A young technology company has developed an imaging system called BinIt, which combines cameras, X-ray radiation, and artificial intelligence. This system allows operators in recycling plants to look deep into waste streams and identify hidden threats, such as lithium-ion batteries and other hazards, according to the company’s CEO in a recent interview.
The idea seems to be catching on: the BinIt system is already in use or set to be implemented in twelve facilities, and the company announced on Monday that it has received $6.4 million from multiple investors to continue meeting the needs of existing customers and expand its operations to more plants.
CEO Raghav Mecheri called the technology a solution to the recycling industry’s biggest problem. “Regardless of who you are and what type of facility you run, batteries pose a huge fire risk,” he said in an interview with Resource Recycling last week. “Being at the forefront of the movement to stop battery fires in recycling plants is probably what excites us the most.”
The Ability to Achieve “True Material Visibility”
According to a recent report by the National Waste & Recycling Association, recycling facilities experience thousands of fires each year, with one of the main causes being rechargeable batteries. Secondary material processors are particularly vulnerable to battery-related hazards since they often crush and bale cardboard and other materials that can easily conceal these items from workers and automated sorting.
BinIt solves this problem by reaching beyond the visible light spectrum. Similar to an airport baggage scanner, the system, called Visia, can use X-rays to scan fibers, plastics, and even some metals to identify unique signatures of batteries, contaminants, or other objects. The system then alerts the facility’s staff, for example, through an app or a laser that highlights the problematic item on the conveyor belt.
Mecheri stated that the system has over 95% accuracy and is constantly learning, gaining experience from all its locations. When facility managers combine the capabilities of BinIt’s visible light and X-ray technology, they can obtain a comprehensive picture of what enters the building.
“We describe ourselves as the first true material visibility company,” he said. “It turned out to be a game-changer for our customers.”
One of those customers is evTerra, an electronic waste processing company with locations in Atlanta, Chicago, and Las Vegas. Jeff Gloyd, former president of evTerra, spoke about partnering with BinIt at last year’s E-Scrap Conference in September. He left his position at evTerra in October and joined the BinIt team this month.
Unlike municipal recycling facilities, electronic waste processors may want to retain batteries and other hazardous items that appear in their streams but also want to separate them to prevent sparks or fires, Gloyd noted. “It’s batteries, propane tanks—which somehow always show up in our waste streams—and toner cartridges,” he told the conference audience. The search and removal process is typically manual, time-consuming, and prone to human error on a daily basis, while BinIt offers a better option.
“When you consider downtime, the risk, and the potential injury that a potential employee or someone else could face, the return on investment is pretty quick,” Gloyd said in September.
Aims for Growth
BinIt’s roots stretch back to Columbia University in New York, where Mecheri and several partners began working on an AI-assisted waste sorting system in 2019. Mecheri completed his studies in 2022, and his freshman-year roommate, James Bollas, is a co-founder and the CTO of BinIt.
The team began to see recycling as one of the most important sectors, Mecheri said, and after graduating, they started visiting as many recycling facilities as possible, performing various tasks like repairing internet connections to be useful observers of the industry and its challenges.
The Visia system was launched in January 2023, initially using only visible light cameras. However, recycling facility managers repeatedly requested the ability to see through the accumulated materials. The first battery fire they witnessed was “a kick in the butt for us,” Mecheri said.
In the near future, Mecheri hopes to increase the number of customers from twelve to at least thirty by the end of the year. Further goals include convincing plant managers of the system’s greater potential beyond just detecting batteries, claiming that BinIt can help optimize decision-making processes by providing a complete and detailed image of material streams.
FAQ
1. What is the BinIt system?
The BinIt system is an imaging system developed by a young technology company. It combines cameras, X-ray radiation, and artificial intelligence to detect threats in waste streams at recycling facilities.
2. What are the benefits of using the BinIt system?
Using the BinIt system allows for the identification of unique signatures of batteries and other objects using X-ray radiation. The system notifies facility staff about detected hazards, enabling quick removal from the production line and prevention of potential fires. The BinIt system has over 95% accuracy and is constantly learning from all its locations.
3. What problems does the BinIt system solve?
The BinIt system solves the problem of fires caused by rechargeable batteries in recycling plants. Secondary material processors are vulnerable to battery-related hazards since they often crush and bale various materials, which can obstruct workers and automated sorting. The BinIt system enables facility operators to identify and remove these hazards.
4. What are BinIt’s plans for development?
BinIt plans to increase the number of its customers from twelve to at least thirty by the end of the year. Additionally, the company hopes to convince plant managers of the system’s potential beyond just battery detection, claiming that BinIt can help optimize decision-making processes by providing a complete picture of material streams.
Definitions:
– BinIt System: An imaging system developed by BinIt that combines cameras, X-ray radiation, and artificial intelligence for detecting threats in waste streams at recycling facilities.
– Lithium-ion Batteries: A type of rechargeable batteries that use lithium ions in the electrolyte.
– National Waste & Recycling Association: An organization that promotes and advances waste recycling in the United States.
– Visia: The name of the system within the BinIt system that utilizes X-ray radiation to scan and identify unique signatures of batteries and other objects.
– Electronic Waste: Waste originating from electronic devices, such as televisions, cell phones, computers, etc.
Related Links:
BinIt Official Website
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The source of the article is from the blog krama.net