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.
Osnabrück/Tübingen. According to the Federal Environment Agency, around 86 million tonnes of rubble and waste are generated on construction sites in Germany every year. These materials often end up in landfills. However, this means valuable resources are lost. The solution: high-quality recycling of the rubble prevents climate-damaging emissions and keeps valuable materials in the recycling loop – and with certified equivalent quality. To automate the recycling of material in the construction sector, the startup Optocycle from Tübingen is developing a system for real-time monitoring based on artificial intelligence (AI). The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) is funding the project with around 170,000 euros.
Real-time quality monitoring in the production of recycled aggregates
More environmental protection in the construction industry: The team from the startup Optocycle (image) from Tübingen is developing an AI-supported process for recycling construction waste. The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) is funding the project with around 170,000 euros.
The Optocycle team is delighted about the renewed DBU funding ©Optocycle GmbH
DBU Secretary General Alexander Bonde sees great potential for more environmental protection in the construction industry. Here, medium-sized enterprises with innovative solutions could act as role models. Bonde: "The construction of new buildings already follows clear guidelines for more efficiency and sustainability. The same must be taken into account in future after the demolition of houses and structures." The startup Optocycle GmbH from Tübingen provides an approach for this. As part of the DBU Green Startup Funding, they have developed an AI-based system for the automatic, reproducible classification of construction waste. Building on this, a prototype is now to enable the real-time monitoring of RC aggregates, i.e. recycled aggregates from construction waste. The DBU is funding the project with around 170,000 euros. Optocycle co-founder Max-Frederick Gerken: "Currently, the processing of construction rubble in the industry is mostly based on subjective estimates." The final product is also only checked in the laboratory on a random sample basis. According to Gerken, the Optocycle system enables "real-time monitoring of recycled aggregates. This allows the quality of the aggregate to be improved and more material to be transferred to concrete production," says Gerken.
Less waste in landfill
According to Gerken, the system combines modern optical sensor technology with artificial intelligence – thereby solving a well-known problem in the construction industry. The startup co-founder: "At present, the quality of recycled raw materials often fluctuates. On the one hand, this represents a financial risk for companies and, on the other hand, leads to the loss of valuable materials." With the help of its development, Optocycle expects a 20 percent higher volume of recycled, high-quality aggregates and 15 percent fewer waste residues that would otherwise end up in landfills. To achieve this, according to Gerken, both the incoming rubble is "optimally classified" and the result is transparently verified. The cooperation partner is Heinrich Feeß GmbH, which, according to Gerken, has been working with Optocycle for many years. The co-founder continues: "The technology makes a contribution to the circular economy in construction. We help to improve the quality of secondary raw materials recovered from construction waste. This solution can also be transferred to all waste streams in the future."
Simple retrofitting in existing construction waste recycling plants
According to Gerken, Optocycle's system can be installed directly into existing construction waste processing plants – "directly above the conveyor belt." This simple retrofitting saves costs and enables the rapid implementation of innovative construction waste recycling. "Because only if recycling is financially viable can the circular economy succeed in the construction industry," says Gerken – an approach that was already at the forefront of the startup funding by the DBU. Here, the developed system impressed with its high accuracy in classifying different construction waste. According to Gerken, the aim now is to build on this in order to make the circular economy in concrete production more attractive with high-quality secondary raw materials.
Every good solution provides massive relief for the climate
First demolition, then recycling: Around 86 million tonnes of construction waste are generated across Germany every year. For its reuse, Optocycle is developing a sophisticated process with around 170,000 euros in funding from the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU).
According to the responsible DBU consultant Dr Volker Berding, the circular economy in the construction industry has important effects on climate protection: "The production of more and more new concrete causes high emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases." According to a WWF study, the production of cement, the main component of concrete, accounts for eight percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Berding: "Everything that contributes to a reduction in emissions therefore already has a major effect on climate protection." However, a circular economy only works "if the secondary raw materials do not differ in quality from new production. Optocycle can take exactly this step with a scalable, optimised prototype."
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