"The facility in Rainham, east London is owned by Sharp Group, a family-run skip and waste management firm. The team here processes up to 280,000 tonnes of mixed recycling every year with 24 agency workers on its rapid conveyor belts."
"While Sharp Group is proud of its safety record, work-related injury and ill-health in the sector is 45% higher than other industries. Annual staff turnover runs at 40%."
"A robot, known as Alpha (Automated Litter Processing Humanoid Assistant) was being trained to pick through the rubbish. Automated robots are not new to the sector, but the use of a humanoid is unusual."
"TeknTrash founder and CEO Al Costa argues that copying human movement allows his robot to fit into existing plants without redesigning the machinery."
Recycling plants, like the one in Rainham, London, process vast amounts of waste but face significant challenges, including high staff turnover and safety risks. The industry has a work-related injury rate 45% higher than average, with a notable fatality rate. To address these issues, Sharp Group is experimenting with a humanoid robot named Alpha, designed to assist workers by mimicking human movements. This innovation aims to reduce the physical strain on employees and improve retention in a demanding work environment.
Read at www.bbc.com
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