Tetra Pak finalizes US$1.8M  AI upgrade for UK carton recycling in Scotland

UK – Tetra Pak has wrapped up its 2025 investment drive in the UK by funding AI-powered optical sorting technology at Levenseat Resource Management’s materials recycling facility in Central Scotland. 

This marks the third site in a series of upgrades aimed at improving the recovery of food and beverage cartons from mixed waste streams. 

The system, Recycleye QuantiSort®, employs cameras and artificial intelligence to identify cartons, followed by pneumatic valves that eject them for further processing.

The installation at Levenseat covers regions like Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumbartonshire, allowing the facility to handle larger volumes of recyclable materials. 

Earlier this year, Tetra Pak supported robotic sorting arms at J&B Recycling in Hartlepool, capable of processing up to 33,000 items per 10-hour shift with 95 % purity. 

In July, Cumbria Waste Management in Carlisle adopted the QuantiSort® technology, achieving over 98 percent purity in carton output and serving as the UK’s initial deployment of this method.

The total spend for these enhancements reaches US$1.8 million, drawn from a dedicated US$3.1 million fund for UK sorting infrastructure. 

This effort fits into Tetra Pak’s global annual outlay of US$44 million to advance carton collection and recycling worldwide, working with partners along the supply chain. 

The company has long partnered with UK local authorities to expand these systems, now reaching nearly three-quarters of councils that collect cartons curbside.

Awantika Chadha, Sustainability Manager at Tetra Pak UK, stated that the firm remains dedicated to advancing a circular economy through such technologies. 

She noted the approach at Levenseat could guide future expansions in Scotland and the UK.

Victor Dewulf, Co-founder and CEO of Recycleye, described the Scottish rollout as a key achievement. 

He highlighted how AI enables flexible waste management solutions for facilities and authorities.

Angus Hamilton, CEO of Levenseat Resource Management, expressed pride in the partnership, adding that the upgrade delivers more value to local communities by refining recycling processes.

A report by the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE UK) emphasizes the need for such infrastructure to ensure cartons reach reprocessing stages effectively. 

Mandy Kelly, ACE UK’s Chief Executive, welcomed the Levenseat project as progress toward scaled sorting with high-quality outputs.

In a recent update, Tetra Pak announced plans for a second carton recycling plant in the Netherlands, set to open in late 2025 and process waste from Belgium, the Netherlands and parts of Germany. 

This facility will handle up to 25,000 tons annually, supporting cross-border efforts to close recycling loops.

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