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| TeknTrash | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Full name | TeknTrash Robotics |
| Founded | United Kingdom |
| Founder | Al Costa (CEO) |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Industry | Robotics, Waste management |
| Products | ALPHA humanoid robot |
| Website | tekntrash.com |
TeknTrash (also styled as TeknTrash Robotics) is a United Kingdom-based robotics company that develops AI-powered humanoid robots for waste management and recycling applications. The company was founded by Al Costa, a serial entrepreneur, and focuses exclusively on building robots that can handle waste selection tasks that are repetitive, unsanitary, and hazardous to human workers. Its flagship product is ALPHA, the Automated Litter Processing Humanoid Assistant.[1][2]
TeknTrash was created based on the observation that waste handling, both in industrial environments and in homes, is dangerous, unsanitary, and unhealthy for workers. The company set out to develop humanoid robots specifically designed to take over these tasks.[2]
Al Costa is a serial entrepreneur who has founded companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, China, and Brazil. His first startup was acquired by a company listed on NASDAQ. Costa is also the author of five books, including a science-fiction novel, and previously taught Big Data and Machine Learning at a university in Spain.[3]
In April 2025, TeknTrash partnered with Sharp Group, a UK waste management company, to launch a pilot program testing the ALPHA robot at Sharp Group's facility in Rainham, East London. The facility handles and processes 2,800 tonnes of waste per week. The pilot aimed to demonstrate that humanoid robots can safely and effectively sort waste alongside human workers.[1][4]
ALPHA (Automated Litter Processing Humanoid Assistant) is TeknTrash's flagship humanoid robot, designed as a mobile, dexterous robot capable of performing waste selection tasks on recycling lines. Unlike traditional robotic arms used in waste sorting, which are stationary, ALPHA is built for mobility, dexterity, and perception.[1]
Key features include:
After the pilot program concludes at Sharp Group's Rainham facility, TeknTrash plans to use it as a launchpad for ALPHA's broader rollout across the UK and across 1,000 plants in Europe over the following 24 months.[1]