In Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium is known for football and marquee soccer matches. But AI-powered robotics sorting company rStream is using it as a test site for smarter trash sorting as the venue works to improve waste diversion.
Here's what to know
According to Waste Dive, rStream teamed up with Gillette Stadium to bring automated sorting to the loading dock area where the venue already gathers waste and recycling near its compactors.
There, a trailer-based computer vision system sorts materials on-site into recyclables, compostables, and trash.
rStream said the setup is intended for places like stadiums, airports, and universities that may not have the space or material volume for massive recycling-center equipment.
Across seven events, rStream pulled out 479,000 recyclable objects.
Ethan Walko, co-founder of rStream, told Waste Dive the process reaches about 99% accuracy and removes the need for workers to sort material by hand — a safety and quality-of-life improvement for staff.
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"This partnership with rStream helps us manage waste more responsibly and efficiently while creating a better working environment for our staff and providing data that helps us continuously improve our operations," said John Flaherty, senior vice president of operations at Kraft Sports + Entertainment.
More background
According to Walko, rStream creates a "digital record" of each event's waste stream that can help venues meet reporting needs, such as some MassDEP waste-diversion rules and venue-specific LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
During World Cup soccer matches at the stadium, FIFA encouraged venues to "set ambitious goals for reducing the amount of waste they create."
Walko said other major events and tours are also raising sustainability expectations, and that shift can bring real business value to large venues.
As sustainability plays a bigger role in attracting events, better sorting can help operators recover more materials, document progress, and remain competitive.
Keeping recyclables and compostables out of landfill-bound trash can also benefit surrounding communities by reducing contamination, conserving resources, and cutting some of the pollution tied to making new single-use products from scratch.
What's being done?
As it expands to other venues and airports, rStream is using the Gillette project as a proving ground.
The company also received funding through a $1.25 million Remade Institute grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to help refine the technology.
Walko noted that a fifth version of the system is expected later in 2027, with a more compact design that will no longer sit on a trailer. A smaller setup could make the tech easier to deploy in tighter spaces and more practical for additional markets.
"We are not just dropping a robot on the loading dock. We are giving the building a smarter way to run one of its toughest operations," said Ian Goodine, co-founder and CEO of rStream.
Where can I learn more?
Gillette Stadium is part of a broader push to improve how waste gets sorted and reduced. These stories look at robotic recycling lines, smarter trash scanning, facility upgrades, and sports-arena reuse programs.
• In Denver, AI recycling robots sort 25 tons daily faster than humans.
• Binit's brainy AI trash scanner helps households identify recyclables before contamination starts.
• A major waste company is investing in new sorting technology to adapt to shifting plastics.
• At Chicago's United Center, single-use bottles were replaced with refill stations and reusable cups.
• The Green Bay Packers backed battery recycling among fans through a local sustainability partnership.
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