Italy’s Unicoop Firenze Rolls Out New Smart Bin

By: Trademagazin editor Date: 2025. 08. 06. 09:51

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Regional Italian retailer Unicoop Firenze is rolling out a new smart bin, called Otto, in its Coop.fi stores to improve waste sorting and environmental sustainability.

Developed by the Tuscan startup Ganiga Innovations, the bin uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically identify and sort waste with 95% accuracy, the retailer noted.

Instead of having multiple bins for different materials, Otto has a single opening for waste disposal.

Customers simply place an item into the opening, and an internal camera and sensors identify the waste type by comparing it to a database of over a million images.

Using computer vision, the bin then automatically sorts the item into one of its four internal sections – paper, multi-material, organic, or unsorted.

A display screen also informs users of the type of waste disposed of and the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) saved, promoting better recycling habits.

Pilot Programme

Pilot programmes at two locations since late 2024 have shown that the use of Otto has led to an average 70% reduction in unsorted waste, mainly paper and plastic.

In just six months, this effort has prevented CO2 emissions equivalent to what 50 trees absorb in a month. This is a crucial step for Unicoop Firenze, which aims to achieve a 90% separate waste collection rate by 2030, up from the current 82%.

Unicoop Firenze plans to install Otto in its largest stores and shopping centres.

The company sees Otto as a key solution to the common problem of incorrect separate recycling in public areas, where contaminating materials often undermine recycling efforts.

‘A Major Step Forward’

Nicola Fredducci, head of energy and environment at Unicoop Firenze, added, “This bin represents a major step forward, allowing us to increase the rate of separate waste collection and encouraging it in common areas, where proper waste sorting is typically very difficult.

“Using it will encourage members and customers, who will be able to view in real time the CO2 avoided through proper waste disposal. The bin will therefore also be a useful tool for raising awareness and empowering the community towards more responsible waste management,”