Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), a leading innovator of purpose-built vehicles, equipment and services, announced today the introduction of its new artificial intelligence-enabled technology designed to detect material contamination in real time during refuse and recycling collection. Developed by Oshkosh’s McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing business in collaboration with Lixo, an industry leader in waste-stream analysis, the solution represents a significant step forward in enabling data-driven and sustainable refuse operations across North America.
The system leverages artificial intelligence, edge computing and cloud-based analytics to identify material contaminants in real time during refuse and recycling collection. By detecting and categorizing materials as they are deposited into the hopper, the technology can help haulers, municipalities and sustainability leaders manage contamination and divert more waste from landfills, while helping meet regulatory and environmental goals. Using computer vision and machine learning, the system can identify more than 80 contaminants with excellent accuracy, including plastic bags, yard waste, textiles and hazardous materials.
“Artificial intelligence and connected data systems are transforming how essential industries operate,” said Jay Iyengar, executive vice president and chief technology and strategic sourcing officer, Oshkosh Corporation. “At Oshkosh, we are integrating these technologies into the vehicles and equipment that support critical infrastructure to aid efficiency and sustainability in the communities they serve.”
The technology was developed in collaboration with Lixo, a Paris-based leader in intelligent waste-stream data analysis, combining McNeilus’ decades of refuse and recycling vehicle innovation with Lixo’s advanced artificial intelligence capabilities. This collaboration uses proven technologies and real-world deployments to deliver a new solution to customers.
“Material contamination detection represents the next evolution in refuse and recycling collection,” said Lee Dreas, president, McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing. “By giving customers real-time visibility into what’s entering the waste stream, this technology helps haulers demonstrate compliance, gives municipalities the data they need to improve recycling performance and enables both to operate more efficiently and sustainably.”
This innovation underscores Oshkosh’s commitment to delivering essential vehicles, technologies and services to customers operating in resilient, growing markets where rising demand for sustainability and data-driven solutions is transforming how work is performed.
Material contamination detection technology is available as a factory-installed option on new McNeilus vehicles and as a retrofit kit for mixed fleets. Integration with McNeilus’ ClearSky™ Intelligence telematics platform will allow customers to view contamination insights alongside fleet and operational data.
To learn more about McNeilus’ smart material contamination detection for clean collection, visit McNeilus Contamination Detection. To learn more about how Oshkosh is applying advanced technologies to help modernize essential industries, visit oshkoshcorp.com/brands-innovations.
