What Recycleye does

Recycleye Ltd is a London-based AI and robotics company developing computer vision and robotic systems for the waste management industry, primarily serving Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), waste management operators, local authorities, packaging producers with Extended Producer Responsibility obligations, and electronics recyclers across the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, and the United States. Founded in 2019 by Victor Dewulf and Peter Hedley, the company's core product suite comprises Recycleye Vision (a computer vision system identifying waste items by material, object, and brand using the proprietary WasteNet dataset of more than 3 million labeled images), Recycleye QualiBot (a 6-axis AI-powered robotic picking system co-developed with FANUC performing 55 picks per minute), Recycleye QuantiSort (an AI optical sorter with air jet ejection capable of up to 1,000 ejections per minute), and Recycleye Insights (a data analytics dashboard for composition analysis and operational KPIs).

Recycleye monetizes through a hybrid model combining one-time hardware sales of robotic and optical sorting systems, recurring subscription revenue from Vision and Insights software, and professional services for installation, commissioning, and ongoing support. Distribution is conducted via a direct enterprise field-sales motion with regional Technical Sales Managers covering UK, Ireland, France/Benelux, Iberia, and Italy, supplemented by channel partnerships with FANUC (robotics manufacturing and service), MSS (optical sorter integration with 500+ units deployed globally), STADLER (Construction & Demolition installations), Tetra Pak (EPR-funded infrastructure investments), and the CP Group MRF integration business following the April 2026 majority stake acquisition. The company has raised approximately $22M+ across a £3.5M seed round (September 2021, led by Promus Ventures), a £741K Innovate UK grant (March 2022), and a $17M Series A (February 2023, led by DCVC).

Name

Recycleye

Legal name

Recycleye Ltd

Website

https://recycleye.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Recycleye develops AI-powered computer vision and robotic sorting systems for Material Recovery Facilities and waste management operators, serving enterprise waste majors and EPR-driven packaging producers across Europe and the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI Waste Sorting Equipment

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Advanced/Optical Sorting & Quality Control Services (NIR, AI, Robotics) (BPALADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Source-Separated Recycling (Paper/Plastics/Metals/Glass) Processing (IMAIAFAE), E-Waste (WEEE) Collection, Refurbishment & Recycling (IMAIAFAH), Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion) (EUAIAKAM)

Keywords

• AI waste sorting
• Robotic recycling systems
• Computer vision recycling
• Material recovery solutions
• Optical sorting technology

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. AI Robotics Systems (QualiBot): Sale of AI-powered robotic picking systems for waste sorting. Systems are retrofittable to existing conveyor lines, with the robot performing physical picking tasks 24/7. Revenue from hardware sales plus ongoing support and maintenance contracts.
2. Optical Sorting Systems (QuantiSort): Sale and deployment of AI-powered optical sorters using air jet ejection technology for high-volume waste sorting. Includes integration with MSS optical sorting equipment.
3. Vision and Analytics Software (Recycleye Vision + Insights): Computer vision systems installed on conveyor belts for material identification and composition analysis. Provides real-time data dashboards and analytics for operational optimization.
4. Professional Services: Installation, commissioning, and ongoing technical support services. Includes site audits, customization, and training for MRF operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Recycleye develops AI-powered sorting equipment and analytics for material recovery facilities, combining proprietary computer vision, robotics, optical sorters, and data dashboards. The systems identify waste items by material, object type, and brand in real time, enabling automated picking, high-volume optical sorting, and composition analysis to replace manual labor in waste sorting operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WasteNet: The world's largest visual database of waste items with over 3 million training images for deep learning and computer vision.
• Recycleye QualiBot®
• Recycleye QuantiSort®
• Recycleye Vision
• Recycleye Insights

Products and services

• Recycleye Vision AI computer vision system that identifies individual items on waste streams by material, object type, and brand at up to 60 frames per second. Analyzes 100% of waste streams versus 0.05% required by UK regulation, detecting 28 different material classes and distinguishing food-grade versus non-food-grade plastics. Installed on conveyor belts at material recovery facilities.
• Recycleye QualiBot (Robotics) 6-axis AI-powered robotic picking system co-developed with FANUC that performs 55 successful picks per minute, operates 24/7 with consistent performance, and is retrofittable to existing conveyor belts. The robot is 75% lighter than comparable units and delivers up to 33,000 object picks per 10-hour shift for automated quality control and material sorting in MRFs.
• Recycleye QuantiSort AI-powered optical sorting system using air jet ejection technology for high-volume waste stream classification. Achieves up to 1,000 ejections per minute depending on belt width, features high-resolution cameras, LED illumination, and SpiralShield ejection nozzle technology. Available widths of 1,200 mm, 2,000 mm, and 2,800 mm.
• Recycleye Insights Data analytics dashboard providing composition analysis, stream purity metrics, plant downtime monitoring, hazard detection, and KPI tracking for material recovery facilities. Enables real-time decision-making for MRF operations and tracks performance across sorting systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% purity with less than 1% contamination achieved at FCC Environment HDPE sorting line
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, minor and flagship.

• IrenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2024Partnership with Italian multi-utility Iren for installing 6 Recycleye Vision AI analysis systems at Amiat sorting facility in Collegno, Turin. Systems deployed on paper and carton sorting lines.
• MSS (Material Sorting Systems)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Partnership with MSS for QuantiSort optical sorter technology. MSS has over 500 units deployed globally, providing proven ejection technology combined with Recycleye's AI vision system.
• Veolia Germany U-Start ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Participation in Veolia Germany's U-Start startup program for evaluating AI sorting technology in German market.
• CiteoflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2021Project OMNI partnership with Citeo, Valorplast, and Total to develop AI technology for detecting 'food-grade' vs 'non-food grade' plastic packaging. Citeo is a mission-led business focused on packaging recycling.
• ValorplastflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2021Partner in Project OMNI for developing food-grade plastic detection technology. Valorplast contributes operational expertise in sorting and recycling of household plastic packaging.
• TotalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2021Project OMNI partner committed to producing 30% recycled polymers by 2030. Contributes industrial and R&D expertise to improve recyclability of household waste plastics.
• FANUCcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Exclusive UK partnership with FANUC, one of the world's largest robotics manufacturers, to co-develop Recycleye QualiBot robotic picking systems. FANUC provides manufacturing capability and Europe's service network for maintenance and spare parts support.
• Imperial College LondoncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Academic research partnership for developing WasteNet, the world's largest visual database of waste items. Collaboration enables advanced machine learning research for waste identification and sorting applications.
• Delft University of TechnologycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Academic partnership contributing to WasteNet dataset development and AI research for waste sorting technology, alongside Imperial College London.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AMP Robotics: US-based leader in AI-guided robotic sorting for recycling MRFs. Closest direct competitor — applies computer vision and robotics to automated waste picking with comparable technology stack and target customer base of material recovery facilities.
• Greyparrot: UK-based AI waste analytics company providing computer vision for material recovery. Highly comparable on the vision/analytics layer — same geographic market, same MRF customer segment, complementary to Recycleye's robotic and optical sorter offerings.
• ZenRobotics: Finland-based pioneer of AI-powered robotic waste sorting. Direct competitor on robotic picking technology; acquired by Terex, giving it industrial-scale backing. Competes for the same C&D, MSW, and commercial waste sorting contracts.
• Sadako Technologies: Spanish AI waste-sorting company applying deep learning to identify materials on conveyor belts. Direct peer competing in European MRF market with similar vision-based sorting value proposition and comparable customer types.

Broad incumbents

• TOMRA: Norwegian global leader in optical sorting and sensor-based equipment for recycling, mining, and food. Established incumbent with deep MRF relationships and large R&D budget to integrate AI into NIR-based platforms — primary competitive threat.
• Steinert: German manufacturer of magnetic, sensor, and optical sorting equipment for recycling and mining. Established incumbent serving MRFs with traditional sensor sorting — represents the existing installed base Recycleye must displace or integrate with.
• Pellenc ST: French optical sorting equipment maker with deep European MRF presence. Comparable target customer and adjacent optical sorting technology — direct substitute for Recycleye's QuantiSort offering.
• Machinex: Canadian designer-manufacturer of material recovery facilities and sorting equipment. Provides MRF design and equipment broadly — overlaps with Recycleye's customer base and post-CP-Group acquisition represents an integrator-channel peer.
• BHS (Bulk Handling Systems): US-based designer and manufacturer of MRF equipment and sorting systems. Broad incumbent serving North American recycling operators — competitor and potential distribution partner for Recycleye's US expansion.

Emerging players

• Picvisa: Spanish optical sorting equipment provider with AI-based classification capabilities. Smaller-scale European competitor with overlapping focus on waste-stream characterization via vision systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/recycleye
• Facebookfacebook.com/recycleye

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Recycleye