AMP and Waste Connections Expand Partnership with AI-Optimized Recycling Facility

Photo Credit: AMP

A new chapter in smart waste management is underway as AMP and Waste Connections officially broke ground on a next-generation, AI-driven recycling facility in Commerce City, Colorado. According to a joint announcement released last week, the facility—set to begin operations in 2026—will be powered by the AMP ONE™ system, a cutting-edge sortation platform designed to automate materials processing and increase throughput with adaptive AI.

According to AMP’s official website, the new facility will be capable of processing up to 62,000 tons of single-stream recyclables annually with minimal human oversight. Central to this capability is the AI-powered system that can identify jams, monitor purity, and self-adjust in real-time as conditions on the line evolve. This level of automation, reportedly the first of its kind at this scale, is expected to significantly enhance material recovery rates.

The facility will operate under a performance-guaranteed pay-per-ton model, which allows Waste Connections to benefit from predictable outcomes and reduced operational risk. As noted in the announcement, AMP will take full responsibility for running and maintaining the system, enabling its partners to reallocate resources toward other strategic priorities. The model promises several advantages, including lower costs, higher diversion rates, and improved material purity.

The project builds on an existing partnership between AMP and Waste Connections, which began in 2020. Since then, AMP has deployed over 50 AI-guided robotic systems across Waste Connections’ network of material recovery facilities. The Commerce City project marks a major expansion of that relationship, signifying a shared commitment to modernizing recycling infrastructure across North America.

Industry analysts view this development as a landmark step in transforming how recycling centers operate. By embedding artificial intelligence directly into the facility’s core systems, the project is poised to set new benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability in the recycling sector.

Source: AMP