Waste sorting – troublesome, costly, and time-consuming? Absolutely! That’s exactly how most of us feel, especially when we hear about new, stricter sorting requirements being implemented. But why do we do it, and is there a magical solution to all of these problems?
The Hidden Cost of Convenience
Currently the global urbanization rate stands at 55%. That means 4.5 billion people on Earth are living in cities. These cities generate about 3 million tons of waste daily, yet only 0.6 million tons (19%) of this waste is recovered. With such daunting statistics, we could just conclude that the situation is bleak, and hault any further discussion. But why stop, though, when things are about to get even more interesting?
By 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach nearly 10 billion, with 7 billion people living in cities, collectively producing about 7 million tons of waste each day. This means that in a short span of just 25 years, urban waste generation will more than double. Behind these impressive predictions lies a harsh truth: our current waste management systems are not capable of handling even today’s, much more modest, waste numbers in an environmentally friendly manner.
“Environmentally friendly” means recycling waste—not landfilling it, not burning it if possible, and certainly not dumping it in forests. Unfortunately, these tend to be the most “convenient” ways of handling waste. It’s crucial to note that in this context, convenience simply means postponing responsibilities. And postponing responsibilities often comes with an interest—something we’ll still have to pay eventually. Solving today’s problem tomorrow will always be more expensive.
In the context of waste management, this means that unsorted or incorrectly sorted waste is much harder to send to recycling, even with the latest technologies. What could have been a simple action by the waste bin becomes impossible to handle on the sorting line. As a result, the best option is often to burn the waste for energy, at least recovering some value from it.
10 Million Trees and Countless Data Points
Waste is, at its core, wasted resources, and in the next 25 years alone, waste generation is set to rise by 80% compared to current levels. However, well-organized source separation can reduce waste generation and the need for raw materials. Globally, the top three types of waste are organic (44%), paper and cardboard (17%), and plastic (12%). By 2050, this means the world will generate 3.1 million tons of organic waste, 1.2 million tons of paper and cardboard, and 0.8 million tons of plastic every day.
Take just paper and cardboard waste, for example. With a proper source collection system, we could recycle 0.8 million tons of paper and cardboard waste every day, saving 10 million trees in the process. This logic applies to organic waste, plastic, and other waste types as well. However, with poor source collection systems or incorrect sorting, even with the best intentions, mixed waste can’t be separated into usable streams—paper and cardboard become soaked with organic waste, and plastic is contaminated. The result is that the waste is no longer even suitable for compost due to its contamination.
Proper source collection ensures thereby the material’s value from the start, making the entire waste collection process more profitable. This eliminates any rational waste management company’s desire to send waste to landfills or incinerators. Clean waste also makes it much easier to collect data. WasteLocker, for instance, uses data to analyze waste quantities and specific types. This data collection can help identify single-use packaging and replace it with reusable alternatives. The impact thus moves beyond waste recycling to waste prevention. Without data, this would be impossible.
Education is the Foundation
Source separation is hence much more than just a legal requirement, yet the cleanliness of source separated waste often falls below acceptable levels. Sorting bins for different waste types frequently contain everything but clean waste—for example, up to 80% of the content in a paper bin can be non-paper waste. This means that what appears to be a bin for organic waste, paper, or packaging in the office or at home is, in reality, filled with general waste. Experience repeatedly shows that merely providing different bins does not guarantee results and creates a false impression—essentially, “greenwashing.”
Part of the problem stems from people’s ignorance—either intentionally sorting incorrectly or consciously choosing not to sort. However, the main reason is a lack of knowledge. On one hand, people often lack a reliable resource to immediately turn to with questions. On the other hand, there is no proactive assistance to provide feedback on whether someone is sorting correctly. Combining both would create a perfect source collection system. This would provide the necessary incentives for responsible waste management, leading to cleaner waste streams and a much more efficient circular economy.
Thus, education about waste sorting is a vital link in the entire process—a process that, with minimal costs, can ensure a cleaner environment, reduce the need for raw materials, and decrease waste generation. Continuous education and training reinforce knowledge, ensure awareness in future generations, and make the entire process cleaner and more sustainable.
