RGS Nordic installs robotic sorting plant for construction waste in Copenhagen

RGS Nordic’s new fully automated sorting line for construction and demolition waste. (PHOTO: ZenRobotics)

Developed in collaboration with ZenRobotics and Terex Recycling Systems, the new plant eliminates manual sorting and is intended to improve material recovery.

The company, which handles around one-third of Denmark’s construction and demolition waste each year, said the new system enhances its existing capabilities.

“We’ve been sorting waste for many years—it’s the bread and butter of our operations,” said Rasmus Brødsgaard Buch, Chief Operating Officer of RGS Nordic.

“What we saw in the ZenRobotics and Terex Recycling Systems technology, combined with their expertise, was an extension and improvement of what we already do.”

The facility includes a TSD-280 3D trommel screen capable of processing up to 45 tonnes per hour. The screen separates oversize materials and removes the need for pre-shredding.

Following this, a ballistic separator classifies the waste into 2D, 3D, and sub-80 mm fractions. Ferrous metals are extracted by magnets, and a dedicated feeding bunker ensures a steady flow of material to the sorting line.

Four ZenRobotics 4.1 Heavy Picker robots perform the final separation stage. Each robot can sort up to 10 types of recyclable material in a single pass, handling objects between 80 mm and 1.2 m in size and weighing up to 40 kg. The robots use artificial intelligence to identify waste types and can be adapted to suit changing input streams or market needs.

The operation is controlled remotely using a digital monitoring system, which provides real-time data on material types and sorting performance. According to RGS Nordic, the plant’s automation also reduces employee exposure to waste handling.

The ZenRobotics 4.1 Heavy Picker robots can sort up to 10 types of recyclable material in a single pass, handling objects between 80 mm and 1.2 m in size and weighing up to 40 kg. (PHOTO: ZenRobotics)

Rasmus said: “Ultimately, our goal is to recycle or recover as much as possible. Mixed waste is largely unusable, but sorted materials can be returned to producers.

“That’s what we aim to do—serve inbound customers with a solution for the more challenging waste materials, and outbound customers with recyclable materials to be repurposed into something new.”

Rainer Rehn, Regional Sales Manager at ZenRobotics, said: “This installation reflects a growing global shift toward smarter, cleaner, and more circular waste management.

“As demand rises for recycled materials, facilities such as this at RGS Nordic are becoming essential.”