State-of-the-Art Computer Vision Technology in Small Recycling Centres

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 demonstrating why this assumption can be a costly mistake.

What is BHRZ Parsberg?

BHRZ Bauschutt- und Holzrecycling Zentrum Parsberg GmbH is a compact recycling business located 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 large-scale operation, but a business with clear quality standards. The company accepts mineral rubble, wood, plastic film, scrap tyres, and other recyclables, processing them responsibly.

With Fritz Hiller GmbH, managing directors Silvester and Fritz Hiller have run an established natural stone trading business for years – deeply rooted in a region famous for its limestone. BHRZ is their new venture: same region, new premises, new industry – but with the very same commitment to quality.

The argument that counts: A single bad delivery is enough

Mineral rubble 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 unusable – 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 significant damage. A low volume does not protect you – it merely shrinks the timeframe in which a mistake becomes visible.

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.

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 “very well and successfully” in his words – both generations of the Hiller family were convinced from the start.

This was followed by an on-site visit in the Bavarian Jura. Together, they analysed the site, the entrance, and the logistics – and determined the best position for the Truck Imager. The installation followed quickly, and the system has been in productive use since the beginning of 2026.

How the Truck Imager works – even with small volumes

The Truck Imager is Optocycle's machine learning solution for automatic material detection directly at the weighbridge. The camera captures the cargo area 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 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 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 mere opinions
• Growth on a solid foundation – clean documentation from day one allows scaling without blind spots

The bottom line: Small recycling centres 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, compact operation, every incorrect delivery has a disproportionate impact. Computer vision-assisted delivery inspection is not a luxury here – it is risk management.

Silvester Hiller sums it up: “We wanted to know exactly what was coming in from the very beginning. Not guess – know.”

If you run a small or medium-sized recycling centre and are wondering whether Optocycle makes sense for you: BHRZ Parsberg is the proof that the answer is yes.

Do you run a recycling centre and want to automate your delivery inspections? Arrange a non-binding consultation with Optocycle now.