AI-enhanced garbage bins aim to solve food service’s waste problem

Companies offering high-tech trash cans equipped with smart cameras, scales and sometimes touchscreens gather granular details about items being discarded down to the type of food and whether it was cooked or chopped. — Image by freepik

Restaurants, buffets and caterers looking to cut down on food waste have a new tool at their disposal: AI-powered waste bins.

Leanpath Inc, Winnow Solutions Ltd and Orbisk B.V. are among the companies offering high-tech trash cans equipped with smart cameras, scales and sometimes touchscreens. The systems gather granular details about items being discarded down to the type of food and whether it was cooked or chopped.