Peabody Recycling Center Reopens with AI-Powered Upgrades

The 54,000-square-foot facility features new sorting technology to boost recycling efficiency.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:43am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, geometric painting in muted earth tones depicting the complex material flows and sorting processes of an advanced recycling facility, conveying the technological sophistication behind sustainable waste management.The Peabody Recycling Center's new AI-powered sorting systems aim to boost efficiency and help Massachusetts reach its waste reduction goals.Peabody Today

The Peabody Recycling Center in Massachusetts has reopened after a major renovation project. The facility, operated by Republic Services, now features new AI-powered sorting equipment that can process up to 40 tons of recyclables per hour. The upgrades are part of the state's goal to reduce waste by 30% by 2030.

Why it matters

The improvements at the Peabody Recycling Center highlight the growing role of advanced technology in the recycling industry. As municipalities and states set ambitious waste reduction targets, facilities like this one are adopting AI and automation to boost efficiency and produce cleaner recycled materials.

The details

The Peabody Recycling Center was closed for 8 months in 2023 while Republic Services contracted Machinex Technologies to install new equipment. This includes ballistic sorters, conveyor systems, eddy current separators, and a Fire Rover safety system. The facility now uses AI to precisely identify and sort different recyclable materials, with human workers providing a final quality check.

  • The Peabody Recycling Center was closed from April to December 2023 for the upgrades.
  • The facility celebrated its grand reopening on April 7, 2026.

The players

Republic Services

A national waste management and recycling company that operates the Peabody Recycling Center.

Machinex Technologies

The company that was contracted to install the new AI-powered sorting equipment at the Peabody facility.

Kathi Mirza

Branch chief for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's Municipal Waste Reduction Program.

Chris Hayes

Senior project manager at Machinex Technologies.

Joe Ganno

Operations manager at Republic Services.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Peabody Recycling Center is a state-of-the-art facility designed to make precise recycling processing much better.”

— Brian Skehan, General manager, Republic Services

“We have very ambitious goals for the state: to reduce waste by 30% by 2030. And we know that recycling and the capacity to recycle more are very important parts of that equation.”

— Kathi Mirza, Branch chief, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

“Imagine taking 100 million pictures of an aluminum can crushed every way possible, and then it loads into the neural network, and it's able to identify it based on its two-dimensional shape on the belt.”

— Chris Hayes, Senior project manager, Machinex Technologies

“This is allowing us to use technology and to use people to get the best commodity, the best sort separation, that we can. It's allowing us to take in more tons per hour, which is allowing us to increase our sustainable footprint by soliciting more customers to bring us more recycle(able materials).”

— Joe Ganno, Operations manager, Republic Services

What’s next

Republic Services plans to use the upgraded Peabody facility as a model for improving recycling operations at its other locations across the Greater Boston area.

The takeaway

The Peabody Recycling Center's adoption of AI-powered sorting technology demonstrates how advanced systems can boost recycling efficiency and help communities meet ambitious waste reduction goals. This investment in sustainable infrastructure is crucial as municipalities work to build a more circular economy.