Sparklo drives sustainability by installing 1,000 AI-powered reverse vending machines in MENA

AI-driven global cleantech company Sparklo has announced installing 1,000 reverse vending machines (RVMs) – known as Sparklomats – in popular public areas throughout the MENA, leading a sustainability wave in the region.

The company said its innovative solutions have inspired users to place 1 bottle every 3 seconds and 30,000 plastic bottles and aluminum cans daily in MENA.

The company said Sparklomats have already been installed in parts of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE as well as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and thousands of such machines will be installed in more cities and countries in the next few years.

Sparklo’s reward app incentivises recycling

In the UAE, Sparklo said its reward app already hit the 6^thspot on the top 10 most popular lifestyle apps.

The company’s RVMs allow people to easily recycle plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Users also receive rewards in the mobile app whenever they place an empty bottle or a can, which can be exchanged for discount vouchers for food, delivery services and other special offers.

“Our goal is to collect all the plastic bottles and recyclables in the MENA region,” said Maxim Kaplevich, owner and CEO of Sparklo.

Kaplevich said the company aims to revolutionise recycling and integrate it into the fabric of society’s lifestyle by incorporating elements of education and entertainment.

Sustainability wave in the MENA

The company said its commitment to sustainability and innovation has already garnered support from key industry leaders in the MENA region, enabling it to install its RVMs at retail chains, shopping centers, gas stations, and hotels.

The company began operating in the MENA region in the UAE’s ‘Year of Sustainability’ with its game-changing software and hardware solutions for waste management on a worldwide scale. With plans to tackle the ever-pressing challenges of plastic and aluminum waste head-on, the company is creating groundbreaking global infrastructure and paving the way for a sustainable and eco-friendly future in the Middle East.

The company has also developed an AI-powered software system for the Sparklomats which utilises machine learning algorithms to optimise the recycling process.

By leveraging artificial intelligence, the reverse vending machine can accurately identify and sort recyclables, improving efficiency and reducing contamination. This technology enables the maximisation of the recycling potential of each item.

Globally, with the help of the machine, the company has collected 35 million recyclables, 26 million plastic bottles and 8.6 million aluminum cans, making a significant positive impact on the environment.

According to recent data, 4 billion plastic bottles are consumed annually in the UAE and about 40 percent of all plastic in the country is single-use.

Source: Arabian Business