Startups offering platforms or software solutions incorporating technologies such as sensors, robotics, and AI to monitor and improve the waste collection process using several methods: identifying optimal waste collection time, connecting businesses and individuals with haulers, optimizing trash pickup routes, and increasing transparency in waste management throughout the production process.

Startups that separate waste by type, either by using robotics or analytics (AI, machine learning), to help streamline the recycling process.

Startups that develop recycling technologies or provide solutions such as AI-based online platforms or algorithm-based predictive solutions to primarily support businesses in their in-house recycling efforts.

Startups developing recycling technologies, including the pyrolysis process or a recycled propylene technology, to convert plastic waste into products such as pure propylene, recycled plastic, crude oil, and furniture.

Startups developing recycling technologies such as polymer recycling, flexible hydrothermal processing, etc., to recycle textile waste into products that include carbon neutral fiber or transform the waste into new products with greater value through upcycling technologies.

Startups developing recycling technologies such as lithium-ion battery recycling processes or a Magnet-to-Magnetä recycling process to convert electronic waste into products that include recycled batteries and cathode materials.

Startups developing recycling technologies to separate materials made by combining two or more materials with different properties (composite materials) and recycle them into secondary use raw materials such as aluminum, plastic, leather, and cardboard.

Startups using proprietary technologies to recycle waste (besides plastic, textile, and electronic waste) into harmless waste materials or into materials that can be used to make household goods, furniture, and construction material.

Startups using recycling technologies such as anaerobic digestion or a chemical process to convert waste into energy.

Reinforcing recycling, rerouting refuse, and reducing wasteflows

Waste Recovery & Management Tech

Overview

<div>
  <h3>
    Keeping waste out of landfills with sensors, robotics, and innovative recycling technologies
  </h3>
  <p>
    Global waste levels are rising, and the US leads the world in terms of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. With conventional waste management leading to swelling landfills and sustainable development and climate change goals promoting a more circular economy, technology has a strong role to play in improving the waste management and recovery process as well as boosting recycling rates. 
    
    Several startups are developing smart methods using sensors, robots, IoT, AI, and innovative recycling technologies to collect and track waste, identify recyclables, and improve recycling rates. Startups attempting to create a business out of waste are in high demand from municipalities and companies across the country.
  </p>
</div>


The US waste recovery and management technology market could reach USD 30–40 billion by 2026

Market Sizing

<div>
  <p>
    Increased demand for smart waste sorting and trash pickup methods:
  </p>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        <b>AMP Robotics </b>
        witnessed a growing demand for its waste sorting robotics system during the Covid-19 pandemic. 
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        <b>Recycled Track System </b>
        expanded its services in early 2021 to three cities in the Northeast, Midwest, and Western US regions, witnessing significant revenue growth from its municipal business operations during the pandemic. 
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
    Pandemic-led new product launches:
    <b> </b>
  </p>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        <b>Yardbird</b>
         launched an entirely online model to sell its recycled furniture amid the lockdown in March 2020. 
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        <b>Rubicon</b>
         introduced the Second Life Solution for personal protective equipment (PPE) in July 2020 to resolve the threat of an increasing amount of discarded PPE. 
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


COVID19-IMPACT

Market Mapping

<div>
  <p>
    Recycling startups account for more than half of waste recovery and management industry startups. The majority of these companies focus on recycling plastic, textiles, and electronic waste, aiming to keep the waste out of landfills by giving it a second life. Additionally, these players have attracted the most funding. 
  </p>
  <p>
    The recycling segment is followed by waste monitoring startups that primarily use sensor-based technology and operate a cloud-based platform to allow residents and businesses to manage their waste levels and build an efficient trash pickup system. Lastly, around one-sixth of startups focus on waste sorting, using robotic and AI- based technology to sort and identify recyclables.
  </p>
  <p>
    More than two-thirds of the startups across all of these segments are at the early or growth stages of technology development and customer acquisition. 
  </p>
</div>


The Disruptors

<div>
  <h3>
    <b>Well funded recycling disruptors chart a path for growth</b>
  </h3>
  <p>
    More than half of the startups in the waste recovery and management industry focus on recycling with a focus on textile and plastics. Most of these companies are in the early or growth stages and use commercialized technology that enables them to recycle waste into materials that are suitable for secondary use. These companies are relatively well funded and experiencing high demand for their unique proprietary technologies. These startups are also actively pursuing customer partnerships with established companies such as Panasonic, H&M, and Ralph Lauren, to strengthen their market presence. 
  </p>
  <p>
    A smaller number of startups focusing on waste monitoring and sorting solutions have also reached the early and growth stages. These companies mainly target municipalities, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and commercial businesses to deploy their solutions for improving the waste collection and sorting process. These startups are crucial for identifying recyclables and in turn improving recycling rates overall. 
  </p>
</div>


Disruptor Funding History

The Incumbents

<div>
  <h3>
    <b>Traditional waste management firms adopt sensors and smart technologies  </b>
  </h3>
  <p>
    Startups in the industry primarily face competition from established general waste management service providers, which have started adopting sensor and recycling technologies via in-house innovations to recover and manage waste. This includes traditional waste management leaders such as Waste Management and Republic Services, together capturing more than half the waste management market share in the US, and further increasing their presence in the traditional space through mergers. Additionally, the industry hosts waste management players that pioneered the transition to smart waste monitoring and recycling technologies, such as Contelligent and Umicore, which have a strong presence in smart waste collection (using sensors) and recycling (electronic waste [e-waste]) methods.
  </p>
  <p>
    In the meantime, large companies across various industries are also entering the space by focusing mainly on improving recycling rates. This includes companies such as Dell, Ford, Danone, H&M, and SC Johnson. These companies are partnering with or investing in startups to support their efforts in giving waste a second life.
  </p>
</div>


Waste Recovery & Management Tech

Waste Recovery & Management Tech

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