Increased recycling in Second Hand through sorting with the help of AI
The vision for this project is simple. At the gift sorting department of the Red Cross in Örebro, items are automatically sorted on a conveyor belt according to product category and material. Items that cannot be sold in stores are easily sorted out and sold for recycling. All incoming items are logged in a searchable system. The number of people needed for sorting has been reduced. More time can therefore be spent on ensuring that goods get to the stores where demand is highest and on developing store and gift inflow.
To achieve the vision, we are developing an IT system that uses image recognition and AI to categorize, weigh and capture the material content of gifts and determine whether the gift can be sold or not. Everything is logged into a database. While the development of the IT solution is ongoing, the Red Cross is evaluating the benefits of a more automated sorting process.
