Tetra Pak invests in robotic sorting technology at UK recycling facility
Two AI-powered automated arms installed at J&B Recycling’s Hartlepool MRF to improve food and beverage carton recycling rates.
Tetra Pak has announced a new investment to upgrade the food and beverage carbon sorting capabilities at J&B Recycling’s material recycling facility (MRF) in Hartlepool.
The project, delivered in collaboration with British tech start-up, Recycleye, involves the production and installation of two robotic arms designed to improve sorting at the MRF.
The facility currently handles materials from several local authorities across the North of England, including Newcastle City Council, Sunderland City Council, North Tyneside Council, Hartlepool Council, and Hull Council.
The installation at J&B Recycling will feature Recycleye’s Qualibot technology, which automates manual picking operations with the capacity to sort up to 33,000 objects per 10-hour shift. The system was co-developed with robotics manufacturer, FANUC, to sort plastics, non-ferrous and fibre materials.
Vikki Jackson-Smith, Managing Director at J&B Recycling, commented: “This technology upgrade will improve the efficiency of our operations and support the local authorities we work with as they prepare for the transition to Simpler Recycling.”
According to Recycleye, the AI-powered sorting system can achieve a purity rate of up to 95 per cent. Each robot is equipped with pick, rotate, and shoot functionality, and uses pressure sensors to avoid empty picks. The technology also includes a near real-time dashboard for remote performance monitoring.
Victor Dewulf, Co-founder and CEO of Recycleye, explained: “We believe that technology is a crucial part of the solution to improve recycling systems - and our robotic arm has a track record of improving carton sorting for waste streams. It has been a smooth retrofit with minimum disruption at site to install these two robotic arms and quickly start recovering food and beverage cartons.”
Tetra Pak commits £34 million to carton recycling
The Hartlepool facility is one of three UK MRFs to receive similar investments from Tetra Pak, with the other sites to be announced later this year. Tetra Pak’s total investment in UK sorting infrastructure in 2025 amounts to £1.4 million.
This initiative forms part of Tetra Pak’s wider annual commitment of over £34 million to expand food and beverage carton collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure globally. This investment includes plans for a second carton recycling plant to open in the Netherlands in the second half of 2025.
Awantika Chadha, Sustainability Manager at Tetra Pak UK, added: “We believe in, and are working towards, a highly effective recycling system. Today’s announcement of the robotic arm installation at J&B Recycling demonstrates our commitment to improving the UK’s recycling infrastructure.”
