US-based technology company EverestLabs has launched Navigator, a new AI-powered platform designed to improve the operation of recycling and material recovery facilities. The system combines different artificial intelligence technologies to help operators monitor material flows, identify inefficiencies and optimise recycling processes.
EverestLabs specialises in applying computer vision, artificial intelligence and robotics to waste sorting and material recovery. Its technology is used to identify and classify materials moving along conveyor belts, providing recycling facilities with data to support sorting operations and improve material recovery.
With Navigator, the company is expanding these capabilities beyond material identification and robotic sorting. The platform combines computer vision models, vision-language models and AI agents to analyse operations in real time and provide recommendations to plant operators.
The system can identify different materials, detect operational issues such as conveyor belt jams and equipment anomalies, and support predictive maintenance. It is also designed to work with existing plant control systems, allowing facilities to incorporate additional intelligence without necessarily replacing their current equipment.
Another application is the monitoring of material composition, recovery rates and residual waste. This information can help operators assess sorting performance, identify opportunities to recover more recyclable materials and generate data relevant to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements.
EverestLabs is working with organisations including Caglia Environmental, Schneider Electric and Pellenc ST on the adoption and integration of the technology.
The launch reflects a broader development in recycling technology, where artificial intelligence is increasingly being used not only to recognise materials but also to support operational decision-making across recycling facilities.
At Radar, we continue to follow companies like EverestLabs that are developing AI-based technologies to improve recycling efficiency and support more effective material recovery.