The recycling industry is going beyond high-tech. Scientists and inventors are working on cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of the industry and increasing opportunities for circularity. For example, how do we take used fishing nets and turn them into new materials for automobiles? It’s something that may have been unimaginable years ago, but not anymore thanks in part to innovators like Brian Schmatz from BASF's subsidiary trinamiX.

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Brian shows us an innovative recycling technology that could one day soon end up in the palm of your hands. His team has developed a mobile infrared spectrometer that can identify plastic at the push of a button, which helps properly and efficiently sort plastics for recycling facilities worldwide.

While the science behind how these technologies work is complicated, Brian makes it simple for our listeners to understand. So, join us on Sustainably Speaking to learn more about how bright young scientists like Brian are addressing some of the greatest challenges in recycling today. He might inspire you to apply your expertise to recycling.

Everything’s bigger in Texas—and Austin’s ambitious zero waste goals are no exception. The city is blazing a trail when it comes to transforming traditional waste management into sustainable resource recovery. On this episode, Maddie Morgan from Austin’s Circular Economy Program shows us how the city is creating a more sustainable future. As you’ll find out, Maddie’s approach to improving the circular economy in her hometown is emblematic of Austin’s innovative, creative, and collaborative culture. We hope her outside-of-the-box ideas and success stories might spark solutions in other communities.

Maddie knew she had her dream job when she saw one number: 233 tons. In Texas, that’s the equivalent of 330 Longhorns or 24 eighteen-wheelers. In Maddie’s case, it’s the amount of waste that she and the Austin Resource Recovery team have kept from landfill (so far) through Move Out ATX. All told, the economic value of the materials diverted from the landfill through Move Out ATX equates to about $500,000 dollars to date. Yet, as you’ll find out, this program is just one of the many ingenious circular economy projects they are spearheading in Austin to achieve zero waste by 2040. These are projects that could be replicated in communities across the U.S., maybe even yours? If you are looking for inspiration and wondering how you can think differently about waste in your community, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Are you curious about the recycling industry? Have you ever wondered how you can get involved? In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership, shares advice for anyone who feels inspired to have a positive impact on the planet. Keefe also brings new data to the table as we learn about the current state of recycling in the U.S. and how you should really recycle plastic.

Keefe’s career trajectory reads like a true love story. After all, it was a boy who eventually led her to pursue a career in the recycling industry. As you’ll find out, the work she’s doing today at the non-profit she founded 10 years ago is just as fascinating as her origin story.

The Recycling Partnership mobilizes people, data, and solutions across the value chain to advance a circular economy.The recycling landscape is complex, and Keefe stresses the importance of collaboration, public education and engagement when it comes to identifying solutions to create a more sustainable, circular economy.

Join us on Sustainably Speaking as we learn about Keefe’s journey and how together, we can create a more circular future. We’ll also dive into some myths about recycling. How much do you know about plastic recycling? Come find out.

Jeremy DeBenedictis is on a mission to change the future of recycling. Advanced recycling technologies, like those used at his company Alterra, have potential to fast-track recycling and keep more plastics in the circular economy.

Alterra’s disruptive technology breaks down hard-to-recycle plastics and converts them back into materials that can be used to make new plastic. By doing this, Jeremy and his team are reducing the need for fossil resources to make new plastics and creating value for used plastics that might otherwise end up going to waste.

In this episode, Jeremy also shares helpful anecdotes about inspiring change, becoming an environmental entrepreneur, and what it really takes to have an impact. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in increasing plastic recycling rates, the importance of education and access to recycling programs, and the environmental impact of advanced recycling. And he shares his inspiring vision for how individuals, companies, and governments can apply sustainable solutions.

Microplastics are defined as plastic particles smaller than five millimeters. They are challenging to detect and can have primary or secondary origins. Studying the life cycles of plastics is crucial for reducing microplastics and allows the industry to develop more durable products and design items that degrade under controlled conditions.

The journey towards safeguarding from microplastics in our environment is a process that demands global collaboration. Our guest, Dr. Jeanne Hankett, Sustainability Lead, North American Biodegradation & Microplastics Center of Excellence at BASF, shares valuable insights from her extensive work in this field. Dr. Hankett also provides practical advice for consumers, encouraging proper recycling practices and awareness of compostable materials.

Dr. Hankett also discusses how innovation requires collaboration between scientists, industry experts, and academia. Advanced analytical techniques and collaborations between stakeholders on a global scale are crucial for addressing the complexity of microplastic pollution.

In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Mia Quinn hands over the mic to Susan Jackson from BASF Corporation to talk with two prominent political pollsters who explored people’s perceptions around recycling. 

Jackson is joined by polling experts Cornell Belcher, president and founder of Brilliant Corners Research and Strategies and best known for his polling work for former President Barack Obama, and Brenda Gianiny, president and founder of Axis Research, who’s best known for the work she does with Senator Mitch McConnell. 

Belcher and Gianiny emphasize the importance of accurate polling for driving strategies, and they highlight the distinction between professional polling and media-driven polls. They also talk about their initial lack of knowledge about advanced recycling for plastic and how they now recognize its potential and find that voters and consumers share their enthusiasm.