DataBeyond Empowers the Reduction and Resource Utilization of Mixed Municipal Solid Waste

Abstract:

 DataBeyond has innovatively developed an integrated “dual-network convergence” system, reducing the total volume of mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) requiring final disposal by 25%–35%.

1. Current Status of Mixed MSW Management

At present, the annual generation of municipal solid waste in both urban and rural areas in China has exceeded million tons. However, “mixed collection and mixed disposal” remains the prevailing reality in many regions.

Under this traditional model, high-value recyclables such as waste plastics and metals are only partially recovered through informal picking. Meanwhile, over 30% of low-value recyclables—including plastic films, waste textiles, and foam—are difficult to sort and costly to purify. As a result, most of them are ultimately incinerated or landfilled along with other waste.

This not only leads to significant resource loss but also results in persistently high incineration volumes and increasing pressure on landfill capacity.

The complex composition of mixed MSW has long placed traditional manual sorting in harsh working conditions characterized by being “dirty, disordered, and inefficient.” Sorting accuracy and efficiency are difficult to guarantee, making it a critical bottleneck restricting resource recovery rates. This also poses real challenges to the development of “zero-waste cities” and green, low-carbon initiatives.

2. Policy Support

In response to these challenges, the Chinese government has continuously introduced policy documents such as the “15th Five-Year Plan for Urban MSW Classification and Treatment Facilities” and the “Guidelines on Accelerating the Establishment of a Waste Recycling System.”

These policies clearly emphasize:

● Accelerating the construction of a waste recycling system 

● Promoting deep integration between recycling networks and municipal sanitation collection systems 

● Enhancing waste reduction, resource utilization, and harmless treatment levels 

Local governments have also provided support in land allocation, administrative services, and regulatory coordination, creating a favorable policy environment for technological innovation and model exploration in solid waste management.

3. DataBeyond’s “Dual-Network Convergence” System

As a company focused on intelligent sorting of solid waste, DataBeyond has pioneered a model integrating the recycling network and the municipal sanitation collection network.

This system establishes a full-chain classification and processing framework for mixed MSW, supported by market-driven mechanisms and digital technologies. It connects all stages from source separation to end-use utilization, promoting waste reduction, resource recovery, and harmless treatment.

4. System Objectives

The integrated system sets clear and quantifiable targets to ensure effective implementation:

Reduction:

● Reduce the total volume of mixed MSW requiring final disposal by 25%–35%, lowering government incineration subsidies and extending landfill lifespan. Resource Utilization:

● Reduce the incineration rate of low-value recyclables by ≥25%, enabling “high-value utilization of low-value materials” through refined sorting and converting waste into high-value recycled raw materials.

Harmless Treatment:

● Achieve ≥95% incineration rate for residual waste, ensuring safe, stable, and efficient conversion into clean energy. Digitalization:

 Achieve 100% traceability of transaction data, providing a complete data chain for upstream recycling and downstream processing, ensuring compliance in reverse invoicing and building a trustworthy circular economy ecosystem. 

5. Technical Pathways and Core Equipment

To address the different characteristics of high-value and low-value recyclables in mixed MSW, DataBeyond adopts differentiated technical approaches.

(1) Refined Sorting of High-Value Recyclables

Through five deployment models—including mobile collection units, revitalization of idle public spaces, utilization of transfer stations, upgrading community waste sorting rooms, and standardized recycling stations—DataBeyond achieves full coverage of recycling collection points.

Regional automated green sorting centers (5,000–10,000 m²) are established, equipped with:

● AI optical sorters 

● Embodied intelligent robots 

● AI-driven factory management systems 

Leveraging AI and multi-sensor fusion technology, high-value recyclables are precisely sorted by color and material, significantly improving product quality and value, while enabling stable supply to downstream industries such as paper mills, metal smelters, chemical fiber plants, and pelletizing facilities.

(2) Reduction and Resource Utilization of Low-Value Recyclables

Existing MSW transfer stations are upgraded into dual-function facilities combining reduction and resource recovery.

Through integrated processes including:

● Bag breaking 

● Screening 

● Dewatering 

● Compression 

A 25%–35% source reduction of MSW is achieved.

At the same time, DataBeyond’s intelligent sorting equipment extracts low-value recyclables with high precision.

These materials are transported to dedicated automated green sorting centers, where AI hyperspectral sorting technology is applied to refine and purify materials such as plastic films, paper, textiles, and foam.

The high-purity outputs can then be used as recycled raw materials for pelletizing, pyrolysis, or molding—realizing true “high-value utilization of low-value materials” and avoiding resource waste from direct incineration.

6. Selected Project Cases

DataBeyond’s solution for the reduction and resource utilization of mixed MSW has been implemented in multiple regions, including:

Beijing, China

Hangzhou, China (100 TPD)

Hong Kong, China

Taiwan, China (100 TPD)

Malaysia (100 TPD)

India (300 TPD)

South Korea (200 TPD)

Japan (300 TPD)

These projects have demonstrated adaptability across different waste management scenarios and achieved notable comprehensive benefits.

7. Driving Innovation in Global MSW Management

Looking ahead, DataBeyond will continue to focus on the reduction and resource utilization of mixed MSW, building on digital platforms and intelligent sorting technologies.

The company aims to further improve a comprehensive waste recycling system covering urban and rural areas, all waste categories, and the entire processing chain.

DataBeyond will also expand its proven solutions globally, sharing practical experience and delivering innovative momentum for the development of the circular economy—ensuring that technology effectively addresses every challenge in waste management.