AMP LIVE TALKS: Optimize your P&L: Smart techniques for tracking and improving operations

Across the recycling industry, operators are under growing pressure to do more with less. Labor shortages, volatile material markets, and stricter contamination standards have made running a profitable Material Recovery Facility (MRF) harder than ever. However, the expectations haven’t changed. Recovery rates need to rise, output quality has to improve, and downtime must be reduced. That’s where smart sortation comes in.

At AMP, we recently hosted a Live Talk on how operators can use AI-powered platforms to track and improve facility performance. The session brought together insights from our Technical Solutions team, highlighting real-world examples of how data is driving better decision-making on the ground. 

From managing uptime to fine-tuning shift schedules, facilities are now using AI to get ahead of the curve instead of reacting to problems after they’ve already hurt performance.

Smart Sortation in MRF Operations

Smart sortation combines robotics, computer vision, and artificial intelligence to identify and separate materials faster and more accurately than manual systems. In a typical setup, AI-powered systems process thousands of images per second, identifying items by type, color, texture, and brand. These systems can sort plastics by resin code, distinguish food-contaminated items, and track performance trends.

The value isn’t just in sorting accuracy. Smart sortation creates an entire layer of visibility that most facilities never had before. With our AMP ONE platform, operators get access to detailed metrics about recovery rates, downtime, throughput, and contamination. Instead of waiting for problems to become obvious, they can track changes in real time and make fast decisions that keep the lines running smoothly.

That shift, from reactive to proactive, represents a significant transformation in facilities' operations. Historically, much of the data about MRF performance was anecdotal or collected manually, often with delays or inconsistencies. With smart sortation, every shift, every bale, and every missed pick becomes a data point that can be used to improve outcomes.

Turning Data into Action

The key to smart sortation is turning that information into real-world operational improvements. AMP’s AI platform delivers detailed performance metrics and empowers operators to act on that data quickly and confidently. Below are several practical examples discussed during the Live Talk show that show how facilities use insights to improve day-to-day operations.

• Identifying Performance Dips in Real Time

When a sorting line underperforms, identifying the root cause fast is key. Instead of relying on guesswork, AMP’s platform flags performance drops as they happen and provides context, such as changes in inbound material quality or operational disruptions. 

For example, if Line 2 slows down during the night shift, the system might detect a correlation between contamination levels and that specific time window. With this visibility, operators can adjust equipment or shift resources immediately, often avoiding broader impacts across the facility.

• Using Data to Guide Staffing Decisions

Workforce management is one of the most persistent challenges in MRF operations. One facility used AMP’s real-time insights to spot a pattern: material quality dropped during specific delivery windows, which made sorting more difficult and recovery rates less consistent. 

Instead of overhauling the entire operation, they redistributed staff and recalibrated their sortation system to match the incoming load. That change improved output and efficiency without needing added headcount or equipment upgrades.

• Optimizing Maintenance Scheduling

Smart sortation platforms also help facilities schedule equipment maintenance more precisely. Instead of sticking to generic service intervals or reacting to unplanned downtime, facilities can use data trends to predict when specific components are starting to underperform. 

That means fewer surprises and a maintenance strategy that aligns with actual usage rather than assumptions. For example, if air jets on a line start misfiring or showing slower cycle times, the system flags it before it affects recovery rates.

• Tracking Contamination Back to the Source

Another facility used AMP’s analytics to monitor contamination patterns in their inbound material. Over time, they used that data to compare loads from different haulers. Some routes consistently delivered higher levels of non-recyclables, which made processing slower and reduced output quality. 

With this evidence, the facility approached the haulers with specific performance data. That led to stronger accountability, better incoming material, and more leverage in contract discussions. In effect, the facility extended quality control upstream into the supply chain.

• Proving Success Internally

Operators use AMP’s insights to solve problems, and they also use it to highlight what’s working. In one case, a customer made a targeted process improvement and used the platform to show a 15% increase in material recovery over time. That data helped the team secure funding for further upgrades. When operators can quantify success and share it clearly, it builds trust and momentum for future changes.

Smarter Reporting for Every Role

Not everyone in a facility needs the same information. That’s why our platform allows dashboards to be customized based on the user’s role. Operators can track pick rates and recovery in real time. Supervisors can monitor staffing levels and equipment status. Plant managers can pull historical data to look at trends and evaluate performance across multiple shifts or facilities.

Automated reporting makes sharing results with upper management or external stakeholders easy. When a process improvement boosts recovery, you can show it. One customer did that, using a data-backed success story to secure funding for an equipment upgrade.

This kind of reporting builds internal buy-in and keeps everyone on the same page. It also reduces the time spent compiling reports or troubleshooting issues manually. The result is a more efficient operation at every level.

Real-World Applications of AI in MRFs

AMP’s AI-powered smart sortation system is already in place at facilities nationwide, delivering measurable gains in operational performance and environmental impact. The AMP ONE platform is actively transforming how MRFs manage single-stream recycling, municipal solid waste, mixed plastics, and more.

• Fully Autonomous Processing with Minimal Manual Input

With AMP ONE, facilities no longer rely on continuous manual sorting or visual checks. After the material is loaded at the start, the system autonomously performs the sortation and tracking process until the end of the line. This includes classification, separation, and baling. 

The AI-driven neural network behind AMP ONE analyzes more than 200 billion items annually, learning from each data point and refining its performance over time. The outcome is cleaner material streams, tighter bale specifications, and fewer touchpoints required from staff. All of which reduce risk and labor dependency.

• Supporting a Range of Waste Streams

AMP ONE’s design allows it to handle diverse input materials without requiring major adjustments between runs. From curbside recyclables and MRF residue to mixed rigid plastics and black bag MSW, the system rapidly adapts to shifting feedstock characteristics. 

This flexibility is significant as contamination rates fluctuate or market demands change. Facilities now use a single, integrated platform to process a broader mix of materials. They no longer need separate lines or manual inspections to maintain recovery quality.

• Data-Driven Decision Support in Real Time

One of the most valuable aspects of AMP ONE is its built-in intelligence. The system monitors, records, and reports. Operators and managers can access real-time dashboards showing throughput, recovery rates, material trends, and system uptime. 

This ongoing stream of actionable data replaces static audits or delayed manual reporting, allowing users to intervene before issues escalate. The platform enables benchmarking and site-to-site performance comparisons in facilities managing multiple sites to support enterprise-level oversight.

• Extending Landfill Lifespan Through Higher Diversion

AMP ONE increases diversion rates by pulling more value from each ton of inbound material. This means less waste going to landfills, lower transport costs, and more efficient use of existing disposal infrastructure. In regions where landfill space is limited or costs are rising, this benefit compounds over time. 

The system’s ability to mine MSW directly unlocks commodities that would otherwise be buried. That includes recoverable plastics, fiber, and ferrous/non-ferrous metals.

• Enabling Carbon Sequestration Through Organics Capture

A unique environmental benefit of AMP’s platform is its ability to extract organic material from waste streams before decomposing in a landfill. Left unmanaged, these materials produce methane, a greenhouse gas more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide. 

AMP provides an offtake solution by diverting these organics for biochar production. Biochar is a stable form of carbon that, when applied to soil, remains there for thousands of years. This adds a long-term carbon capture component to MRF operations, which has traditionally been outside their scope.

• Supporting Regulatory and ESG Goals

With rising pressure from regulatory bodies and corporate ESG mandates, MRFs are increasingly expected to report material recovery and emissions impacts in greater detail. AMP ONE supports this requirement by automatically generating reports that align with these performance metrics. 

The system tracks and categorizes material types, calculates diversion rates, and measures contamination by source or load. Facilities can use this data to meet compliance needs, validate sustainability claims, or qualify for grants and performance-based contracts.

A Flexible Model for a Complex Industry

Traditional recycling systems often require massive up-front capital investments and long lead times. AMP ONE takes a different approach. Instead of selling a facility and handing over operations, we offer smart sortation. Customers pay based on how many tons they process, while we handle the operation.

This model removes the barriers that typically hold facilities back. This includes things like hiring, training, and day-to-day system management. With AMP managing the facility, operators can focus on strategic goals and be confident that their equipment is performing at a high level daily.

And it’s not just for large, multi-site corporations. Our customers range from small regional waste management companies with a single site to municipalities and national enterprises. The common thread is that they all want to improve recovery, reduce costs, and make data-driven decisions without adding complexity to their operations.

As pressures mount across the recycling sector, smart sortation offers a practical way forward. AI-powered systems bring speed, accuracy, and insight that traditional equipment simply can’t match. More importantly, they give facility managers and operators the tools to act confidently. They can make decisions based on data, not guesswork.

At AMP, we’ve seen the results firsthand. Facilities using AMP ONE are recovering more valuable material, reducing contamination, and gaining new leverage in everything from staffing to contracting. They’re operating with greater visibility, fewer surprises, and stronger outcomes.

If your facility is ready to make that leap, our team is here to help. With AI-driven smart sortation, you can take control of your operations and unlock new value in every ton you process.