#375 Thomas Grinnan on Revolutionizing Waste Management with AI-Powered Technology

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Packaging and sustainability expert Tom shares how AI and smart technology are transforming recycling and landfill diversion efforts in stadiums, universities, and corporate buildings – creating a more engaging path to sustainability for the next generation.

Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion

Thomas (Tom) Grinnan is a Global executive and consultant who thrives in new markets, leveraging 25+ years in the Pharmaceutical, Life Science & Packaging industries. With a strong background in sustainable packaging innovation, he’s now leading DC1 as CEO, where they develop AI-powered solutions to drive recycling and reduce landfill waste. At DC1, Tom is focusing on landfill diversion through innovative technology that makes recycling more accessible, measurable, and engaging for users while providing valuable sustainability metrics for organizations.

Tom began his career in strategic planning after studying French and biology at the University of Virginia. His multilingual skills (fluent in French with knowledge of Spanish, Japanese, and German) helped him develop a niche in cross-border market expansion.

Throughout his career, Tom has grown businesses by 15%+ annually through strategic innovation and mentoring. Prior to joining DC1 in March 2024, he worked with major corporations like Midwest, Faco, Westrock, and Silgan, where he gained firsthand experience in sustainable manufacturing practices that reuse resources and minimize environmental impact.

Breaking Ground on Better Building

In this episode, Tom revolutionizes traditional waste management approaches:

Key Insight #1: AI-Powered Recognition Transforms Recycling

The Challenge: Traditional recycling systems are confusing for users and require manual sorting, leading to contamination and reduced effectiveness.
The Solution: DC1’s Green Scanner technology—a smart sorting kiosk equipped with advanced cameras, an Nvidia chip, and barcode scanners that use AI to instantly identify recyclable items, calculate their carbon footprint, and direct users to proper disposal without requiring changes to existing bin infrastructure.
ROI: Dramatic increase in recycling participation with real-time carbon avoidance metrics, transforming a confusing process into an engaging experience that can be gamified through a companion app offering points and rewards.

Key Insight #2: Smart Infrastructure for Sports Venues and Universities

The Challenge: Large venues like stadiums struggle with proper waste sorting among thousands of attendees despite aggressive sustainability goals.
The Solution: Strategic placement of smart kiosks that provide immediate feedback, gamification, and rewards for proper recycling behavior.
ROI: Enhanced community engagement through recycling competitions and incentives, with one university implementation achieving over 700 scans and 17kg of carbon diverted with just two stations.

Key Insight #3: Data-Driven Sustainability for LEED Buildings

The Challenge: Buildings seeking LEED certification need verifiable waste diversion metrics rather than costly building retrofits.
The Solution: Cloud-based system for tracking and documenting recycling efforts while providing real-time feedback to building occupants.
ROI: Easier achievement of LEED certification points through waste stream improvements, enhancing building value without major structural changes.

Sustainable Soundbite

Your Green Building Action Plan

Transform your next project with these steps:

This Week: Explore AI tools like ChatGPT to understand basic applications that can support your sustainability initiatives.
This Quarter: Investigate organizations like the Green Sports Alliance to connect with like-minded sustainability professionals and technology innovators.
This Year: Evaluate your waste stream management systems and identify opportunities for technology integration that can improve both participation and data collection.

Connect & Learn More

Connect with Tom: LinkedIn Profile
Read the transcript: Full Episode Transcript
Explore recommended books: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries and Uprooted by Novik, Naomi