Compology, San Francisco, announced a new “Clean and Green” grants initiative on May 25. The grants will be offered to 25 municipalities of any size throughout the United States. Through the grant program, cities will be given free Compology’s technology, allowing them to take control of their landfill waste, improve recycling rates, lower carbon emissions and save money, the company says.
While many European countries recycle more than half of their total waste, the U.S. recycles less than a third. Decades of disinvestment in green technology has left many recycling facilities unable to properly sort materials and results in 30 percent of recyclable materials being sent directly to landfills. Compology’s smart camera and AI-powered waste metering technology help mitigate this problem, ensuring containments are identified and removed prior to entering a recycling facility, the company says.
Compology will provide each grantee with up to 10 of their military-grade smart cameras, which they’ll install on commercial municipal waste and recycling dumpsters throughout the city. Using AI software, Compology will then provide each municipality with data to reduce unnecessary and costly waste pickups, enhance recycling rates and highlight reduced carbon emissions. In addition to the environmental impacts, Compology’s technology results in an average of almost $2,000 in savings per year per dumpster, the company says, helping each city resize its service needs. When implemented across hundreds of dumpsters citywide, that is equal to millions of dollars saved each year.
“For far too long, cities and businesses have had to decide between doing the right thing for the environment or for budgets,” Jason Gates, CEO of Compology, says. “Our ecofriendly waste metering technology helps governments and corporations save thousands of dollars each year while having a positive measurable impact on their environment. Through our new grant program, we’re thrilled to help cities do good while doing well—helping them meet both their sustainability and budget goals.”
Compology’s Clean and Green grants will be awarded on a rolling basis.