Instead of allowing forgotten LEGO bricks to go to waste, a start up company, Sort A Brick, is recycling and repurposing your excess legos. One of their goals is not only rekindling childlike wonder and joy, but sustainability by reducing plastic waste. This environmental solution gives avid LEGO lovers a chance to build new sets with pieces they already own. By using cutting edge technology, builders are given the choice of sets to complete and shipped back the pieces.
The following is a written interview which I conducted with Sort A Brick Spokespersons, Ilya Malking, Co-Founder and CEO and Aurimas Slapšys, Managing Director and Head of Software and Data.
How does the AI work to sort the bricks?
The first step in categorizing bricks into different groups is to identify them correctly, which means understanding their shape, color, and any added design they may have. Some bricks are easy to recognize by just looking at them from one side, but others need to be examined from all angles and sometimes even from within. Recognizing colors can be more difficult due to the subtle differences between shades, which can sometimes be hard to distinguish, especially under various lighting conditions. Additionally, bricks may lose some of their original color over time, making identification even more challenging.
Since we aim to recognize bricks with over 99% accuracy, we are simultaneously developing computer vision models and optical systems that will work together to deliver precise brick recognition. Using our proprietary optical systems, we generate large datasets—millions of images of bricks—to train and test the models we’re building. After correctly identifying and cataloging the bricks, we move on to figuring out which sets can be assembled from a customer’s collection.
Though this may seem simple, it becomes more complex when considering different factors, like the number of bricks available, the set size, the level of completeness, and the color variations. The ability to browse compatible sets in real-time and choose among mutually exclusive options adds another layer of complexity. We plan to use advanced AI-enabled tools to help address these issues.
How many different model possibilities are there?
Currently, Sort A Brick can restore original sets produced by the LEGO Group. To our knowledge, the LEGO Group has released over 20,000 sets since its inception. While most of these sets are themed, such as “Star Wars”, “City”, and “Harry Potter”, and are ideal for restoration, some are likely not worth restoring, such as random brick assortments, advent calendars, and similar non-thematic sets.
In the future, we plan to expand our offering to include the restoration of custom sets, also known as MOCs (My Own Creations), which are created by independent designers.
Do you use only recent models or older ones as well?
We can restore any set if we have its part list and building instructions.
Does the cost vary based on the number of pieces sent in or in the set?
The cost of our set restoration service is determined by the weight of the mixed brick collection you send in.
What is the average cost? Per kilo? Per piece?
We aim to price the set restoration service at roughly 25% to 33% of the original retail price of the set. However, we are still in the process of determining the optimal price point by gauging customer interest and understanding the price elasticity of demand. We anticipate finalizing this analysis and announcing the official pricing in time for our public launch in November.
What happens to pieces sent in that don’t get reused?
Bricks suitable for set restoration will be carefully sorted and matched to the appropriate sets. We will make every effort to restore as many sets as possible from your collection. Any remaining bricks that cannot be accurately matched to specific sets will be organized by color and size and returned to you.
How does Sort A Brick supply the missing pieces?
If fewer than 10% of the parts are missing from a restorable set, we will make every effort to source the missing bricks — at an additional cost. Currently, Bricklink stores serve as our primary resource for obtaining these replacement parts.
Additionally, for each restored set, we will provide a detailed list of the missing parts, giving the option to source them independently from Bricklink, LEGO Pick a Brick, or another preferred supplier.
