BCC Research projects the global optical sorter market will grow from $3.3 billion in 2024 to $5.4 billion by 2030, representing an 8.8% compound annual growth rate from 2025 to 2030. The market is shifting from rule-based equipment to adaptive, high-throughput systems using artificial intelligence, machine learning, hyperspectral imaging, near-infrared sensors, X-Ray Transmission sensors and advanced 4K cameras. Demand is being driven by recycling automation, high-purity material recovery, food-safety requirements, mining cost optimization, circular-economy programs and Extended Producer Responsibility rules. North America holds the largest regional share at 33.3%, while Europe is the regulatory frontrunner and Asia-Pacific is the fastest-emerging demand center. EU packaging-waste reduction targets require reductions of 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040; Japan's 15% recycled polyethylene terephthalate rule takes effect in January 2026, and South Korea requires 10% recycled polyethylene terephthalate in products from large beverage manufacturers. Investment examples include Waste Management Inc.'s $90 million AI-powered recycling facility in Pembroke Pines, Florida, within a broader $1.4 billion deployment across 39 North American facilities through 2026; DataBeyond Technology's January 2025 launch of China's first AI-powered hyperspectral sorter for mixed textiles, which achieved up to 99% accuracy; and Tetra Pak's approximately $1.8 million deployment of Recycleye systems across U.K. facilities, achieving more than 98% purity. BCC Research identifies high upfront costs, legacy-system integration, uncertain return-on-investment timelines and potential commoditization of AI vision components as risks.