Top 7 Startups developing AI for Waste Sorting in USA
Nov 26, 2025
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1
Funding: $111.4M
Sortera uses AI to recover valuable aluminum from scrap piles and produce affordable, high-quality metal alloys. Sortera's computer-vision-based sensor-based sorter can both upgrade raw material streams (shredded old automotive parts and appliances) and remove unwanted contaminants. The upgraded streams can then be used to manufacture new products. This technology is revolutionary because it enables domestic (US) production of new raw materials from existing automotive industry streams. Sortera's main facility in Markle, Indiana, currently processes approximately 100 million pounds of shredded metal annually to produce blends of aluminum with other elements that make them stronger and more durable.
Sortera uses AI to recover valuable aluminum from scrap piles and produce affordable, high-quality metal alloys. Sortera's computer-vision-based sensor-based sorter can both upgrade raw material streams (shredded old automotive parts and appliances) and remove unwanted contaminants. The upgraded streams can then be used to manufacture new products. This technology is revolutionary because it enables domestic (US) production of new raw materials from existing automotive industry streams. Sortera's main facility in Markle, Indiana, currently processes approximately 100 million pounds of shredded metal annually to produce blends of aluminum with other elements that make them stronger and more durable.
2
Funding: $501.7M
Rubicon provides affordable waste and recycling solutions for businesses seeking a smarter, sustainable alternative. Using technologies such as visual recognition and machine learning, the company conducts an initial screening of a client’s waste streams to identify types of waste and quantities, develops a waste separation system, and then tailors a waste collection schedule.
Rubicon provides affordable waste and recycling solutions for businesses seeking a smarter, sustainable alternative. Using technologies such as visual recognition and machine learning, the company conducts an initial screening of a client’s waste streams to identify types of waste and quantities, develops a waste separation system, and then tailors a waste collection schedule.
3
Funding: $266.1M
AMP Robotics creates robotic systems that sort recyclable material at a fraction of the cost of current technology.
AMP Robotics creates robotic systems that sort recyclable material at a fraction of the cost of current technology.
4
Funding: $65.1M
Smarter Sorting is a machine learning for waste. Smarter Sorting allows municipalities to take waste of extreme negative value and use our proprietary software to sort that waste into high value commodities that are sold into established markets.
Smarter Sorting is a machine learning for waste. Smarter Sorting allows municipalities to take waste of extreme negative value and use our proprietary software to sort that waste into high value commodities that are sold into established markets.
5
Funding: $21.4M
Everestlabs.AI develops an AI-based robotics technology to recover valuable recyclables.
Everestlabs.AI develops an AI-based robotics technology to recover valuable recyclables.
6
Funding: $4.7M
Refiberd develops an AI and robotics-based textile recycling system that sorts and recycles unsorted, discarded textiles into new ones.
Refiberd develops an AI and robotics-based textile recycling system that sorts and recycles unsorted, discarded textiles into new ones.
7
Funding: $100K
rStream Recycling pushes the limits of high-tech sustainability by leveraging recent advances in machine vision and novel hardware to automate waste sorting
rStream Recycling pushes the limits of high-tech sustainability by leveraging recent advances in machine vision and novel hardware to automate waste sorting
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