Carl Smith, President of Call2Recycle – North America’s first and largest consumer battery stewardship and recycling program – recently suggested that product design and accessible collection are major challenges for recycling.
Recycling today
While the amount of recycled materials has jumped in the past few decades, Smith said there is still a major gap in terms of what could be achieved. According to figures from the Environmental Protection Agency, only 34.7% of those living in the US recycle.
Product design
Smith listed notebook batteries as a major example. He suggested that most people would be surprised to find out that in increasing numbers of new mobile devices, batteries are not recyclable or even removable.
Better design processes that support consumer recycling and consumer products designed to be used for long periods are what is needed, reported Environmental Leader. Designers should have a ‘zero landfill impact’ target in mind when they create new products.
Product collection
Smiths said that curbside recycling and collection programs have shown to be highly effective in encouraging consumers to recycle. However, many people still lack access to these collection programs. They tend to be people who live in rural areas, and populations that need to transport recyclables across long distances to take part in collection programs.
Collection facilities can also be effective, but retailers play a vital role by offering in-store collection for consumers.
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