Application of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Plastic Waste Management

Managing plastic waste is crucial due to significant environmental concerns including pollution, waste disposal, and recycling. The chapter begins by highlighting the importance of addressing the plastic waste ecosystem and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in waste management processes. It discusses the challenges associated with plastic waste, such as pollution, improper disposal, and difficulties in recycling, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions. Furthermore, the chapter explores the application of AI tools, namely, AI-powered waste-sorting robots, waste monitoring, smart bins, waste tracking, pyrolysis, resource recovery, smart cities, and circular economy. The chapter then explores the accuracy of machine learning algorithms in identifying and categorizing different types of plastic waste, which can improve recycling rates. It describes the use of smart bins equipped with sensors and AI algorithms that optimize waste collection routes and reduce costs. Additionally, AI applications can help optimize the operating parameters during waste plastic pyrolysis processes and discuss carbon emission estimation and energy recovery. It also explores AI’s contribution to a circular economy by promoting resource recovery and minimizing waste, highlighting success stories and case studies. Moreover, the application of AI tools can create smart cities with efficient waste management systems and address cost savings, public health benefits, and environmental impact. Finally, the future developments in the application of AI for plastic waste monitoring and challenges associated with data privacy, scalability, implementation, and encouraging future research are also discussed.