At Agecko, our primary goal is to find new ways to streamline waste management in business. As the UK’s 2050 net-zero goal approaches, it’s up to people like us to find solutions and hit key targets. As technology improves, we examine how it can serve as a modern solution to the issues we’ve faced for years.
In 2025, it seems like all anyone can talk about is AI or artificial intelligence. As such, we’re going to do the same.
People classify most AI language models as machine learning models. The AI learns, makes well-judged assessments and performs tasks using the data it receives.
This can help with organisation and problem-solving needed to effectively and sustainably manage your business’s waste. Sectors such as energy and logistics already utilise AI to enhance efficiency and reduce carbon footprints. Waste management is the natural next step.
Example 1- Personalised AI systems
Currently, Agecko provides our clients with bespoke environmental reporting, helping businesses to better understand their waste. Highlighting your waste and carbon emissions helps people to understand the benefits of sustainable action.
Using AI, businesses could streamline their journey to net-zero. AI can understand your business’s waste management by analysing the data from Agecko’s monthly reports.
Creating a database with a complete understanding of your business’s sustainability helps you identify and organise vital facts. This will help you to track the progress of your sustainability targets, so you can continuously improve. It could even provide you with new targets based on the progression you have undergone and what you are capable of achieving.
Example 2- Waste organisation
Waste management companies could benefit from integrated AI systems, helping to make their services more efficient.
If an AI receives data from a specific location, it can identify trends and predict when collections are needed. This approach helps reduce waste overflow and ensures timely collection. Additionally, AI can review trends in waste based on location, assisting local authorities in their waste management organisation. Predictive planning can lead to fewer unnecessary waste collections, which will require less fuel, and, therefore less CO2 emissions.
Waste management companies could use AI to provide customers with bespoke services based on their waste and carbon production. If you have any questions about your progress, an AI chatbot could provide you with answers. You could also receive bespoke solutions and even organise new ways for your business to improve its sustainability.
The cons
No technology is a miracle, so we need to address the elephant in the room.
At the time of writing, AI is a highly unsustainable industry. The development and training of deep-learning algorithms requires massive amounts of electricity, most of which is created thanks to fossil fuels.
Additionally, it uses huge amounts of water. In 2022, data centres used 460 terawatt hours of electricity, with this expected to double by 2026. This has also driven a massive increase in greenhouse gas emissions, with Google reporting a 48% rise since 2019.
Training and powering AI consumes as much energy as powering a small country. As generative AI becomes larger and more complex, the impact they have on the environment will continue to rise.
It doesn’t have to be this way either. Some start-ups are looking into developing ‘Green AI.’
Green AI offers an alternative to the current system and runs on sustainable, renewable energy. This side of AI is yet to have a significant breakthrough. Those looking to incorporate AI into might have to limit their usage or find ways to work around the status quo.
As waste management evolves, Agecko can provide you with an efficient, streamlined service to get the most out of your waste. AI could be an incredible tool for helping your business act in a more sustainable way. However, it’s of little use if using the tool results in significant environmental damage.
Agecko have helped many businesses reach key sustainability targets thanks to our bespoke reporting and tailored waste management plans. Our team of waste experts gain a deep understanding of our clients’ waste, no AI needed. We can do the same for you, too.
If you’re looking for help managing your waste, be sure to get in touch. Agecko is dedicated to changing your waste, not you.
