EPA Awards KLAW Industries in NY $400,000 to Develop a System to Make Recycling Cheaper
Binghamton, NY (Oct. 29, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected KLAW Industries LLC, based in Binghamton, New York, to receive about $400,000 to develop a rapidly deployable, autonomous robotic sorting system to improve recycling facilities in disadvantaged communities. This grant is part of the EPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) initiative to support innovative solutions addressing environmental challenges, including waste management and sustainability. This week, EPA announced a total of $2.8 million in funding to seven small businesses through this program.
“I am so pleased this company right here in New York is helping to modernize the system of sorting materials for recycling and at the same time reducing costs,” said Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator. “By funding on-the-ground research, EPA is giving great ideas the chance to develop into feasible environmental and sustainable solutions.”
The recycling industry has largely remained unchanged since the 1980s, relying on manual labor and outdated machinery. This has resulted in high costs for municipalities, which face expensive and inefficient sorting practices. To address these issues, KLAW Industries has developed an automated robotic sorting system to modernize recycling processes. This new system is designed to quickly sort recyclables, potentially reducing costs for cities by 13%. It has demonstrated significant accuracy and efficiency, decreasing contamination levels and unnecessary hauling. During the initial phase, KLAW tested their system in Binghamton, achieving positive results. As they move forward, KLAW plans to implement a full-scale version of this technology, which could benefit various cities dealing with high recycling costs. The goal is to enhance recycling rates while also improving safety for workers in the industry.
For over 40 years, EPA’s SBIR program has funded small businesses as they create environmental technologies and bring them to the marketplace. SBIR projects are funded in a phased approach. For Phase I, EPA awards contracts of up to $100,000 for six months for “proof of concept” of the proposed technology. Small businesses that have received a Phase I award can compete for a Phase II award of $400,000 to further develop and commercialize the technology.
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