In previous blogs we have detailed some technological trends that have arisen in response to the increase in the U.S. population and resulting increase in waste products that must be managed. The success of any change effort in the Waste Industry is contingent upon an unprecedented cooperation between recyclers, designers, packagers, manufacturers, haulers, businesses, municipalities, governments and consumers. There is optimism that in 2020 great strides will be made toward such cooperation. Read ahead to see trends in the following areas:
#1- Computer technology will be used in various way to aid in the waste management. From Robotics at recycling facilities to the capturing of data from haulers at the service point, solutions evolve almost daily.
#2- Composting initiatives will take place along with more recycling programs. One example is the conversion of “Green Waste” (discarded food and other biowaste) into biofuels and away from landfills.
#3- We will see plastic waste made into a high-quality resin that will replace the current greenhouse gas-emitting prime resin that is used in the plastic industry. Over the past few years the plastic industry has made great strides to turn ecological and economically efficient plastic waste into this resin that emits less greenhouse gas. 2020 should show more growth in this arena.
#4- Researchers will look at ways that waste can be converted to energy (Waste to Energy). Currently there are already companies that have a process that turns food waste, biosolids, manure and other organics into activated carbon that can be sold to renewable natural gas companies. 
#5- Municipalities and the government will be more involved in waste recycling, creating regulations for collecting and processing waste. The mounting waste problem has caused governments to push for more recycling initiatives and will continue to promote these through tax benefits and financial incentives (positive) and through landfill taxes on waste in North America (negative). The speed by which these regulations take hold will be on the shoulders of involved consumers and their involvement in the process.
#6- Packaging will continue to change into recyclable forms. Disposable items end up in the trash bin. Trends include smaller cardboard boxes, lighter-weighted bottles, flexible plastic packaging, and other kinds of more recyclable versions of common everyday throw-away items.
The above trends were quoted from an article, “Trends Transforming the Waste Management Industry in 2021” by Linchpin, October 10, 2021.
Alpine Technology Corporation has been serving the Waste Industry for over 40 years with solutions that help our companies serve their customers with unexcelled service. For more information call us at 1-888-852-7267 or email us at info@rams-pro.com.