Electronic waste, the A2A plant is expanding in the Bollate prison

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The A2A Group inaugurated a new robotic line on 21 October at the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) treatment plant, managed by Amsa within the Second Prison House in Bollate. The structure, operational since 2018 and created within a peculiar context at European level for attenuated custody and the active participation of prisoners in the activities offered, represents a virtuous model of circular economy and socio-work inclusion. In fact, it not only allows the valorisation of the critical raw materials contained in WEEE, such as rare earths and precious metals fundamental for the ecological transition, but also offers a concrete professional training path.

Artificial intelligence

The new line inaugurated by A2A, developed in collaboration with Hiro Robotics, exploits artificial intelligence and collaborative robotics. Unique in its kind, it allows you to significantly reduce treatment times to 3.5 minutes per monitor compared to the current 10 and increase productivity by 100%, improving the precision in the separation of materials and making the entire management cycle more efficient. The “LaboRaee” project currently employs 5 employees and, thanks to this new advanced automation technology, will involve a growing number of prisoners and will contribute, through qualified upskilling paths, to the professional growth of the people employed.

WEEE collection

In Lombardy, approximately over 5,750 tonnes of R3 category electronic waste, TVs and monitors are collected every year: with the robotic system, the structure – authorized for 1,000 tonnes per year – could process up to 17% of what is collected throughout the Region.

«With the inauguration of the new robotic line at the Bollate plant, Amsa promotes a circular economy model that includes both environmental sustainability and social inclusion. – commented Marcello Milani, CEO of Amsa – WEEE constitute a real urban mine and with the technology presented today we will increase the treatment capacity by increasingly valorising precious resources such as aluminium, copper and rare metals. At the same time, we are helping to encourage the reintegration into the labor market of employed people through the acquisition of new valid and in-demand professional skills.”

Growth of skills

«Today marks a new step forward along the path of technological innovation, growth of professional skills, but above all growth of the person who always remains at the center of everything, to protect their dignity and integrity. – commented Giorgio Leggieri, director of the Bollate Prison – Only with structured collaboration between institutions and the business system is it possible to make the punishment useful. Both for the person detained as an opportunity for change and for the community as compensation for the damage suffered.”