How Decoset optimized its waste management with AI
- Waste Quality
- Sorting & treatment centers
Balma (31), France
Challenge
Manual audits: costly, slow, and rarely representative
Before Akanthas, Decoset was running into structural limits in its characterization work. Audits were done manually, tying up several hours of labor for a cost that often exceeded €1,500 per characterization. This point-in-time format made it impossible to track how the waste stream was evolving — or to get a reliable view of flows over time.
These operations also exposed teams to safety risks, since workers had to handle waste directly during analyses.
On top of that, a major difficulty remained: clearly proving to downstream facilities that the flows being sent out met sorting requirements.
The stakes were therefore multiple:
- Reduce the high cost of characterization.
- Save time in audit execution.
- Get a reliable view of the waste stream.
- Limit the risks tied to manual waste handling.
- Clearly justify downstream flow compliance.
hours per characterization
in annual losses linked to poor material identification in bulky waste
Solutions
AI-automated characterizations
To address these operational constraints, Decoset deployed Akanthas’ Waste Quality solution within a transfer unit that handles the mixed bulky waste flows coming from all its drop-off centers. The technology fully automates the characterization of bulky waste flows, replacing manual audits with a fast, precise, and reproducible visual and algorithmic analysis.
With Akanthas, teams can analyze drop-offs without physically handling waste. Material types are identified automatically and compiled into reports that technical teams and local authorities can put straight to use.
This new approach delivers a finer view of the waste stream — making it easier to decide where to act, what to communicate, and how to raise awareness.
- Deployment of the analysis solution for bulky waste flows.
- Automatic identification of waste types.
- Generation of reliable, ready-to-use reports.
- Measurement of the recoverable share to fine-tune awareness campaigns.
Benefits
Immediate gains on cost, time, and sorting quality
From the very first uses, Decoset saw significant results — both operational and economic. Characterization, which used to take nearly four hours and tie up several staff members, is now done in a few minutes.
The total cost has been divided by five compared with a traditional manual audit.
The data generated also allows Decoset to fine-tune sorting guidelines based on local specifics and adapt awareness campaigns to the recoverable waste share observed. The organization can now also justify the compliance of flows sent downstream — reinforcing transparency across the process.
Finally, eliminating manual handling entirely reduces the risk to teams. Characterizations are now carried out safely, visually, and automatically.