In England, an estimated 18 percent of all waste is illegally managed, amounting to approximately 34 million tonnes annually.

As illegal waste activities continue to increase, costing the economy an estimated £1 billion each year, businesses are under increasing pressure to find ways to manage waste legally, sustainably and efficiently.

Tech-specialist firm Envirovue works across the waste sector to reduce inefficiencies and drive sustainability. Director at the business, Daniel Redfern, discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to streamline waste separation, enhance traceability and combat waste crime.

Creating a ‘smarter’ industry

Across complex waste management, AI can transform processes and drive innovation by making separation faster, bolster traceability and promote reuse.  From smart sensors to intelligent machine control, AI and automated technology can be used to optimise the end-to-end waste process.

These innovations reduce contamination, increase resource recovery, and lower operational costs, ultimately contributing to a more circular and sustainable economy. Envirovue ensures tracing of all waste to its end point, ensuring full transparency and accountability from collection to final disposal.

Tackling waste crime

One of the most significant advances in tackling waste crime is a higher level of traceability, particularly in an industry where, despite good intentions, waste can still end up being illegally dumped without the handler’s knowledge.

Daniel explains: “It’s a sad fact that even when businesses think they’re doing the right thing, waste can still go missing. Transparency is key and more must be done to track waste from source to the end point to prevent illegal dumping.”

With AI-powered tools now capable of extracting and interpreting complex waste movement data from historical records, businesses can demand a new level of transparency from their waste partners. These tools unlock visibility that didn’t previously exist, helping organisations make more informed, auditable and sustainable decisions.

Creating greener processes

As sustainability continues to be a priority, modern waste handling is evolving beyond traditional practices of collecting and discarding – it’s about leveraging technology to optimise processes and minimise environmental impact.

From surveys that collect data to streamline reuse, and challenge traditional processes, technology is supporting businesses to manage and organise waste management in a new way.

To find out more about Envirovue and its services, please visit: www.envirovue.io