those materials, pick those materials and ultimately, those materials are now being reused and recycled.” The plant upgrade is part of a national project to modernize factories across the country. Minnesota has set a goal to recycle 75 percent of waste in the Twin Cities metro area by 2030 — and 35 percent in the rest of the state. Estelle Timar Wilcox | MPR News Hanson said the rules for what to recycle have not changed. But he said it’s a good idea to double-check your city’s collection guidelines before throwing something away. “Always recycle cardboard, always recycle plastic, always recycle aluminum cans,” Hanson said. “Make sure your containers are clean and dry.” He said people should avoid recycling plastic bags and batteries. These need to go to separate facilities and can cause problems at the recycling plant if they get caught in the conveyor belts. The plant is now able to process about 240,000 tons of recyclables per year, up from its old capacity of 150,000 tons per year. It’s open for tours, including a newly renovated education center.
প্রকাশিত: 2025-10-28 15:00:00
উৎস: www.mprnews.org
