Cutting-Edge Computer Vision Technology in Small Recycling Centres
The Hiller family shows how it's done
28.07.2026 · Laura Neusser
Many operators of small recycling centres assume that automated material recognition is only for the big players. Too complex, too expensive, too much system for just a few deliveries per day. BHRZ Parsberg didn't think so – and since early 2026, they've been demonstrating why this assumption can be a costly mistake.
What is BHRZ Parsberg?
BHRZ Bauschutt- und Holzrecycling Zentrum Parsberg GmbH is a modestly sized recycling business in Parsberg, in the Upper Palatinate region, right in the heart of the Bavarian Jura. Around 20 deliveries arrive there every day – not a massive operation, but a business with clear standards of quality. The company accepts mineral construction waste, timber, plastics, scrap tyres and other recyclable materials, processing them responsibly.
Managing directors Silvester and Fritz Hiller have been running Fritz Hiller GmbH for years, an established business in the natural stone trade – deeply rooted in a region famous for its limestone. BHRZ is their new venture: same region, new premises, new sector – but with the exact same commitment to quality.
The argument that counts: A single misthrow is all it takes
Mineral construction waste sounds like a straightforward material flow. But it isn't. Plasterboard, aerated concrete or asbestos ending up in the wrong pile can render an entire batch unrecyclable – with immediate consequences for revenues, disposal costs and regulatory compliance.
And that is precisely the core of the issue: with around 20 deliveries a day, only a single one needs to go wrong to cause significant damage. A lower volume doesn't protect you – it merely shrinks the window of time before a mistake becomes apparent.
Silvester Hiller was well aware of this when establishing BHRZ. That's why he looked for a solution to automate delivery checks early on – and reached out to Optocycle via email.
Silvester Hiller
— Managing Director, BHRZ Parsberg
“Even with a smaller volume of deliveries, it makes perfect sense – because individual misthrows can have enormous economic consequences.”
From the first phone call to installation
Optocycle co-founder Max-Frederick Gerken recalls the initial contact: “During the first phone calls with Silvester, we hit it off straight away.” The subsequent online meeting went, in his words, “incredibly well and successfully” – both generations of the Hiller family were convinced right from the start.
An on-site visit in the Bavarian Jura followed. Together, they analysed the site, the entrance, the logistics – and determined the best position for the Truck Imager. The installation went swiftly. The system has been in productive use since early 2026.
How the Truck Imager works – even with low volumes
The Truck Imager is Optocycle's machine learning solution for automatic material recognition directly at the weighbridge. The camera captures the bed of every incoming lorry during the weighing process. A machine learning model analyses the image in real time via edge computing and instantly provides an objective assessment of the material composition – including contaminants.
This is crucial, particularly for smaller yards like BHRZ:
- Every single delivery counts – with only a few lorries per day, there is no high volume to cushion the blow of an error
- No staff required – the system runs fully automatically, without any extra effort on site
- Objective documentation – in the event of a dispute, you have visual data, not just opinions
- Growth on a solid foundation – clean documentation from day one allows scaling without blind spots
Conclusion: Small recycling centres benefit just as much as large ones.
On closer inspection, the argument “We are still too small” turns on its head. Precisely because BHRZ Parsberg is a young, compact business, every misthrow has a disproportionately high impact. Delivery checks supported by computer vision are not a luxury here – they are risk management.
Silvester Hiller puts it in a nutshell: “We wanted to know what was coming in from the very start. No guesswork – actual knowledge.”
If you run a small or medium-sized recycling centre and are wondering whether Optocycle makes sense for you: BHRZ Parsberg is proof that the answer is yes.
Do you run a recycling centre and want to automate your delivery checks? Arrange a non-binding consultation with Optocycle now.
State-of-the-Art Computer Vision Technology in Small Recycling Yards
The Hiller family shows how it's done
28.07.2026 · Laura Neusser
Many operators of small recycling yards think that automated material recognition is only for the big players. Too complex, too expensive, too much system for just a few deliveries a day. BHRZ Parsberg didn't think so – and since the beginning of 2026, they have been demonstrating why this assumption can be a costly mistake.
What is BHRZ Parsberg?
BHRZ Bauschutt- und Holzrecycling Zentrum Parsberg GmbH is a modestly sized recycling business in Parsberg, in the Upper Palatinate region, right in the heart of the Bavarian Jura. They receive around 20 deliveries a day – not a major operation, but one with clear quality standards. The company accepts mineral construction waste, wood, plastic sheeting, old tyres, and other recyclables, processing them responsibly.
Managing directors Silvester and Fritz Hiller have run an established natural stone trading business, Fritz Hiller GmbH, for years – deeply rooted in a region famous for its limestone. BHRZ is their new venture: same region, new site, new industry – but with the same commitment to quality.
The argument that counts: A single incorrect load is all it takes
Mineral construction waste sounds like a straightforward material stream. But it isn't. Gypsum plasterboard, aerated concrete, or asbestos ending up in the wrong pile can make an entire batch non-recyclable – with direct consequences for revenues, disposal costs, and regulatory compliance.
And that is precisely the core of the issue: with around 20 deliveries a day, only one needs to go wrong to cause significant damage. A lower volume doesn't protect you – it just reduces the window of time before an error becomes apparent.
Silvester Hiller was well aware of this when setting up BHRZ. That is why he looked for a solution to automate delivery inspections early on – and reached out to Optocycle by email.
Silvester Hiller
— Managing Director BHRZ Parsberg
“Even with a smaller delivery volume, it makes absolute sense – because individual incorrect loads can have enormous economic consequences.”
From the first phone call to installation
Optocycle co-founder Max-Frederick Gerken recalls the initial contact: “In our first phone conversations with Silvester, we hit it off straight away.” The online meeting that followed went “very well and successfully” in his words – both generations of the Hiller family were convinced from the start.
An on-site visit to the Bavarian Jura followed. Together, they analysed the premises, the entrance, and the logistics – and decided on the best position for the Truck Imager. The installation was carried out swiftly. Since the beginning of 2026, the system has been in active use.
How the Truck Imager works – even with low volumes
The Truck Imager is Optocycle's machine learning solution for automatic material recognition directly at the weighbridge. The camera captures the cargo bed of every incoming lorry during weighing. A machine learning model analyses the image in real time via edge computing and immediately provides an objective assessment of the material composition – including any contaminants.
This is crucial, particularly for smaller yards like BHRZ:
- Every single delivery counts – with only a few lorries a day, there is no high volume to buffer an error
- No staff deployment required – the system runs fully automatically, without extra effort on the yard
- Objective documentation – in the event of a dispute, you have image data, not opinions
- Growth on a solid foundation – clean documentation from day one means scaling without blind spots
Conclusion: Small recycling yards benefit at least as much as large ones
On closer inspection, the argument “We are still too small” turns on its head. Precisely because BHRZ Parsberg is a young, modestly sized business, every incorrect load has a disproportionately high impact. Computer vision-supported delivery inspection is not a luxury here – it is risk management.
Silvester Hiller sums it up: “We wanted to know what was coming in from the very start. Not guessing – knowing.”
If you run a small or medium-sized recycling yard and are wondering if Optocycle makes sense for you: BHRZ Parsberg is proof that the answer is yes.
Do you run a recycling yard and want to automate your delivery inspections? Arrange a non-binding consultation with Optocycle now.
State-of-the-art Computer Vision Technology at Small Recycling Centres
The Hiller family shows how it's done
28.07.2026 · Laura Neusser
Many operators of small recycling centres believe that automated material detection is only for the big players. Too complex, too expensive, too much system for just a few deliveries a day. BHRZ Parsberg didn't think so – and since the beginning of 2026, they have been showing why this assumption can be a costly mistake.
What is BHRZ Parsberg?
BHRZ Bauschutt- und Holzrecycling Zentrum Parsberg GmbH is a modestly sized recycling business in Parsberg, in the Upper Palatinate region, right in the heart of the Bavarian Jura. Around 20 deliveries arrive there every day – it is not a massive operation, but one with clear quality standards. The company accepts mineral construction waste, wood, plastic sheeting, old tyres and other recyclable materials, processing them responsibly.
With Fritz Hiller GmbH, managing directors Silvester and Fritz Hiller have been running an established natural stone trading business for years – deeply rooted in a region famous for its limestone. The BHRZ is their new venture: same region, new site, new industry – but with the very same commitment to quality.
The argument that matters: A single incorrect disposal is all it takes
Mineral construction waste sounds like a straightforward material stream. But it isn't. Gypsum plasterboard, aerated concrete or asbestos ending up in the wrong pile can render an entire batch non-recyclable – with direct consequences for revenues, disposal costs and regulatory compliance.
And that is precisely the core of the issue: with around 20 deliveries a day, only a single one needs to go wrong to cause substantial damage. A lower volume doesn't protect you – it merely shrinks the window of time in which a mistake is spotted.
Silvester Hiller was well aware of this when establishing BHRZ. That is why he looked for a solution to automate delivery inspections early on – and got in touch with Optocycle by email.
Silvester Hiller
— Managing Director, BHRZ Parsberg
“Even with a smaller delivery volume, it makes absolute sense – because individual incorrect disposals can have massive financial consequences.”
From the first phone call to installation
Optocycle co-founder Max-Frederick Gerken recalls the initial contact: “In our first phone calls with Silvester, we hit it off immediately.” The subsequent online meeting went, in his words, “incredibly well and successfully” – both generations of the Hiller family were on board right from the start.
This was followed by an on-site visit in the Bavarian Jura. Together, they analysed the premises, the entrance, and the logistics – and decided on the best position for the Truck Imager. The installation went ahead swiftly. The system has been in productive use since early 2026.
How the Truck Imager works – even with low volumes
The Truck Imager is Optocycle's machine learning solution for automatic material recognition directly at the weighbridge. The camera captures the cargo area of every incoming lorry during the weighing process. A machine learning model analyses the image in real time via edge computing and immediately provides an objective assessment of the material composition – including any contaminants.
This is crucial, especially for smaller yards like BHRZ:
- Every single delivery counts – with only a few lorries per day, there is no massive volume to absorb a mistake
- No staff deployment required – the system runs fully automatically, without extra effort on site
- Objective documentation – in the event of a dispute, there is visual data rather than just opinions
- Growth on a solid foundation – clean documentation from day one means scaling up without any blind spots
Conclusion: Small recycling centres benefit at least as much as large ones
On closer inspection, the argument “we are still too small” actually turns on its head. Precisely because BHRZ Parsberg is a young, manageable business, any incorrect disposal has a disproportionately high impact. Here, computer vision-based delivery control is not a luxury – it is essential risk management.
Silvester Hiller sums it up perfectly: “We wanted to know what was coming in right from the start. Not guess – know.”
If you run a small or medium-sized recycling centre and are wondering whether Optocycle is right for you: BHRZ Parsberg is the proof that the answer is yes.
Do you operate a recycling centre and want to automate your delivery inspections? Book a no-obligation appointment with Optocycle now.
IFAT 2026 is over – and we still haven't come back down to earth. Five days in Munich, hundreds of conversations, and plenty of new faces (and old acquaintances): for Optocycle, it was the first active participation at the world's leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management – and what a debut it was.
The Trade Fair: A Superlative Industry Gathering
IFAT Munich 2026 has once again broken all records. Around 3,300 exhibitors from over 60 nations presented their solutions for a more sustainable world at the Munich exhibition grounds. With over 140,000 visitors, IFAT is more than just a trade fair – it sets the pace for the global recycling and waste management industry. If you're not here, you're not in the game.
And we were there. With our own stand, a strong team – and a clear message.
The Stand: Impossible to Pass By
Hall A6, Stand 151 – anyone who knows IFAT knows that location is everything. As part of the joint stand with Blasius Schuster GmbH & Co. KG, DIE GRÜNEN ENGEL, G.E.D. and remineral, we had a corner stand in one of the highest-footfall positions in the entire exhibition. Nobody could pass us by – in the most literal sense.
This stand wasn't just a stand – it was a networking hub. The who's who of the circular economy, leading decision-makers from municipalities, waste management and recycling companies, technology partners and industry experts – they all dropped by. The quality of the conversations we were privileged to have over those four days is something we couldn't have bought in any other format.
Anyone who was still hesitant was ultimately won over by coffee, beer, Leberkäse (meatloaf) and Weisswurst (white sausage).
A huge thank you to Blasius Schuster and Die Grünen Engel for the invitation and the opportunity to present our solution in this setting. This partnership has more than paid off.
The Exhibit: Mostly DIY – and Still an Eye-catcher
What many didn't know: our trade fair exhibit was mostly homemade. Experiencing a self-built Truck Imager in action – our camera system and software that is used directly at the weighbridge – was very well received by many visitors and made the functionality and the various application possibilities of our technology easy to understand. Sometimes you don't need a highly polished trade fair production, just a solution that works and speaks for itself.
The Thriller of the Fair: Our Stolen Truck
What would a good review be without a story that people will still be talking about years later?
Day 3, early morning. Despite stand security, our remote-controlled lorry – a central element of our exhibit – was stolen during the night. A real crime right in the middle of IFAT. 🚨
What did we do? Had a quick gasp, then took action. Within a very short space of time, we had not only organised an emergency solution for the exhibition day, but also launched a public search on LinkedIn – complete with a reward: one month of free Truck Imager for whoever could get us a replacement truck.
The response from the community was truly moving. Frederic Weihberg from Munich Municipal Waste Management (Abfallwirtschaftsbetrieb München) saw our appeal, came to our stand in person and brought us a DIY dustcart set. 🚚
No stolen lorry was going to stop us. Although the criminal case remains officially unsolved, the story demonstrated what this industry is all about: people stepping up for one another when it matters.
The Team: The Real Reason It Worked
Four days of exhibition operations are not a sprint – they are a marathon. Setting up, packing down, early starts, late finishes, being present, convincing and in a good mood all day long. A massive thank you to everyone who made this week possible.
The Optocycle IFAT team mastered this with an energy that makes us genuinely proud. It is simply a pleasure to work with these people. And our impression was that the visitors to our stand felt this too – despite four days of Leberkäse and Weisswurst 😉.
Conclusion: We'll Be Back.
IFAT 2026 was a real milestone for Optocycle. Not just because we had a stand – but because we felt that our solution is needed in this industry. The high level of interest, the positive feedback and the depth of the conversations clearly confirmed this for us.
We are leaving with a fully booked diary, many new contacts and the clear feeling: this is where we belong.
See you at IFAT 2028. And until then: anyone who finds our truck will still receive a month's free Truck Imager. The offer stands. 🚛
Did you meet us at IFAT or do you want to find out more about the Truck Imager? Feel free to get in touch – on LinkedIn or directly with us at info@optocycle.com.
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