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In a recent poll conducted by Keep America Beautiful, 9 in 10 Americans reported that they recycle regularly. While 72% of these respondents recycle at home using curbside or community bins, only 51% recycle at public spaces, and approximately 40% recycle when visiting other people or when they’re at public events.  

There is a reason for this: those that feel negatively toward recycling find that they experience anxiety and stress surrounding the concept and practice. In general, recyclers feel more confident in recycling at home, where they know the rules better and feel assured that the items they put in their recycling will actually be recycled.  

Anxiety in Younger Generations

Overall, younger people feel more confused, overwhelmed, and anxious than older people when it comes to recycling. 42% of Gen Z and Millennial respondents agreed with the statement “I get anxious trying to figure out if something is recyclable or not,” while 46% of Gen Z respondents agreed with feeling “overwhelmed and unsure about where to put items in public recycling bins.” This trend continues throughout the poll: of the 2 in 5 Americans who have skipped recycling an item for fear of doing it incorrectly, Gen Z leads the pack with 58% of these respondents.  

A Lack of Trust

While recycling education used to be straightforward and simple (“reduce, reuse, recycle!”), everything changed dramatically several years ago. Before 2018, North America used to send our much of our collected recycling materials over to China. When that agreement ended, we were responsible for our own recycling. From there, every municipality had different rules. Courses had to be modified for students, and during this time, studies and exposés came out showing that huge percentages of recyclable materials are not recycled at all.  

This lack of transparency around recycling allowed for rules to be overlooked or even unknown to recyclers. This caused many people, especially those belonging to younger generations, to become apathetic toward recycling.  

Clear, standard education surrounding recycling seemed to disappear; confusion and “wish-cycling” took its place. Older generations, who were always taught that recycling is beneficial, continued to do it. Younger generations, feeling overwhelmed by the changes, the doubts, and even the lack of convenience, slowly dropped off on their recycling habits.  

Making Changes

With smartphones being a part of our daily lives--particularly for younger generations--we’re afforded the opportunity to learn on the go. Recycle Coach allows for simple, effective recycling education. Municipalities, haulers, schools, and organizations can take advantage of waste information being easily accessible and in younger generations hands at all times.  

Recycling education can make all the difference. Knowing what you can and can’t put into the recycling bin helps keep contaminants out of the recycling stream and allows for a smoother recycling process.  

Recycle Coach provides a space for our partners to educate their residents, clients, and students. Our “What Goes Where” tool, educational resources, and waste pickup calendar allow users to learn how to recycle waste properly and become confident in their recycling knowledge.  

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The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Recycle Coach have teamed up to provide residents access to digital technology, aimed at revolutionizing waste management across the state. The llinois EPA is committed to help all Illinois residents understand how to properly recycle or dispose of household materials. This initiative will include a statewide study, a tool kit, an interactive map, and a smartphone app to identify recyclables and what to do with non-recyclables. The tool kit, map, and app will each be tailored to the unique opportunities available to participating communities.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Statewide Coverage: All Illinois communities now have access to Recycle Coach's comprehensive digital tools, ensuring that residents have access to timely collection schedule reminders, material search capabilities, and hyper-local educational content.
• Accessible through Mobile and Desktop: The initiative includes an interactive web widget for all local government websites and access to the Recycle Coach mobile app. These resources will guide residents on how to properly dispose of household waste, identify recyclables, and manage non-recyclables.
• Community-Specific Solutions: Recycle Coach will begin with a statewide needs assessment, working with the Illinois EPA and local entities, such as county and municipal solid waste coordinators. Recycle Coach technology will be customized to cater to the needs of 12.5 million Illinois residents and 6,835 units of local government.
• Environmental Impact: The program aims to decrease contamination at material recovery facilities, increase the diversion of materials from landfills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Proper waste management will also mitigate contamination of waterways and land.

The Illinois EPA is excited to offer this innovative technology that will provide Illinois residents with advanced tools to allow them to increase and improve recycling throughout all our communities,‚said Illinois EPA Interim Director James Jennings. We look forward to the full implementation of this program, which will expand the amount of recyclables properly diverted from Illinois landfills.

We're thrilled to welcome the State of Illinois to the Recycle Coach movement‚ says Jeff J. Galad, President of Recycle Coach. The Illinois EPA has demonstrated their environmental leadership by adopting robust digital tools that provide hyper-local waste and recycling information, notifications and education to every community, thus every resident.

Recycle Coach is available at no cost to Illinois communities. Local governments can request an onboarding meeting by emailing successgroup@recyclecoach.com. A secure web app will be provided for municipal waste websites, and residents will be encouraged to download the free Recycle Coach app.

About the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

The mission of the Illinois EPA is to safeguard environmental quality, consistent with the social and economic needs of the State of Illinois, so as to protect health, welfare, property, and the quality of life.

The Illinois EPA works to safeguard natural resources from pollution to provide a healthy environment. By partnering with businesses, local governments, and the public, the Illinois EPA is dedicated to continued protection of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we live on.

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Press Only Inquiries, please contact:

Illinois EPA Contact:

‍Kim Biggs

Public Information Officer

‍kim.biggs@illinois.gov

‍217-558-1536

epa.illinois.gov

Recycle Coach Contact:

‍Jeff J. Galad

President

jgalad@recyclecoach.com

‍www.recyclecoach.com

Last year, Americans spent more than 200 billion hours on mobile apps.

When information is easy to access, it's no secret that users will stick around and engage‚ and your waste and recycling information should be no different.

By putting info at the fingertips of customers, you can lower call volume, increase efficiency, and save money.

Connect with customers (without connecting to a landline)

Enhance your customer experience with game-changing features like:

• Mobile Notifications to communicate service interruptions quickly and efficiently
• Customizable Calendars so there's never a question about pick-up day
• Fully branded app solutions (or leverage the Recycle Coach app)
• Premium educational modules to build better habits and reduce contamination

And with dedicated 1:1 support, getting started is a breeze.

Ready to learn more?

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 world is grappling with an ever-increasing waste management problem. Waste disposal methods, such as landfilling and incineration, contribute significantly to environmental pollution and climate change. There is an urgent need for innovative recycling technologies and strategies to address this issue. This article explores the latest advancements in recycling technologies, circular economy principles, zero waste strategies, and the role of government and consumer behavior in shaping the future of waste management.

The current state of waste management

Globally, around 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste is generated annually with only 13.5% being recycled (World Bank, 2018). The environmental consequences of waste disposal are alarming, with landfilling releasing harmful greenhouse gases, and incineration causing air pollution. Existing recycling methods have limitations, such as high operating costs, low efficiency, and limited material recovery. Additionally, in 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a research study reviewing the medical waste disposal management methods of 22 countries, revealing that improper methods of biomedical waste management were used in 18% to 64% of the cases. Consequently, there is a pressing need for innovative recycling technologies and strategies to address the challenges of both municipal and medical waste management.

Advanced recycling technologies

Chemical recycling, a process that breaks down plastic waste into its basic components, has emerged as a promising solution. This technology 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 (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2019).

Robotic waste sorting is another innovation that utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning 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 (ZenRobotics, 2021).

Biodegradable and compostable materials are also 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 (The Guardian, 2020).

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, for example, 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 (City of Amsterdam, 2020).

Zero waste strategies for communities and businesses

Zero waste strategies aim to minimize waste generation and resource use by designing waste out of products and systems. Several communities and businesses have successfully implemented zero waste strategies, such as Kamikatsu, a small Japanese town that has achieved an 80% recycling rate (CNN, 2016).

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 (2020) revealed that consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability, with 57% of respondents stating they have made changes to their consumption habits to reduce their environmental impact. This shift in consumer behavior can drive businesses to adopt more sustainable practices and invest in innovative waste management solutions.

Conclusion

The future of waste management lies in the adoption of innovative recycling technologies, the implementation of circular economy principles, and the promotion of zero waste strategies. By embracing these approaches, we can reduce waste generation, minimize environmental pollution, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Collaboration among governments, businesses, and consumers is crucial to drive the adoption of innovative waste management practices. As we move forward, it is essential that we invest in research, develop supportive policies, and raise awareness to ensure that waste management and recycling innovations become an integral part of our global strategy to combat climate change and preserve our planet's resources.

Sources:

1. World Bank (2018). What a Waste 2.0: A GlobalSnapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050. Retrieved from: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/infographic/2018/09/20/what-a-waste-an-updated-look-into-the-future-of-solid-waste-management
2. EllenMacArthur Foundation (2019). The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking thefuture of plastics & catalysing action. Retrieved from: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/publications/NPEC-Hybrid_English_22-11-17_Digital.pdf
3. ZenRobotics(2021). Robotic Waste Sorting. Retrieved from: https://zenrobotics.com/robotic-waste-sorting/
4. The Guardian(2020). The future of packaging: from fungi to pineapple leaves. Retrievedfrom: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/29/the-future-of-packaging-from-fungi-to-pineapple-leaves
5. City ofAmsterdam (2020). Amsterdam Circular 2020-2025: Circular Economy Strategy.Retrieved from: https://www.amsterdam.nl/en/policy/sustainability/circular-economy/
6. CNN (2016).The Japanese town that's aiming for zero waste by 2020. Retrieved from: https://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/31/asia/japan-town-zero-waste-kamikatsu/index.html

Guest Bio: Wes Sonnier: President of BioMedical Waste Solutions. Specialist in OSHA Compliance, diseases, infection, and patient safety. Over 17 yearsexpertise at sustainable medical waste disposal management.

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. Use social media, flyers, and posters to spread the word. Encourage local businesses and organizations to promote the event as well. If your community uses Recycle Coach, you are able to send out notifications to residents through the Recycle Coach mobile app to let them know an event is coming up. Make sure to add your event to other websites that list clean-up events so that you reach a broader audience.

2. Identify target areas

‍Identify areas in your municipality that need the most attention. This could be a local park, beach, or even a street that needs litter clean-up. Use this event as a way to not only clean up litter, but teach residents about proper recycling in your program. Make sure to have clear signage at the event that teaches residents about proper recycling as they pick up litter.

3. Provide supplies

Make sure you have enough gloves, garbage bags, recycling bins, and other supplies for volunteers. You can ask local businesses to donate supplies in order to become sponsors of your event. Make sure to have plenty of water and snacks on hand for volunteers too. You can also use this event to promote the Recycle Coach App to your residents by making our QR code visible. This way you can encourage residents to utilize 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. Consider having a photo booth or other fun activities to keep volunteers engaged. This is also 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 hosting a post-clean-up event to celebrate their efforts. Provide 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.

Overall, getting residents involved in an Earth Day clean-up event is a great way to promote environmental awareness and encourage people to take action to protect our planet. By following these simple steps, municipalities can help make a positive impact in their communities.