- Demonstrator
PlastiX
Drones and AI for sustainability
The PlastiX project was launched in 2019 during the SMART GREEN ISLAND Summer Camp and focuses on the AI-based detection and removal of plastic waste.
Since 2025, the project has been part of the „CirQmind – Circular Economy through Circular Society“ initiative and relies on a combination of drone technology, camera systems and artificial intelligence.
The aim is to develop a system that recognises, maps and sorts waste in order to efficiently recycle recyclable materials. PlastiX is a prime example of how technological innovation and environmental responsibility can work together. The AI demonstrators show how responsibility and progress go hand in hand.
They represent a future in which artificial intelligence, robotics and sustainability are not at odds with one another, but rather work together to pave the way towards a connected, intelligent and resource-efficient world.
Highlights
Video
FAQ
What is PlastiX?
PlastiX is a student project launched in 2019 as part of the SMART GREEN ISLAND Makeathon on Gran Canaria, which is testing the use of drones and artificial intelligence to detect, map and sort plastic waste. Since 2025, it has been part of the „CirQmind – Circular Economy through Circular Society“ initiative.
How does the technology behind PlastiX work?
The system combines drone imagery, camera systems and AI-based image recognition: drones detect plastic waste in the environment from the air, a trained AI classifies the objects detected, and the results are used to efficiently map recyclable materials and sort them for reuse.
What happens to the plastic waste that is identified?
As part of the CirQmind initiative, collected plastic enters the Recyclebar workflow: sorting, shredding, washing and controlled melting down to produce recycled material. This recycled material is used, amongst other things, to produce 3D-printing filaments for educational and demonstration objects, for example in the EU-funded EduDemoS project.
Who is behind PlastiX and how can you get involved?
PlastiX is an interdisciplinary student project that is being further developed through makeathons, workshops and educational projects. School pupils, university students and young engineers develop their own solutions for smart waste recognition and collection – contact details are available via ITQ GmbH and the Gerda Stetter Foundation.