Recycling and sorting are essential processes in managing waste and promoting a circular economy, where materials are reused and repurposed rather than discarded. Photonic technologies are increasingly playing a transformative role in these processes by enabling rapid, precise, and non-invasive identification of materials in complex waste streams. They offer scalable, smart, and environmentally friendly solutions that are essential to modernizing the recycling industry and achieving European Green Deal objectives. Techniques such as hyperspectral imaging, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy allow for the real-time detection and classification of a wide variety of materials, including plastics, metals, glass, and composites. or detection of hazardous contaminants in e-waste. Integrated into automated sorting systems with machine learning and robotic handling, photonic sensors significantly reduce human labor, improve throughput, and lower contamination rates.

In this online meeting, we will bring the whole supply chain to the room, and we will discover the latest developments in this field and the remaining challenges to be solved to ensure the efficient operation of the recycling and sorting systems.