We are thrilled to welcome Ryan Buhay to the Recycle Coach team! As our new Head of Sales, Ryan joins us with more than a decade of experience in the industry, as well as an incredible passion for helping teams of all shapes and sizes reduce contamination and solve communication problems. Ryan calls himself‚ the recycling guy‚ and it's no secret why.

‍Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did your career get started?

‍It sort of happened by accident! I had finished university and wasn't quite sure where I was going to end up. I was looking for a job when I got the opportunity to be an Educational Coordinator for a recycling company that was getting ready to launch the first single-stream program in Saskatchewan. It was a complete crash course, and I very quickly became fascinated with the MRF and the entire recycling process. From the challenges of contamination and just how difficult it is to keep a clean recycling stream, to the implications of not recycling and how that impacts landfills and the community -- and I've been in the industry ever since.Over the last ten years, I've worked with hundreds of organizations to solve their local problems through digital tools and modern technology. Long story short, I feel like I'm a recycling guy at my core. When I talk with Recycling Coordinators or Sustainability Directors about getting residents to understand their recycling program, that's my lived experience.  

‍What surprised you most about the industry?

‍The sheer amount of technology in a MRF. When I started, I had no clue about where recycling goes and the rate at which it's processed into marketable commodities‚ which is ultimately what makes something recyclable‚ and I was fascinated by that aspect. Recycling isn't magic. It's a business. And helping people understand that is a game changer. The MRF workers are the unsung heroes of the industry. The amount of labour it takes to process recycling and remove contaminants from a stream is incredible, and incredibly difficult. That's what motivated me as an educator to make their lives easier, because of how dangerous and fast that job is. We'd see things like car parts, bulky items, sharps‚ so many different items people would throw into dumpsters that didn't belong. And that all stems from the lack of education in a municipality on what goes where and what happens to the material after it leaves the curb.

‍What would you say is the key to success for a recycling program?

‍Taking the time to tell the story behind recycling. The more residents understand about the chain of custody, the better the recycler they're going to be. People are looking for a quick answer. Modernizing the approach and watching the tide shift from more traditional methods to utilizing digital tools has been really interesting and what's been so successful for a lot of cities I've had the pleasure of working with.

‍What about your work now do you enjoy the most?

‍I love helping people solve problems. Every municipality, every waste hauler, every university‚ they all deal with getting a handle on contamination or call volume about their collection day, or helping new residents find information about their waste program. It's a tall order for small teams with limited resources to answer those calls and emails or to be able to proactively reach every single resident. I feel like I'm less of a sales guy and more of a recycling industry guy at large, and I love being able to help people based on what I've learned over the last decade‚ here's what I know works and what's been successful.

‍What excites you most about joining the Recycle Coach team?

‍The focus on strategic partnerships and the openness to work with any organization that shares our goal of ending contamination. Whether they are a customer or not‚ how can we work together and continue to innovate in the space? Let's find a way to do that.Being a smaller team, we have a unique opportunity to be more agile when it comes to product innovation and development and to help build solutions. As a previous Educator, Recycle Coach has always been known for focusing on empowering the residents it serves. Having engaging activities like quiz questions or short lessons being incorporated seamlessly into the app is huge for the industry.

‍What is your best recycling tip?

‍It all comes back to the MRF. Across Canada and the United States, there are so many different systems. Taking that extra 5-10 minutes to do some research and understand where your recycling goes and how it's processed is huge. The more you understand your MRF and the concept of processing, the better you're going to understand the do's and don'ts of your program and the better recycler you're going to become.

‍Anything around the house or in your day-to-day life?

‍To me, zero waste is a mindset. How can we reduce waste as much as possible? Of course, I try to avoid single-use items like straws and bags, but I apply that mentality to every purchase and try to avoid buying things I don't need. As a father of a two-year-old, it's easier said than done, but I try to be as conscientious as I can when it comes to consumer choices, the packaging products come in and not buying things I don't need.

‍Best piece of advice you've received at work?

‍Getting the answer‚ no' doesn't mean no forever. It goes back to starting my career at the MRF when I had a lot of crazy, huge ideas, and it taught me how to articulate my vision, rather than ask for something. Crawl, walk, run is something that I think is important, especially when working with communities that want to take on a digital solution. We need to start with the foundation and then build on that, piece by piece.

‍What would you say to someone who is interested in getting into the solid waste industry for the first time?

‍You're never going to get the smell off of you. It's such an interesting industry and offers so many different career opportunities that it's hard to leave, and even harder not to come back if you do. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. Going into a MRF for the first time can be a bit of a shock‚ it's hot, dusty, fast-paced‚ but that's where everything happens. It's a very humbling experience. Wear gloves, cover-alls, nose plugs, whatever you need‚ but it's something you have to do to understand what MRF workers do on a daily basis, and to understand what's really going on in your community and how residents are participating in your program.

‍Bonus round time. Favorite ice cream flavor.

‍Haagan-Dazs chocolate peanut butter. I can destroy an entire pint like it's nothing.

‍What was your dream job as a kid?  

‍It changed over and over and over‚ but stand-up comedian.

‍Do you know any recycling jokes?

‍Recycling is no laughing matter!

‍Who is Spooky?

Spooky is my cat! He was famously recycled in Saskatoon in 2016.

Working in the MRF, I had this thing called the Wall of Shame. The workers on the line would bring any weird item that came through down to my office. I had a samurai sword, a Super Nintendo, all of these trinkets. It was my guiding light that reminded me I still have work to do! One day, they brought down a live kitten. He'd had quite a journey since the only way in is from a truck that captures residential curbside material, so from the curb to the tipping floor, scooped up and dropped into the drum feeder, and then rescued from the pre-sort conveyor belt. They brought him down to me and thankfully, he was totally fine, albeit a little dusty and a little stinky. My girlfriend at the time‚ now wife‚ was in veterinary school, so we obviously took him home after having no luck at the SPCA. We named him Spooky after my original childhood cat and he's been our best bud ever since.

Recycle Coach, the leading provider of innovative waste management and circular economy solutions, has unveiled insights from its 3rd Annual Recycling Knowledge Survey conducted throughout September and October across the United States and Canada.

Through the survey, Recycle Coach sought to track evolving trends and identify areas of misunderstanding, enabling municipalities to deliver targeted recycling education. Residents were quizzed about the recyclability of more than 20 materials based on their local guidelines, from common items like plastic bottles to more challenging items like light bulbs and batteries.

‍Interested in seeing the full Annual Survey results? Submit a request here.

Recycle Coach is proud to announce that its Founder, Creighton Hooper, has been selected to receive the Jean Clark Recycling Excellence Award at this year's Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR) Symposium. The award recognizes Hooper's outstanding contributions to the industry and his unwavering commitment to the vision and values of the ANJR.

Hooper's career spans over 24 years in the waste management and recycling industry. With a profound understanding of the challenges faced by communities, he has consistently worked towards creating solutions that enhance recycling participation and reduce the environmental footprint of waste. Under his leadership, Recycle Coach has grown to serve more than 1,500 cities across North America and Australia, empowering millions of residents to be better recyclers and better stewards of the environment.

Creighton's commitment to ANJR has included many behind-the-scenes activities, such as launching our membership directory, modernizing our membership outreach, and building new revenue streams for our not-for-profit association, says Gary Smalley, ANJR Board President.

Hooper joined ANJR in 2018 and, shortly after that, became a board member in 2019. In 2020, he took on the role of Vice President of Development, helping to build ANJR's membership base and dedicating himself to identifying and meeting the needs of the recycling community.

This recognition is a testament to his outstanding contributions and the positive change he continues to bring to the industry at large. The entire team at Recycle Coach congratulates him on this well-deserved honor.

The current state of waste management

Globally, around 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated annually. Only 13.5% of this is being recycled, while the remainder is incinerated or sent directly to landfills, both of which release harmful greenhouse gases and air pollution. Existing recycling methods have limitations, such as high operating costs, low efficiency, and limited material recovery. There is a pressing need for innovative recycling technologies and strategies to address the challenges of waste management.

Advanced recycling technologies

Chemical recycling

Chemical recycling is a process that breaks down plastic waste into its basic components, allows for the recycling of previously unrecyclable plastics and can be used to produce high-quality raw materials for new products. Despite its potential, chemical recycling is not without challenges, such as high energy consumption and potential pollution risks.

Robotic waste sorting

An innovation that utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotic waste sorting is used to improve waste separation efficiency. For example, the company ZenRobotics has developed a robotic waste sorting system capable of processing up to 70 metric tons of waste per hour.

Biodegradable and compostable materials

These types of materials are being developed to reduce waste generation. Innovations in eco-friendly packaging, such as edible food containers and biodegradable plastics, are gaining traction. The use of biotechnology, such as the development of fungi-based packaging materials, is also on the rise.

Circular economy and waste management

The circular economy model emphasizes the importance of designing products and systems that minimize waste and resource use while maximizing value creation. By implementing circular economy principles in waste management, materials can be kept in use for longer periods, reducing waste generation and promoting resource efficiency.

The city of Amsterdam has committed to becoming a fully circular city by 2050, implementing strategies such as promoting recycling and waste reduction, supporting sharing economy initiatives, and fostering circular design.

Zero waste strategies for communities and businesses

Zero waste strategies aim to minimize waste generation and resource use by designing products made to last and products made from recycled materials. Several communities and businesses have successfully implemented zero waste strategies, such as Kamikatsu, a small Japanese town that has achieved an 80% recycling rate.

Key factors for implementing a successful zero waste strategy include setting clear targets, engaging stakeholders, providing incentives, and investing in infrastructure and education.

Policy and regulatory measures to promote recycling innovations

Governments play a crucial role in fostering innovation in waste management and recycling. Policies such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which holds manufacturers accountable for the end-of-life management of their products, can incentivize the development of recycling technologies and circular business models (OECD, 2021).

Best practices for future policy development include setting ambitious recycling targets, incentivizing research and development, and promoting cross-sector collaboration.

The role of consumer behavior in shaping the future of waste management

Consumer choices significantly impact waste generation, and promoting sustainable consumption is essential for reducing waste. Strategies to encourage sustainable consumption include providing information on product lifecycle impacts, offering incentives for eco-friendly products, and supporting education and awareness campaigns.

A study by McKinsey & Company revealed that consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability, with 78% of respondents saying that living a sustainable lifestyle is important to them. This shift in consumer behavior can drive businesses to adopt more sustainable practices and invest in innovative waste management solutions.

Earth Day is a global event celebrated annually on April 22nd. It's a day that is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and encouraging people to take action to protect our planet. One way municipalities can get residents involved in an Earth Day clean-up event is by following these simple steps:

1. Start early

Begin promoting the event several weeks in advance. Let your residents know that the event is coming up by sending notifications through the Recycle Coach mobile app. Use social media, flyers, and whatever other media you have at your disposal to spread the word. Team up with local businesses and community groups to promote the event, and add your event to other other websites other websites that list clean-un events to reach a broader audience.

2. Identify target areas

‍Choose areas in your municipality that need the most attention. This could be a local park, beach, or even a street that needs a litter clean up. These events can also serve to teach residents about your program's recycling rules. Make sure to have clear signage at the event that teaches residents about proper recycling as they pick up litter.

3. Provide supplies

Before you start, ensure you have enough gloves, garbage bags, recycling bins, water, snacks, and other supplies on hand for volunteers. Hint: Engage local businesses by asking them to donate supplies in order to become sponsors of your event.

You can also use this event to promote the Recycle Coach App to your residents by making our QR code visible on all handouts. This will encourage residents to make use of our year-round recycling education.

4. Make it fun

‍Encourage volunteers to bring friends and family members. Make it a fun event by providing music, competitions, and prizes. If it's within your budget, consider having a photo booth, a sustainable food truck, or other fun activities to keep volunteers engaged. This is a great opportunity to teach residents in your area about sustainability practices they can use all year long. Think incorporating games that can encourage people to switch to more sustainable practices by showing them how those new habits can help the environment.

5. Thank volunteers

‍Make sure to thank volunteers for their hard work. Consider providing certificates of appreciation or small gifts to show your gratitude. These are great ways to show them you appreciate their commitment to their community and that their efforts to better the environment are not going unnoticed.

Solar power is a relatively new technology‚ and solar panel recycling is an even newer addition to green technology. Solar panels are a valuable asset to society as a means for generating clean, renewable energy from the sun‚ and they also contain valuable materials that are worth recycling and reusing but are often lost to landfill. Though panels can be installed and left in place for up to 30 years, to harness truly green solar power, forethought must be given to the disposal of the solar panel once it reaches the end of its life.

How are solar panels recycled?

Although most of the construction materials used to make crystalline-silicon solar panels are recyclable, the current methods of recycling solar panels are not ideal. Solar panels are designed incredibly well to withstand climate, but because of this, they're also extremely difficult to deconstruct and recycle.

While about 75% of a crystalline-silicon solar panel is glass, a well-established recycling industry, other components are not as straightforward to recycle. Solar panels contain small amounts of many different valuable metal elements, such as aluminum, silver, tin, solar-grade silicon, and copper. The aluminum frame, copper wiring, silicon cells, and plastic junction box are all recyclable as well, but separating these materials is strenuous. Disassembling the panels is difficult and the ideal method to recycle solar panels is rather involved.

1. First, the aluminum frame and junction box must be removed. These aluminum frames are 100% recyclable and reusable.
2. Then, the glass and silicon wafers must be separated through a thermal, mechanical, or chemical process.
3. Next, the silicon cells and valuable metals such as tin, copper, silver, and tin are separated and purified. Usually this process is done using extreme heat (about 900 degrees fahrenheit) to evaporate the small plastic components so that the solar cells can be easily separated.

Only after the panel is completely deconstructed can the recycling process take place.

While processes for electronic waste such as glass and aluminum recycling are well-established industries, the infrastructure and high-tech machinery required for proper solar panel disposal is not yet commercialized. When solar panels are recycled in the same manner as electronic waste, valuable metals and silicon solar cells are often incinerated instead of being reused in new panels. Most recycling companies do not have the infrastructure required to recycle solar panels and there are not many existing facilities for solar panel recycling. According to the World Economic Forum, it may be time to ramp up initiatives in solar recycling.

The current issues with solar panel recycling

Although recycling is the most eco-friendly way to dispose of old solar panels, the process is still relatively new, tedious, and expensive. Recycling these panels requires advanced technology and machinery.

One of the major issues with solar panel recycling is simply that it is a new concept that has yet to be perfected. Though the solar panel recycling process is not streamlined in most places and can be extremely expensive, according to MIT Technology Review by 2050 the waste materials from decommissioned panels could be worth $2 billion‚ this may be worth saving to most companies.

For many people and even in industrial uses, it's much easier and cheaper to simply throw them away to end up in a landfill. In other cases, individuals and organizations could just be unfamiliar with how to recycle old solar panels.In some European nations, green technology initiatives were established in the 1990s, and their solar panel recycling procedures have just now begun to mature. In the U.S however, many of the solar panels in use today were installed in the last decade or two and are either not yet at, or just beginning to reach the end of their life. Because of this, the solar recycling industry in the U.S still has a way to go before it is commercialized and waste facilities are able to accept solar panels.

Though solar energy is a great alternative to fossil fuels, manufacturers in the solar industry need to create end of life recycling programs for these high value materials. Without a way to properly dispose of or salvage raw materials from solar panels for reuse in new panels, the solar waste problem will grow and could negate the eco-friendliness of solar panels.

Options to fix the problem

The benefits of harvesting solar energy far outweigh the potential solar waste problem we may run into as millions of panels begin to reach the end of their useful life. Because solar panel technology is relatively new and panels last 25-30 years, we haven't had to deal with mass solar waste yet, but we will soon as many of the current working solar panels reach the end of their useful life.

By 2030, about 8 million metric tons of decommissioned solar panels and their valuable materials will be piling up. Recovered materials from these old panels can be saved and reused in new panels to prevent the need for further mining of raw materials.

Solar panel reuse

One of the most straightforward ways to recycle solar panels, especially on a household level is to reuse panels that still have life left in them. While solar equipment does not have a large secondary market for used or refurbished panels in the U.S yet, consumers can live more sustainably by selling or giving away old solar panels to extend their life.

End-of-life photovoltaic panels were unfortunately not designed to be taken apart; the process is expensive, tedious, and has the potential to create hazardous waste. This is why it's important to get as much use as possible from solar panels before retiring them. Recycling solar panels can save up to 95% of their construction material to make more solar panels, but because the recycling process is not federally mandated, only 10% of solar panels are recycled in the U.S. Panels unable to be reused or that have reached their end of life will inevitably end up in a landfill and all of those valuable, recyclable materials will go to waste.

In the future, manufacturers may consider changing the design of solar panels to allow for easier deconstruction and recycling, but this change would take several decades.Reusing solar panels can give them a second life and maximize their potential for generating clean energy.

Government help

As with most environmental initiatives, the responsibility does not fall solely on the individuals or organizations. In order for solar panel use to continue to expand and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, government regulations need to be created to aid in the recycling of solar modules.

If government agencies took on some of the responsibility of creating PV recycling infrastructure, the streamlining of the process would expand more rapidly. Without worrying about what we're going to do with all these panels once they reach the end of their lifecycle, we could confidently utilize solar energy by creating more solar farms.

In lieu of governments building the recycling infrastructure themselves, they might instead provide subsidies or incentives for companies that take action towards providing solar panel recycling facilities. Solar power energy is one of the most sustainable forms of electricity and supporting the solar industry through programs that ensure we don't face a future waste crisis is key to a greener future.

‍Author Bio: Bill Widmer is an outdoor enthusiast who loves to explore off the beaten path. After seeing the negative impacts of waste on natural landscapes across the United States, he became an advocate for sustainability and spreading awareness about how we can be more eco-conscious. He talks about sustainability and renewable energy on his blog Adventures On The Rock.

Recycle Coach survey shows evidence that more localized recycling education is needed across US municipalities.

Recycle Coach, a digital recycling education platform used in over 1,400 municipalities in North America, announced the results of their survey administered to residents across the US through the duration of September 2022. The survey ranged in scope from commonly recycled items such as plastic bottles, to more challenging items such as light bulbs. The survey was customized for each municipality, according to what is accepted in their program. Participants were shown the correct results for the recyclability of each item based on where they live, with the aim to motivate behavior change, where necessary. In addition to the survey being its own educational content for residents, Recycle Coach aimed to track trends and monitor changes in understanding year over year to help municipalities administer targeted recycling education on materials in which their residents lack understanding.

‍Recycling contamination issues

Contamination refers to the things people put in recycling that don't belong. The national average for recycling contamination is estimated to be 17%, although contamination in some areas can reach 40% or more. The overall correct answer rate on this survey for residents in the US was 74%, which correlates closely with these contamination rate statistics. To auto combat recycling contamination, we need to learn what people do and do not understand about their local recycling programs, said Jeff Galad, Chief Revenue Officer at Recycle Coach. People want to recycle more, and they want to recycle correctly, so we need to see where the disconnect is in their understanding to make sure they get the information they need to be successful recyclers.

‍Loss of material recovery

Enhanced recycling education is the key to lowering contamination rates and increasing material recovery. The EPA has set out to increase the recycling rate from 32.1% to 50% by 2030. With so many residents across the country misunderstanding what is accepted in their local programs, loss of recoverable materials is another prevalent issue. Materials such as plastic bottles, jugs, and jars are a commonly accepted item in nearly every location, yet across the nation, only 72% of participants knew to recycle these items. This means around 28% of residents may not be recycling these accepted plastic items, and they are lost to landfills instead of recovered for recycling. The survey data shows that more localized recycling education is needed for residents to understand their program, lower contamination rates, and increase recovered recyclable materials.

About Recycle Coach

Recycle Coach is dedicated to providing municipalities with the tools to make local waste and recycling program rules and regulations accessible to residents on every platform and every device. The Recycle Coach mobile app allows residents to view their personal recycling schedules, get pick-up reminders, search the "What Goes Where" tool, and engage in additional recycling education activities.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Sonoco.

‍The issue of mixed material recyclables has been a constant headache for many municipal recycling programs. Mixed materials are items that contain more than one material, traditionally making them difficult to recycle. For example, if a mixed paper recycling item is part paper and part plastic, but ends up being separated into the sorted paper, the plastic will contaminate the paper load.

In most locations, mixed material recyclables are on the "not accepted" list because many MRFs (Material Recover Facilities) don't have the equipment needed to deal with them. The recycling of mixed materials is long overdue for some industry improvements. Luckily, right now there is a renaissance of new recycling technologies being developed that could help your MRF accept more items.

After the 2018 China ban on accepting many foreign recycling imports, and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been many changes to the waste and recycling industry in recent years. One effect that's been seen is the increase in producer responsibility and attempts at product sustainability. As manufacturers attempt to improve the recyclability of their products, recycling facilities have been adopting new technologies to include more accepted materials in their sorting processes.

With the push to recover more materials, mixed material recyclables need to be the next wave of accepted materials in your sorting facilities. Let's explore these three highly used mixed materials you should start accepting in your program.

Coffee cups

Paper coffee cups are a commonly unaccepted paper item at MRFs because they're lined with plastic, but more and more facilities are accepting them, as there is more understanding of the recycling process for this mixed material item. Some facilities use new high-consistency rotors, some shred the paper to remove the plastic more easily, and some turn the paper into pulp to skim the plastic off the top.

‍Reasons your facility should start accepting coffee cups:

• Both the paper and the plastic lining can be recycled once separated, leaving no waste for your facility to deal with.
• There are funding opportunities available for you to increase your acceptance of paper coffee cups.
• In the US alone, 50 billion paper coffee cups are disposed of per year, meaning this is an area that needs to be addressed in order to combat vast amounts of wasted paper and space taken up in landfills.

Cardboard spiral cans

Companies like Sonoco, who produces these types of paper containers with steel bottoms, have designed this packaging with a closed loop system in mind. Unfortunately, many MRFs still do not accept this material for recycling since it is a mixed material.

This type of mixed paper recyclable material includes items such as potato chip cans, dough containers, frozen juice canisters, and some household cleansers. To recycle these items properly, residents should remove the plastic lid, as well as any film or other removable lidding that the package has. The remainder of the container can be placed in in the recycling bin to be sorted with steel.

‍Reasons your facility should start accepting Cardboard Spiral Cans cartons:

• These containers will be easily sorted on your existing line by magnets, along with other steel and metal recyclables, meaning no additional investment is needed in your equipment.
• The non-steel components are consumed and recovered as energy during the steel recycling process, causing no disruptions or contamination concerns (the paper portion of the container makes up less than 1.5% of the overall steel bale weight).
• There is a 46% decrease in greenhouse gasses when you recycle the paper container with steel ends instead of sending these items to landfills.
• In an effort to increase sustainability, Sonoco Products Company has ensured that they have support from several of the largest end markets in the North American steel industry that accept this mixed material recyclable.
• The capture rate of these cardboard spiral cans with steel bottoms is equal to the capture rate of steel cans, adding to the volume of your steel stream.

Tetra Pak cartons

Aseptic and gable top cartons can consist of plastic, aluminum, and paper in order to keep liquid foods fresh. This includes many milk, juice, stock, and wine cartons. Recycling this type of mixed material packaging may seem daunting, but with 75% of the contents made from paperboard, it is a valuable source of paper that your MRF could be recovering.

‍Reasons your facility should start accepting aseptic and gable top cartons:

• When turned to paper pulp, the resulting fibers can be used in new tissue, toilet paper, and office paper products at a paper mill.
• These cartons can either be recycled with a hydrapulper to extract the paper, or the contents could be shredded and pressed into durable building materials.
• Aseptic and Gable Top Cartons can utilize innovations such as robotic and AI sorting technologies in MRFs to increase recyclability.

Make an impact

In the wake of so many industry changes and advancements, it is time to start improving MRF capabilities. Recycling programs are potentially missing out on the opportunity to incorporate more recoverable materials just because they are commonly misunderstood.

With the increase in extended producer responsibilities, recycling centers have ample opportunity to accept more materials since manufactures are creating products and packaging in more sustainable ways to be recycled and close the loop for their products. By adding these three mixed material recyclables to the accepted list at your recycling facility, you will be helping to improve your program and increase the viability of the circular economy.