US Ecology has formed an exclusive partnership with machine learning technology company, Smarter Sorting, to provide retailers an automated solution to more safely and compliantly classify and segregate RCRA, hazardous and non-hazardous waste. In this three part informational miniseries, we will review the innovative technologies that set this data-driven solution apart from other retail waste solutions. Our first installment introduces True Compliance, which is achieved when Smarter Sorting’s Product Genome™ powers the decision engine built within the suite of Single Item Sorter (SiS) solutions tools.
Part One: True Compliance
Retail and pharmacy customers partnering with US Ecology and Smarter Sorting for waste compliance solutions begin with the installation of a RetailSiS™ in the back of stores. This machine features a built-in scanner and scale to streamline identification and classification of an unsellable product. A quick scan of the product’s bar code maximizes operational efficiencies and safety by instantly accessing intuitive technology that provides employees clear instructions on how to compliantly manage the unsellable product in back of store prior to a US Ecology Technician arriving on site for pick-up.
This intuitive technology, known as Smarter Sorting’s Automated Classification Engine™ (ACE), sets itself apart by categorizing data on an individual product level which creates a Product Genome. This core, centralized intelligence found in every SiS machine has information inputted from over one million product safety data sheets (SDS) that classify products’ core physical and chemical attributes.
Computational chemistry methods allow the ACE to immediately understand the Product Genome, and how a product’s chemical attributes express themselves within the product formulation. This takes 14 core physical attributes and turns them into hundreds of product-specific data points.
These data points are then fed into our federal, state and local regulatory artificial intelligence database, which is groomed by regulatory experts with over 50 years of experience, to create classifications. These classifications provide information of how the products can be shipped and disposed of, all while keeping safety, sustainability and generator status levels top of mind.
The final result? With the power of big data, a full instructional account of a product’s traits and classifications is available with just a quick scan of a RetailSiS gun in the back of a store. Retailers no longer need to fear risked compliance if a regulator drops by to audit waste buckets, or increased generator status and waste transportation fees from over-classification. Employees can make safe decisions for every product, every time, finally giving retailers True Compliance of all non-sellable products.
Be on the lookout for Part Two of the Innovation Miniseries this summer: Data-Driven Decisions that compile waste volume trends across stores to identify more sustainable alternatives for product end-of-life decisions. Until then, learn more about the technology revolutionizing the retail waste industry.
