University of Guelph students sort trash using AI-powered recycling assistant

Oscar Sort has tackled waste diversion by improving recycling rates and reducing operational costs at over 30 universities in North America.

Students at the University of Guelph are using AI technology to sort their trash in seconds.

Oscar Sort is an AI-powered recycling assistant located in the University Centre, and it scans students’ trash and guide them to the correct waste bin.

Mike Posteraro is the senior manager of environmental operations and sustainability at the post-secondary school.

Posteraro said the technology simplifies some of the struggles we have while approaching a waste bin.

“You approach the waste station; it scans and assesses the waste that you have and in real time almost instantly can make a decision to simplify where things go,” Posteraro said.

He said it’s all based on real time because recycling rules change quite often based on district and municipality and the AI is actively connected to what goes where.

And when these factors are all combined, Posteraro said it makes this type of technology very powerful.

In a statement from the university, it said Oscar Sort adapts to evolving municipal guidelines, updating in real time to reflect changes in local recycling regulations and packaging.