Washington Post Explores the Future of Recycling
A simple question – Do you really need to scrub out your peanut butter jar before recycling it? – sparked a deep dive into the future of plastic recycling in a recent Washington Post Climate Coach column by Michael J. Coren. Along the way, the story featured insights from Caroline DeLoach, Director of Sustainability at Atlantic Packaging, on the role packaging design and materials play in building a more effective circular economy.
The article explores how modern recycling facilities are using advanced technologies, including AI-powered optical sorting systems, to recover valuable materials from the waste stream. You read more about this process in our Deep Dive about Sorting Recyclables at a Modern MRF.
The takeaway is encouraging: recycling technology continues to improve, but better packaging design remains an essential part of the solution. By designing packaging that can be more effectively recovered and recycled, brands have an opportunity to reduce waste, support material circularity, and help create a system that works better for everyone.