Mid Valley Disposal Unveils $12 Million AI-Powered Recycling Expansion in Fresno

Mid Valley Disposal has launched a state-of-the-art processing line at its Fresno, California, facility, representing a $12 million investment in advanced recycling infrastructure. The expansion utilizes artificial intelligence and optical sorting technology to significantly increase throughput while reducing the operational hours required to process materials. This development marks a major shift toward automation in the Central California waste management sector, aiming to improve material purity and divert more waste from landfills.

Mid Valley Disposal, a 30-year-old waste management firm, has introduced what is now the largest and most advanced recycling processing line between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The $12 million project was funded in part by a $4.5 million grant from Cal Recycle awarded in 2025, following a design phase that began in 2024. CEO Joseph Kalpakoff emphasized that the upgrade allows the company to act as a better steward of the sustainability market by processing materials faster and creating cleaner streams of recyclables like cardboard, aluminum, glass, and plastic.

The facility’s new line features three AI-powered robots developed in partnership with California-based technology firm Glacier. According to Glacier’s Rebecca Hu-Thrams, these robots use AI-powered cameras to identify materials in real-time, allowing for precise physical sorting that traditional methods might miss. This technological integration is expected to boost the facility's throughput from 35 tons to 60 tons of recyclable material per hour, effectively nearly doubling its processing capacity.

Beyond capacity increases, the AI implementation has led to significant operational efficiencies, allowing the company to reduce its schedule from 72 hours over six days to just 35 hours over five days. Despite the increased automation, the expansion is expected to create 20 new jobs focused on the maintenance of the high-tech equipment. Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer noted that the investment supports the region's long-term economic and environmental success, particularly as Mid Valley Disposal continues to manage the 125,000 tons of recyclables it processes annually for several Central California counties.