Invest in Scalable Technology: Advanced AI systems, like RecycleOS, can dramatically improve recycling rates and resource recovery by identifying and sorting materials with greater speed and accuracy than human counterparts. For example, facilities using RecycleOS have increased recovery by 30%, reducing landfill waste while lowering labor demands, demonstrating how innovative technology can deliver measurable environmental and economic benefits.
As we face an unprecedented environmental crisis, the need for sustainable solutions has never been more urgent. This series seeks to spotlight the innovative minds and passionate advocates who are leading the charge in environmental conservation and sustainable practices. We aim to explore the most effective strategies, breakthrough technologies, and transformative policies that are shaping a more sustainable future for our planet. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing JD Ambati, CEO and Founder of AI and robotics company EverestLabs.
JD Ambati is an entrepreneurial executive with over 22 years of experience in AI, product development, strategic sales and strategy. He is responsible for growing companies from infancy to maturity by generating multi-million dollars in revenue and delivering value to customers and investors. JD built strategic revenue streams for various startups and public companies by developing global partnerships with leading b2b customers, agencies, and holding companies. JD has a Masters in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) and Bachelor of Engineering — Chemical Engineering.
Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?
Well, I pride myself on my ethnic background. Being from India has allowed me to cultivate a beautiful medium between the Global South and the Western world. On a trip back to India, I witnessed firsthand the staggering scale of waste mismanagement. I saw landfills that stretched farther than the eye could see and communities living alongside them. It left a lasting impression. My wife challenged me to use my technical background and entrepreneurial spirit to address this global problem. I think that ties back into that intersectional relationship between my ethnicity and my integration to American culture.
So, I began exploring the economics of waste management, understanding the crucial role of recycling, and how climate change is tied to the circular economy. That journey led to the creation of EverestLabs®, where we’re using AI, robotics, and data to reimagine what’s possible in recycling.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
One of the most memorable moments in EverestLabs’ early journey came during a visit to a recycling facility that was facing mounting challenges. Labor shortages had left them struggling to keep up with operations, and inefficiencies in their recovery processes were cutting into both their profits and sustainability goals. When we first proposed implementing RecycleOS®, the team’s skepticism was evident. Many had been in the industry for years and were understandably cautious about introducing AI-driven systems into such a hands-on environment.
After the installation, it didn’t take long to see the impact. RecycleOS® began identifying and sorting materials at speeds far beyond what the facility had managed before. Recovery rates shot up, and the team could finally shift their focus to higher-priority tasks instead of being stuck in a never-ending loop of manual sorting. What stood out most wasn’t just the efficiency gains — it was the palpable relief and renewed confidence among the staff.
Seeing the facility transform taught me two important lessons. First, innovation needs to be accessible and adaptable to build trust, especially in industries where change can be met with hesitation. Second, the real power of technology lies in its ability to complement human effort, solving real-world challenges while empowering the people who rely on these systems every day. It was a moment that reinforced why EverestLabs’ mission matters so much.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Empathy: Understanding the pain points of recycling facility operators was essential. Early on, we visited countless MRFs, asking teams about their struggles. Their stories informed our design, ensuring RecycleOS wasn’t just advanced but truly practical.
Resilience: Building something new isn’t easy, and there were moments when challenges seemed insurmountable. For instance, convincing early investors that AI could transform recycling wasn’t straightforward. But persistence paid off, and today, our work speaks for itself.
Curiosity: Staying curious has driven innovation at EverestLabs. When manufacturers began altering materials — like changing the type of plastic in a detergent jug — we adapted RecycleOS to recognize subtle differences, ensuring recovery didn’t suffer.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?
Right now, we’re really focused on expanding the capabilities of RecycleOS, our AI-powered recycling solution. We’re working on integrating using data to effectively handle overall sorting and expanding material recognition to improve recovery rates even further. This technology is not just about making recycling more efficient — it’s about fundamentally changing how industries approach waste. By empowering recycling facilities with tools to recover more and reduce environmental strain, we’re helping communities, businesses, and governments take actionable steps toward a circular economy.
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview. What pivotal moment led you to dedicate your career to sustainability, and how has that shaped your approach to environmental challenges?
My trip to India really served as a wake up call. I was struck by the sheer scale of waste mismanagement; the piles of recyclables and trash scattered everywhere, impacting both the environment and local communities. It wasn’t just the sight of it that stayed with me; it was the realization of the untapped potential in those materials. My wife urged me to channel my technical expertise and entrepreneurial grit into solving problems that truly matter. That challenge became a turning point, reframing waste from a burden into an opportunity — a resource that could be recovered, reused, and transformed.
This experience profoundly shaped my approach to environmental challenges. I realized that tackling sustainability isn’t just about good intentions; it’s about creating innovative, scalable solutions that work within the systems already in place. For me, that meant focusing on how AI, data, and automation could redefine what’s possible in waste recovery. Collaboration has also been central to my journey — working with governments, industries, and communities to create impact together. Sustainability is a shared responsibility, and real change happens when everyone brings their strengths to the table.
Could you describe a groundbreaking project or initiative you’ve been involved in that significantly contributed to sustainability?
One of the most groundbreaking projects we’ve undertaken was transforming the operations of a material recovery facility (MRF) by installing our AI-powered vision and robotics systems on their last-chance line. This particular line is critical because it represents the final opportunity to recover recyclable materials before they are lost to the landfill. For this facility, like many others, labor shortages and inefficiencies had made it challenging to meet recovery targets and maintain profitability. Our system’s ability to integrate seamlessly into their operations and operate with minimal downtime delivered them measurable results quickly.
Once installed, the impact was immediate and transformative. Our AI technology, trained on a dataset of over 2 billion recyclable objects, identified materials with 95%+ accuracy, even under challenging conditions like crushed or dirty objects. The system adapted to the unique pace, texture, and layout of their conveyor belts, ensuring optimized recovery without requiring extensive adjustments to their existing setup.
As a result, their recovery rates improved by an impressive 30%. This meant that a significant amount of material that would have previously gone to waste was now being repurposed in the circular economy. The reduced dependence on manual labor also eased staffing pressures, allowing them to reallocate their workforce to other critical areas and improve overall operational efficiency.
This project was a powerful validation of our mission: to prove that sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive but can, in fact, amplify one another. By demonstrating the economic value of environmentally responsible practices, we’re inspiring other facilities to take the leap toward smarter, more sustainable operations. This initiative has since become a model for how AI and automation can transform the recycling industry and contribute to a cleaner, greener planet.
How do you navigate the balance between economic growth and environmental preservation in your sustainability strategies?
This balance is at the core of EverestLabs’ mission. We don’t see economic growth and environmental preservation as opposing forces but as complementary goals. We are hoping to demonstrate how sustainability can improve operational efficiency and profitability. For example, by increasing recovery rates by 30% at a facility, we show that businesses can thrive while reducing their environmental impact. It’s about making the business case for sustainability through data-driven results and partnerships that create mutual value.
What emerging technologies or innovations do you believe hold the most promise for advancing sustainability and why?
AI and automation are game-changers in sustainability. From optimizing energy usage to improving waste recovery, their applications are vast. Innovations in bio-based materials and carbon capture technologies offer exciting possibilities for reducing environmental impact at the source. The promise lies in these technologies’ scalability and adaptability.
Based on your research or experience, can you please share your “5 Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet”?
1 . Invest in Scalable Technology: Advanced AI systems, like RecycleOS, can dramatically improve recycling rates and resource recovery by identifying and sorting materials with greater speed and accuracy than human counterparts. For example, facilities using RecycleOS have increased recovery by 30%, reducing landfill waste while lowering labor demands, demonstrating how innovative technology can deliver measurable environmental and economic benefits.
2 . Promote a Circular Economy: Encourage industries to design products with end-of-life reuse in mind, ensuring materials can be easily recovered and reintroduced into production cycles. This mindset not only reduces waste but also fosters sustainable manufacturing systems that lower resource extraction and mitigate environmental harm over time.
3 . Engage Communities: Sustainability is a collective effort that requires grassroots participation alongside systemic change. Programs that educate communities about proper recycling, reducing consumption, and adopting sustainable habits are critical in creating lasting cultural shifts toward environmental responsibility.
4 . Collaborate Across Sectors: Partnerships between governments, businesses, and nonprofits create the foundation for systemic change by pooling resources, expertise, and influence. Our work with The Recycling Partnership demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can secure funding, improve infrastructure, and amplify impact in ways that no single entity could achieve alone.
5 . Measure and Optimize with Data: Use data to track progress, identify inefficiencies, and continually refine strategies for greater impact. Sustainability isn’t static; it evolves with new challenges and opportunities, and leveraging analytics ensures that our approaches remain effective and adaptable in a rapidly changing world.
In your view, what are the key steps individuals, communities, and governments need to take to achieve a more sustainable future?
Achieving a sustainable future starts with individual action. Each person has the power to reduce their consumption, prioritize reusable products, and recycle correctly. By understanding and adhering to proper recycling practices, individuals can prevent contamination in recycling streams and contribute to a more efficient waste management system. Furthermore, lifestyle shifts, such as supporting businesses that prioritize sustainability and reducing reliance on single-use plastics, can have a cumulative effect when embraced collectively. Personal responsibility is the foundation for broader systemic change, and education plays a key role in empowering people to make informed choices.
On a larger scale, communities must prioritize investment in infrastructure and education. Modernizing waste management systems, improving access to recycling facilities, and running awareness campaigns can help ensure that sustainable practices are both accessible and effective. Governments, in turn, have a critical role to play by creating policies that incentivize sustainable practices, such as tax benefits for green businesses, penalties for excessive waste generation, and funding for innovation in clean energy and waste recovery technologies. By working together — individuals driving grassroots change, communities fostering local solutions, and governments enabling systemic progress — we can create a unified front to address environmental challenges and move toward a more sustainable future.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would start a movement that seeks to shift perspectives on waste. Instead of seeing it as a problem, I’d implore people to view it as an untapped resource. Through education, technology, and collaboration, we could help communities and businesses realize the economic and environmental benefits of proper waste management. This movement could catalyze a global shift toward a circular economy, reducing pollution, conserving resources, and creating jobs. It’s a vision of sustainability that works for everyone. We could even call it “The Wealth of Waste!”
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
Keep up with our website, especially our blog!
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
The Future Is Green: JD Ambati Of EverestLabs On Their Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.