STADLER Anlagenbau GmbH, a long-established leader in recycling plant engineering, has partnered with environmental startup everwave to enhance river cleanup efforts. Together, they have developed SortX, the world's first mobile sorting container designed to tackle plastic pollution at its source.
The SortX mobile sorting container represents a key advance in waste management technology. Weighing six tons, it can be easily transported to remote locations, bringing sorting capabilities directly to waste collection sites. With a processing capacity of about 30 cubic meters of waste per hour, SortX efficiently separates materials into recyclable and non-recyclable categories.
Designed for adaptability, SortX features four manual sorting containers and a sturdy wooden floor, making it suitable for various environments. A frequency-controlled sorting belt allows for adjustable speed settings, optimizing the process based on the type of materials and personnel available. This flexibility enhances the efficiency of cleanup operations while reducing the environmental impact of waste transport.
The prototype, deployed in Kukës, Albania, has already delivered promising results. Paired with everwave's garbage collection boat, SortX has processed around 30,000 kilograms of waste since mid-June. With PET bottles accounting for a large portion of the collected waste, SortX has achieved an 80% recyclability rate, demonstrating the potential of this innovative approach to river cleanup.
This collaboration brings together two companies at very different stages of their journeys. STADLER, with its 233-year history in industrial engineering, provides a wealth of experience in recycling technologies. The company's team of around 600 qualified employees offers tailor-made full-service solutions, from conceptual design to maintenance of complete recycling and sorting systems.
everwave, founded just five years ago, contributes cutting-edge ideas and a dedicated focus on water ecosystem preservation. The company has already collected over 1.6 million kilograms of waste from rivers, using innovative technologies like garbage collection boats and artificial intelligence to detect and analyze waste.
The companies share a commitment to environmental protection. Julia Stadler, Chief Digital Officer at STADLER, stated, "We are immensely proud of our cooperation with everwave. Together, we have developed an innovative sorting container that demonstrates that recycling is not only feasible and sensible but also economically viable. The mobility of this sorting container allows for flexible deployment in various locations."
Tilman Flöhr, CTO and Co-founder of everwave, highlighted their daily efforts to address the pollution of waterways by waste, commenting "We collaborate with local partners and employ our technologies to collect, sort, and process waste, ultimately closing the waste loop."
"Thanks to the SortX mobile sorting container, we can significantly simplify logistics and establish the recycling chain directly at the collection site. In the future, for example, this will enable us to set up CleanUp Camps in remote areas. We firmly believe that cooperation is the key to a sustainable future, and we are very grateful to have STADLER Anlagenbau as our partner,” Flöhr added.
Both companies express optimism about the future of this project, anticipating strong interest in the SortX solution, particularly in regions where circular economy practices are still developing. As the partnership continues to refine and optimize the SortX technology, they are positioned to make a significant impact on global efforts to clean up rivers and prevent plastic waste from reaching the oceans.
