Muscat – A group of students from the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Muscat has developed a smart system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to sort plastic waste – a breakthrough aimed at supporting Oman’s environmental sustainability goals.

Env.ai was conceived in early 2025 by Saif bin Jumaa al Hashar, a student of information technology, along with his teammates, after they observed how tonnes of plastic waste were being mixed daily with other refuse, complicating recycling and worsening pollution.

Determined to find a solution, the students designed a smart container capable of automatically identifying and sorting plastic waste using AI technology.

“In the Env.ai system, we used high-resolution cameras and intelligent algorithms to identify types of plastic according to international standards, and then automatically direct the waste to the correct container,” Hashar explained.

The system is also equipped with interactive screens that display awareness messages about recycling and environmental conservation – a feature the team believes can help build a culture of sustainability.

The innovation has already attracted national and international attention. The team represented Oman at London International Youth Science Forum 2025 and qualified for the finals of the Idea Makers Summit.