Take a trip back to 1960 and only 7% of items that consumers needed were properly recycled. It wasn’t the highest percentage of recyclables, but recycling was new. 

We had a land developer nearby who disposed of his trash and broken appliances in a sand pit that he’d later bury and build a house over it. No one blinked an eye then, and today he’d be in serious trouble for it. I shudder to think of the things in that pit that are leaching into the nearby stream now, 40 years later.

It wasn’t until the late 1980s that my town started recycling newspapers and printer paper, which was the start of recycling for me. Cans, boxes, glass jars, and plastic bottles came later. For me, this was the true start of a push to recycle. I’ve seen us go from a small plastic bin to a 48-gallon wheeled tote, and I can easily fill that in a week with boxes, jars and cans, milk jugs, junk mail, etc. Recycling has come a long way.

Today, the recycling rate is still only 32%. People need clarification over how to recycle, where to bring things, or what even goes in their curbside containers. The EPA’s current National Recycling Goal is to get this rate up to 50% in the next six years. For that to happen, government agencies, producers, and consumers must work together.

What Advancements Are Being Made With Recycling?

How is technology helping improve recycling? One area of concern has been plastics where only certain types of plastic are easy to recycle. Pyrolysis is a newer advanced recycling technology that can break down all plastics at heats of up to 500ºC. Once broken down, they can be used to produce new items like fuel.

There’s also nanotechnology that breaks materials down while also identifying and removing pollutants. This ensures that the recycled materials lose little of their strength when they’re recycled.

When consumers hear that many of their recycled materials end up in the trash anyway due to contamination in the recycling stream, it’s hard to want to keep recycling if it’s just going to end up in a landfill. AI sorting is gaining traction as a great way to sort materials efficiently and effectively.  

AI can be just as useful in loads headed to a landfill. It can scan and identify items in trash bags that are actually recyclable. That reduces the amount of unnecessary waste going to a landfill. One start-up known as CleanRobotics is using sensors, cameras, and machine learning to properly sort trash from recyclables. As more companies enter that market, recycling numbers will improve.

Another benefit to these AI systems is that they can identify useful food waste. With machine learning paired with hyperspectral and visual cameras, an NC State team created a smart waste management system that could sort trash, recyclables, and food waste and process them correctly. 

The system is so powerful that it can identify biological, chemical, and physical traits. Some food waste can be converted into biodiesel. Other trashed items can end up as biochar as a soil amendment to help grow crops.

Robotics can work with AI to quickly and correctly process materials day and night. Materials can go right from trucks to conveyors where scanners identify them, robotic arms move things to the right area for processing, and AI keeps track of analytics like how much has been processed, arranges transportation once it’s processed, and tracks incoming and outgoing shipments, too.

Several start-ups in the U.S. are working on systems that embrace advanced technology to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. AMP Smart Sortation is working on systems that use robotics to sort and process recyclables at impressive speeds for less money.

Sortera Alloys is making the most of scrap metal recycling of cars and trucks into new items. AI sorts and analyzes the materials to make sure the material is being used effectively. Refiberd is the final one we want to mention uses AI and robotics to sort and recycle used clothing, sheets, and other textiles to ensure they get turned into new things.

What Can You Do as a Consumer?

Take time to learn what is and isn’t recyclable in your area. Your weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly curbside service may not take certain things, but that doesn’t mean they’re not recyclable. You may need to bring them to a local facility on your own time, but it will make a difference if everyone starts doing their part.

Before you dispose of items, see if you can upcycle them. Your bookshelf cracked, but you could cut it down, sand it, and turn it into a bedside table. You stopped drinking and have an old wine rack that’s unnecessary. Turn it into a towel rack for rags you keep in the garage.

Recycle Nation is one resource for finding where you can recycle everything from broken appliances and electronics to books and leftover paint. You can also check your local waste district’s guide to recycling, trash, and the fees for both. If you’re recycling batteries or electronics, your local Best Buy or Staples may accept them.

Finally, when you’re purchasing new items, look for energy-efficient appliances, choose companies with sustainable practices and packaging, and pay close attention to what happens down the road. When your new TV is old and no longer works, will the manufacturer offer a takeback program? It’s important to know as much as you can and use that information before you choose a product.

Advancing Technology and Education Will Make a Big Difference

As technology can sort recyclables faster and with a high level of accuracy, it’s going to make a difference. Lawmakers, producers, and consumers also need to do their part. Push lawmakers to pass laws focused on a circular economy and heightened recycling efforts. Manufacturers need to establish take-back programs and reuse materials as much as possible. 

Consumers need to recycle correctly and shop with sustainability in mind. If you have similar beverages in plastic bottles and one clearly states that they use 100% recycled plastic, buy that option. If you have clothing that no longer fits, donate it or recycle it with a retailer who takes used clothing (GoodWill, H&M, and the Salvation Army for example) instead of throwing it in the trash. 

Recycle Nation can help you find where to recycle items you no longer need. My advice is to use platforms like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle, and other local forums to offer items for free. What you no longer need might be on someone else’s shopping list. If you can’t get rid of an item that way, use Recycle Nation’s online recycling tool to learn where to properly recycle your items.