Why we’re wasting waste: the new start-up that’s changing the way the UK recycles

The UK produces substantial quantities of waste, averaging around 40 million tonnes annually. Contrary to expectations, most of this waste does not originate from the manufacturing sector but, rather, from UK households, which account for more than half of the yearly total. Of greater concern is the fact that less than half of this waste – approximately 12 million tonnes – is recycled.

 

There is a tendency to attribute this situation to a lack of education in, and insufficient resources for, recycling – or simply bad habits, with many households supposedly unwilling to sort their waste for recycling. While poor recycling habits do impact recycling rates, another significant issue is the lack of understanding of the true value of waste.

 

The idea that waste can be a resource hasn’t yet gained the traction it deserves. Waste is waste, so it goes – we dispose of it because it has no utility. But this needn’t be true. Waste can not only be turned into valuable products, it can be done at a profit to the person who would otherwise send it to landfill.

 

 

Many countries already boast systems that reward people financially for recycling. The US and several European countries have similar schemes that depend on people making the effort to visit collection points.

 

However, a UK-based start-up is taking this concept further. ReCyrcle, founded in 2019 by Sharaf Rahman and Samreen Nurullah, highlights the fact that not only does waste have an intrinsic economic value, and that it can be transformed into numerous usable products, but that it can turn a profit for the recycler with much less effort than the current collection point-based system requires. ReCyrcle is actively seeking partners to launch its scheme at locations such as busy high streets, residential apartment blocks, shopping malls, universities and railway stations.

 

Central to ReCyrcle’s services is the ReCyrcle Pod, an automated recycling kiosk that handles PET plastic bottles. Users start their recycling process by first downloading the ReCyrle app and scanning their unique QR codes at the Pod to access their profile. They then begin recycling by inserting plastic bottles into the slot. Each transaction earns digital tokens redeemable via the app.

 

Equipped with built-in sensors, the ReCyrcle Pod can identify different types of plastic. This pioneering technology enables the pod to crush bottles more efficiently, optimising space usage. When it’s about 70 per cent full, the pod sends an alert that it needs emptying, ensuring uninterrupted operation.

 

This patent-pending system demonstrates a new standard in recycling convenience and efficiency. It simplifies the recycling process by automating tasks that traditionally required manual effort, making it easier than ever to contribute to a sustainable future.

This reward system could be the catalyst the UK needs to shift habits and transform recycling into common everyday practice. However, for the initiative to reach its full potential, recycling must also be made truly convenient. A service that offers financial incentives combined with automatic recycling kiosks may sound like pie in the sky, but, as new innovators in this space are showing, such a heady fantasy has become increasingly realisable.

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