Glacier, a recycling robotics company based in San Francisco, has announced a successful funding round of $7.7 million. The investment was led by NEA and Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, with additional contributions from AlleyCorp, Overture Climate VC, and VSC Ventures.

The primary focus of this funding will be on team expansion and further development of Glacier’s AI-enabled robots. These robots are designed to streamline recyclable sorting processes while providing real-time data on recycling streams for businesses. The company aims to enhance its recycling capabilities, especially after partnering with Amazon to improve traceability and recovery processes for recyclable materials.

Led by Areeb Malik and Rebecca Hu, Glacier’s robots utilize advanced AI capabilities to identify over 30 different materials, ranging from plastic bottles and aluminum cans to specific items like toothpaste tubes and cat food cans. Moreover, these robots are capable of sorting challenging materials such as grocery bags and trash bags, which are traditionally difficult to handle using conventional recycling methods.

The partnership with Amazon is significant, as it aims to assess the impact of AI and robotics in identifying and aggregating novel packaging materials for recycling or repurposing. This collaboration aligns with Amazon’s long-term commitment to reducing landfill waste and increasing the use of recycled materials in packaging.

“We’re excited to continue supporting Glacier’s mission of eliminating waste by automating recycling with AI and robotics,” said Ann Bordetsky, a partner at NEA.

Glacier’s technology has already shown promising results in improving recycling rates and preventing metals and plastics from ending up in landfills and oceans. The company’s robots not only reduce hazardous tasks for workers but also ensure high-quality recycling output across recycling centers in the US.

“We believe we’ve developed the right technology to solve the significant climate issue of waste,” stated Areeb Malik, co-founder of Glacier.

The funding round follows a series of achievements for Glacier, including acceptance into Elemental Excelerator’s 12th cohort and securing a significant grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. With strategic partnerships, pilot programs, and ongoing deployments nationwide, Glacier remains dedicated to combating climate change one recyclable item at a time.

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