Frequently asked questions
Start here if you've got a question about our technology.
If you can't find the answer you need in our FAQs, reach out to a member of our team below.
Start here if you've got a question about our technology.
If you can't find the answer you need in our FAQs, reach out to a member of our team below.
Greyparrot Analyzer gathers data on waste passing over conveyor belts in materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and plastics recovery facilities (PRFs). We don’t currently support installations for collections vehicles or smart bins.
Each Analyzer deployment is different, and impact is tailored to our customers' goals:
Green Tech increased material throughput by 200 tonnes/month with the help of data-driven infeed blending and process optimisation.
KSI Recycling boosted recovery by 10% after using Analyzer to make a case for more frequent machinery maintenance.
Cheshire West Recycling used Analyzer's belt status feature to reveal and diagnose disruptions from hauler delays.
Greyparrot Analyzer alerts enabled a European MRF to diagnose purity dips in under 12 minutes, saving £47,000 in reprocessing costs.
Our customers have made significant savings by using Analyzer to audit their performance and material.
MRFs around the world have used Analyzer to identify millions in avoidable losses, and made machinery adjustments worth £240,000 a year.
Yes. Analyzer units are designed be deployed over conveyor belts. Some of our partners have integrated Analyzer data into in their own machinery using Sync.
Analyzer can currently identify 111 different kinds of solid municipal waste, with categories for hard and flexible plastics, fibre, metal, waste electronics and composite packaging.
Our taxonomy is designed to work for a wide variety of use cases but we're looking to further expand into other domains.
If you have any questions about our recognition library – or want to request that we add a new material – reach out here.
Our systems work to reduce reliance on both robotic and manual pickers by optimising processes.
We don’t produce smart robotics. Instead, Greyparrot Sync integrations seamlessly connect real-time waste data to new and existing machinery and software, regardless of their brand.
We view our customers as partners. That means we don't just deliver a product or service, but collaborate to find the best application of our technology for each customer. Our team combines top-tier technical expertise with hands-on waste sector experience, allowing us to solve real-world problems with practical, scalable solutions.
Together, they go beyond standard support to integrate with your team from initial setup to daily operations.
Yes. Analyzer units are currently live from Mexico to Australia, operating across nearly 20 countries.
Our HQ is in London, but we have team members based in Spain, France and the Netherlands, representing more than 15 nationalities and multiple languages. That diversity is one of our greatest differentiators.
We also work with a global network of partners, including plant builders. Their expertise in local markets and regulatory environments make deployment faster and more effective.
Our AI draws about the same amount of energy as a gaming console, thanks to our edge processing model. The latest Analyzer units are 15% more energy efficient than previous models.
Instead of sending information to energy-intensive data centres, our AI runs locally, dramatically reducing our energy consumption.
We train our AI off-site, but our scale is exponentially smaller and easier to control than large language models (LLMs).
We constantly optimise our hardware to make more efficient use of both energy and critical minerals. Our latest update introduced lightweight, recyclable components that save 20tCO2eq for every 100 units shipped.
Each Analyzer deployment is different, and impact is tailored to our customers' goals:
Green Tech increased material throughput by 200 tonnes/month with the help of data-driven infeed blending and process optimisation.
KSI Recycling boosted recovery by 10% after using Analyzer to make a case for more frequent machinery maintenance.
Cheshire West Recycling used Analyzer's belt status feature to reveal and diagnose disruptions from hauler delays.
Greyparrot Analyzer alerts enabled a European MRF to diagnose purity dips in under 12 minutes, saving £47,000 in reprocessing costs.
AI waste analytics uses artificial intelligence to analyse waste streams in real-time. Cameras capture images of materials on conveyor belts, and AI waste analytics systems like Greyparrot Analyzer identify the materials. That real-time data is then displayed on live dashboards, accessed via a web portal.
Waste intelligence is the actionable insight that facility managers extract from Analyzer’s detailed waste data.
Waste intelligence insights enable facility managers to adapt as material flows and market conditions shift, operating leaner and more efficient recovery facilities.
Packaging waste intelligence is the actionable insight gathered from global packaging recovery data.
Deepnest – our packaging waste intelligence platform – helps packaging teams design products that are easier for MRFs to recover.
The method our AI uses to predict a waste object’s weight depends on the the object’s waste class:
For item-based waste classes (e.g. aluminium cans), our AI multiplies the number of items detected by the average mass of those items. If the average can arriving at the facility weights 15 grams and Analyzer spots 10 cans, the total mass of those cans in the waste stream will be 150 grams.
For area-based waste classes (e.g. metallised film) our AI identifies the area of the material, then multiplies it by the average mass-per-area of that waste class. That average varies from facility to facility, so we establish them at the setup and calibration stage.
Waste objects that don’t fit into any of our current classes are organised into one of our general material categories.
You can still generate reports on these items in the same way you would any other class.
Currently, our generalised classes are:
Analyzer isn’t limited by throughput rates. Instead, our system’s performance depends on how visible your material is.
When there are multiple layers of waste on a conveyor belt, our cameras won’t be able to see all of your material — though our calibration process enables it to make accurate estimations about composition.
Our AI can identify any object that is large enough to be identified with the human eye. Any item too small to identify will be considered “fine material”, which generally includes objects smaller than 30mm.
Yes. Our AI uses visual features to identify the function of waste objects (e.g. a plastic yoghurt bottle) and accurately determine whether it is food-grade or non-food grade.
Learn more about food-grade recognition.Our customers use Greyparrot Analyzer data to actively monitor facility performance, optimise infeed blends, adjust throughput rates, track product quality, reduce the value they lose to residue lines, and more.
Every facility has its own unique application for Analyzer data. As an AI partner, we help our customers identify the best use-cases for our system with our dedicated customer success and data teams.
The Analyzer portal is accessible from any device with an internet connection and a screen.
It features live dashboards that translate raw data into actionable insights, surfacing key performance indicators like sorting efficiency and the value being lost to residue lines.
Analyzer data can also be exported in customisable .CSV reports, or integrated with existing business intelligence software like PowerBI or Tableau.
Greyparrot Analyzer is hardware- and software-agnostic. That means we can share our data with any compatible tool, regardless of brand.
So far, examples have included robotic sorting arms, airjet sorters, facility management software, and more.
Yes. Our data security is covered by ISO27001 certification, and we also hold the UK’s Cyber Essentials certification.
Access to the data collected in your facility is limited to the users you select, and our team.
Greyparrot owns the data collected by global Analyzer units in an anonymised format, using it to continuously train and improve our AI’s waste recognition.
Analyzer gathers the same data that human samplers collect, and more. Automating the reporting process is exponentially cheaper, creates a more comprehensive picture of waste flows, and reduces human contact with waste material.
While you can export customisable reports to suit almost any reporting requirement, it’s up to your region’s regulators whether AI data will be accepted.
We can ship Analyzers in 32 hours. For context, the industry’s average lead time is around 1 year.
Analyzer units require a simple metal mounting frame to position them above conveyor belts. We provide detailed specifications for building these frames to our customers before units arrive at their facility.
A 110-230V power supply and wired ethernet connection with 1MBps download and upload speed are also essential.
Analyzer units are designed for belts up to 1600mm wide — although solutions for wider belts up to 2800mm are available.
Every facility and scenario is different, but most of our customers complete installation within downtime they’ve already scheduled. That way, plant productivity isn’t impacted.
Analyzers don’t require much maintenance, but a bit of attention will ensure a longer lifespan. Wiping the lens when dusty and cleaning the unit’s glass and cooling fans twice a year is usually all that’s needed.
There are two installation options for Analyzer units:
Self-installation: We designed Analyzer to be simple for our customers to quickly self-install.
Installation support: We can provide a quote for on-the-ground support with our experienced installation partners.
In either scenario, our team leads a thorough setup and calibration process once the Analyzer units are in place.
Our distribution partners cover North America and Europe, which means we can offer ongoing, on-the-ground assistance in some cases.
Instead of selling Analyzer units, we currently sell licenses, which include use of Analyzer units along with software updates and support from our cutomer success and data teams.
That allows us to give our customers access to system updates and hardware support as part of their existing subscription.
A Greyparrot Analyzer license includes the Analyzer hardware, along with access to the Analyzer portal for unlimited users.
We frequently update the Analyzer system to ensure it remains the most powerful AI waste analytics system available. As soon as we introduce an update to system, license-holders get instant access.
Learn more about pricing from a member of our team.
Updates include expansions to our recognition system, updates to the Analyzer portal, and the latest versions of our monitoring units.
We continuously train the AI that powers Analyzer, expanding the types of waste the system can recognise.
Our product team also introduce new ways to view, report and act on Analyzer data by adding to the Analyzer portal’s dashboards and exporting features.
The cost of an annual license varies depending on our customers’ needs, and the number of Analyzer units they deploy.
We do not currently offer free trials of the Greyparrot Analyzer system.
Reach out to us below, and a member of our team will answer your question as soon as possible.