Recycling Plant Faces Labour Shortage Challenges
A busy recycling facility in Rainham, East London, is dealing with ongoing staff shortages in a tough working environment.
The plant processes around 280,000 tonnes of mixed recycling every year. Workers sort materials on fast moving conveyor belts where items like shoes, broken electronics, and construction waste pass by constantly.
The job is physically demanding and noisy. Dust is present throughout the facility, making conditions even harder for staff. Safety risks are also a concern in this sector, which reports higher injury and illness rates compared to many other industries.
High Turnover Continues to Pressure Operations
Keeping staff has become a major challenge. The facility reports an annual turnover rate of around 40 percent.
Line supervisor Ken Dordoy explains that many workers struggle with the pace. He notes that pickers are constantly working as the belt never stops for long, which leads to frequent staff replacements.
To manage fatigue, workers rotate between different sorting tasks every short interval, and the belt is occasionally paused to give brief breaks.
Robots Enter Recycling Workflows
To address staffing issues, the company is testing automation.
Unlike traditional industrial machines, this robot is designed to move in a human like way. Developers believe this approach allows it to work within existing facilities without major redesigns.
Training the Robot to Sort Waste
Alpha is still in early development and is undergoing training. It is learning how to identify different items on the conveyor belt and how to pick them up correctly.A worker uses a virtual reality headset to demonstrate sorting techniques.
According to TeknTrash founder and chief executive Al Costa, the training process focuses on two main skills. The first is recognising materials on the belt. The second is learning how to handle and lift them safely and efficiently.
