A significant factor in the recycling industry’s carbon footprint and profits is collection processes. It’s unclear when recycling bins are full, leading to unnecessary labor and gas costs. Smart sensors such as those developed by the Internet of Things (IoT) can provide real-time data about how full recycling cans are and can coordinate the most efficient routes for pickups. They estimate their sensors can split collection costs and emissions in half. Increased data collection can also allow for a better understanding of recycling habits which can help develop more informed decisions about recycling policy. There are also downsides: privacy violations and having collection times change often. Alternatively, individuals can disclose that their recycling is full on a local government app or online, or there can be local recycling drop-off locations where you can bring materials whenever you would like. The technology used for recycling collection promises a lot, but not much more than we can already do.
Today consumer products and packaging are manufactured from a wider variety of materials. Many of those materials can’t come into contact with other materials for long before contamination. If inappropriate materials are found in big batches, they must be thrown out. The larger the batches, the higher the contamination chances and materials lost. Scale and variety hurt the chances of recycling. The easiest way to avoid contamination is to separate recycling at home. However, technology that can separate recycling may allow for effective larger-scale recycling. Material recovery facilities (MRFs) often use laborers, magnets, and puffs of air to separate materials. However, robotic and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology can automate the processes. Technologies like TOMRA’s AUTOSORT have already been implemented, for example, by Re-Gen Waste Ltd, based in North Ireland, where it has contributed to higher revenues. Especially while it’s harder to hire for recycling technician roles (Kamczyc), advancements in sorting technology are rescuing the industry.
After sorted, materials need to be processed to be recycled into new products. Some recyclables can be reused directly if not crushed by collecting and sorting. Materials contained in small batches are more likely intact and able to bypass this step. PP(5) is the most common plastic yet is nearly impossible to recycle. PureCycle technology is working to create technology that will remove contaminants and prepare ultra-pure polypropylene plastic. But the more accessible part is disregarded. PET(1) and HPDE(2) are easily recyclable however are more often than not landfilled in the US. If we can’t collect plastics we know we can recycle, how will new processing technology improve recycling rates? Paper can only be recycled four to six times before breaking down, but aluminum can be recycled indefinitely. Yet paper is recycled (68%) more than twice as often as aluminum (32%) and half of aluminum recycling burns it for energy. (EPA) Every year we produce more aluminum than the last. We invest a lot of money and effort into dead ends when opportunity stares us dead in the eye.
Throughout the recycling process, technology has the capabilities to improve efficiency. However, many of these technologies become redundant when we take an active role in recycling. We don’t need smart sensors if we bring our recycling to a collection point or notify collectors when our recycling is full. Processing does not require advanced sensors when recycling is separated accurately. We could save the money used to develop processing tech for hard to recycle plastic and instead focus on the easily recyclable materials we are avoiding. Technology enables us to do incredible things but sometimes detracts from the process. We invest in technology because it’s interesting, not because it responds to the needs of everyday people. Sensor technology collects our data and processing technology wastes resources and diverts attention. On the other hand, despite lost jobs, recycling separation technology has positively impacted the industry and the planet. Technology makes recycling more accessible, but for the most part, simple participation can replace it.
Sources:
Kamczyc, Alex. “Examining the Hiring Crisis for Waste and Recycling Jobs.” Waste Today, Waste Today, 29 Nov. 2021, www.wastetodaymagazine.com/article/waste-recycling-hiring-crisis-job-market/.
Tomra Recycling news. “Re-Gen Waste Ltd Chooses TOMRA Recycling’s Innovative Sensor-Based Technology to Transform Sorting Processes at Its Industry-Leading MRF.” Tomra.com, 2019, recycling.tomra.com/blog/re-gen-waste-tomra-recycling-innovative-sensor-based-technology.
“How Smart Sensors Can Help You Increase Your Recycling Rates – Greener and Smarter Waste Collection – Nordsense.” Greener and Smarter Waste Collection – Nordsense, 23 June 2021, nordsense.com/2021/06/23/how-smart-sensors-can-help-you-increase-your-recycling-rates/.
“Paper and Paperboard: Material-Specific Data | US EPA.” US EPA, 7 Sept. 2017, www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/paper-and-paperboard-material-specific-data.“Aluminum: Material-Specific Data | US EPA.” US EPA, 7 Sept. 2017, www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/aluminum-material-specific-data.