Research Trends in Organic and Inorganic Waste Sorting Technology: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

This research presents major trends in organic and inorganic waste sorting technology over the past 20 years (2003-2023). To do so, we employed bibliometric analysis and VOSviewer and Biblioshiny software. The data used in this study included 810 documents from the Scopus database. This study also used literature analysis of 11 documents discussing the use of AI in organic and inorganic waste sorting technology. The results showed that leading journals covering the topics ‘Waste Management and Resources’, ‘Conservation’, and ‘Recycling’, had the highest publication volume and total citations. Journals in China also had high volume and citations. The literature analysis of the articles further showed that integrating AI into waste-sorting technology can improve organic and inorganic waste-sorting efficiency and effectiveness, and also contribute to sustainable environmental planning. Future research opportunities include enhancing AI accuracy in waste sorting, developing renewable waste-to-energy technologies, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to advance sustainable waste management solutions.