Neurogreen: the intelligent bin revolutionising waste sorting in Wallonia

This article is part of a series dedicated to exploring the journey of the winners of the 2nd edition of Go Circular. In this series, we highlight the inspiring initiatives of the laureates.

In an era where waste management remains a major challenge—particularly regarding out-of-home waste—Neurogreen has developed a smart bin (i.e., electric and connected) that offers a simple and efficient sorting solution while raising citizen awareness to effectively combat sorting errors. Through this solution, Neurogreen helps increase selective waste collection, improve sorting quality at the source, and thus better preserve the material’s value during recycling or reuse.

Indeed, sorting is the key element in extending the value of the resource used, whether for reuse or recycling. Every time waste is thrown into the wrong bin, it can spoil an entire batch of recyclable materials.

To address this issue, Neurogreen has developed a cutting-edge smart bin. This bin uses a combination of optical sensors and artificial intelligence software to detect the types of materials discarded, enabling precise and efficient sorting. It can automatically correct sorting errors and automate instructions for reusable packaging. Additionally, thanks to an algorithm, the bin collects real-time data on environmental impact, which is then available on an online dashboard. The collected data aims to support targeted awareness campaigns on sorting errors, thereby continuously improving the waste management process.

The ambition is to provide the Walloon recycling industry with high-quality secondary raw materials.

The company’s circular approach doesn’t stop there—it is truly holistic, from product design to the sustainable need it addresses and its innovative, circular business model. Neurogreen adopts a functional economy model, “Product as a Service,” offering rental contracts that include maintenance and designing repairable machines to extend their lifespan as much as possible.

The positive impacts of this project are numerous. By optimizing waste sorting at the source, Neurogreen’s solution significantly reduces processing costs in sorting centers. The purity of sorting leads to better recycling quality and thus greater value of recycled materials.

Moreover, the production of these products takes place in Wallonia and is carried out by a partner, with part of it even subcontracted to a sheltered workshop. The company contributes to boosting the local economy and creating jobs, thereby strengthening the region’s socio-economic fabric.

Thanks to financial support from Go Circular, Neurogreen can now move from the pilot phase to industrialization by optimizing their production line. This transition is accompanied by increased market value, thanks to the successful combination of a circular strategy and a patented technological innovation in 2022. These advantages position the company as a sector leader, ready to meet environmental challenges with innovative and sustainable solutions. Some partners have already placed their trust in the pilot phase, such as Decathlon, CHU UCL of Namur, the intermunicipal Tibi, and the football club Standard de Liège.

Neurogreen thus represents a highly inspiring Walloon case in the field of circular economy, offering tangible solutions for a cleaner and more prosperous future.