Industrial recycling is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Until recently, the separation and processing of materials largely relied on traditional manual or mechanical methods. Today, thanks to robotics, these tasks are becoming automated, increasing efficiency and reducing workplace risks. What is truly innovative, however, is that much of this automation is being achieved using refurbished industrial robots—a sustainable solution that enables a genuine circular economy within the environmental sector itself.
The sorting of recyclable materials—plastics, metals, glass, or electronic components—demands precision, speed, and resilience. Refurbished robots from ABB, KUKA, FANUC, and Yaskawa are demonstrating that they can perform these tasks with the same effectiveness as new robots, but at significantly lower cost and with a smaller environmental footprint.
In Europe, for example, several waste treatment plants already use refurbished FANUC M-10iA robots equipped with 3D cameras and vision algorithms to identify and separate materials by colour and composition. In Germany, an electronics recycling company employs refurbished KUKA KR 60 robots to dismantle components and extract reusable parts with pinpoint accuracy—a task that was previously impossible to automate without a high risk of damaging the materials.
These cases clearly show a trend: automating recycling does not require investment in brand new robotics, but rather in intelligent integration. Refurbished robots can be reprogrammed for a variety of tasks—from plastic sorting to handling used batteries—making them easily adaptable to different workflows. Most importantly, they allow small and medium-sized plants to join the green revolution without relying on multi-million budgets.
According to data from the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC), the recycling sector in Europe provides more than 300,000 jobs and helps to reduce around 700 million tonnes of CO₂ per year. If automated processes using refurbished robotics are added to this chain, energy efficiency and operational performance could increase by up to 30%. This is not just about technology: it is about redesigning the future of work and the planet.
Refurbished robotics also plays a key role in electronic recycling, one of the greatest challenges of the coming decade. Six-axis industrial robots, combined with vision systems and force sensors, can dismantle circuit boards, separate connectors, or sort high-purity metals with a level of detail that would be impossible to achieve manually. This turns each refurbished robot into a tool for value recovery and environmental sustainability.
Beyond the ecological impact, there is an economic argument that cannot be ignored: a refurbished robot costs between 40% and 60% less than a new one. For a recycling plant, this can mean doubling the number of robots installed without increasing the initial investment. More automation, lower costs, greater profitability, and a positive environmental impact.
In this new paradigm, recycling is no longer just a waste management process; it is a technology industry. And refurbished robotics is the engine making it accessible, flexible, and sustainable.
Interested in learning more or exploring robotic solutions tailored to your needs? Don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re here to help you find the safest and most efficient path forward.