FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A longstanding Fresno business is bringing artificial intelligence into its fight for a cleaner Central California.<\/p>\n
“These communities rely on us to not just collect it, the waste at the curbside or at the businesses, but they rely on us to process it and be a steward of the sustainability market here,” says CEO Joseph Kalpakoff.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, waste management company Mid Valley Disposal unveiled a new state-of-the-art processing line.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old business now holds the largest and most advanced line of its kind between Los Angeles and San Francisco.<\/p>\n
It’s equipped with three AI-powered robots for sorting valuable recyclables like cardboard, aluminum cans, glass, and plastic bottles.<\/p>\n
“With the AI technology, with the optical sorters, we can process faster, we can have cleaner streams and reduce the residual that’s going back to the landfill,” Kalpakoff said.<\/p>\n
The improvement will increase production while reducing operating hours from six days a week at 12 hours a day to five days a week at 7 hours a day.<\/p>\n
The robots will also add 20 jobs, with employees required to perform maintenance on the new line.<\/p>\n
Mid Valley partnered with California-based AI company Glacier to help develop the robots that use optical sorters to improve processing speed and reduce residual waste going to the landfill.<\/p>\n
“Our robots actually use AI-powered cameras that can detect, in real time, all of the materials coming down that line, and then the robots are able to physically sort those materials,” says Rebecca Hu-Thrams.<\/p>\n
Mid Valley began the design process for the expansion in 2024 and received a $4.5 million grant from Cal Recycle in 2025, totaling a $12 million investment.<\/p>\n
The company serves several Central California counties, processing 125,000 tons of recyclables last year.<\/p>\n
“They’re investing not only in infrastructure, but in relationships, in local jobs and the long-term success, really, of this entire region,” says Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.<\/p>\n
Mid Valley Disposal expects this new processing line to boost its throughput from 35 to 60 tons of recyclable material per hour.<\/p>\n
For news updates, follow Vincent Camarillo on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n