research paper topics garbage

120 Recycling Research Topics, Questions, & Essay Ideas 

Recycling involves collecting, processing, and reusing materials to manufacture new products. With its help, we can preserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save energy. And did you know that recycling also creates jobs and supports the economy?

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The picture says that 105,800 aluminum cans are recycled every minute.

If you want to delve into this exciting topic in your essay, you’ve come to the right place. This article by Custom-Writing.org experts has 120 recycling research topics and prompts to choose from. It will also explain how to write a paper about recycling.

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🔝 Top 10 Recycling Research Topics

❓ Top 10 Research Questions

✅ Benefits of Recycling

🎒 Essay Topics for High School Students
💡 Topics for Argumentative Essays
🌱 Other Research Topics
🚀 Writing Prompts
♻️ Recycling Essay: How to Write

🔗 References

Benefits and challenges of recycling
Ways to reduce waste and pollution
Innovations in recycling technologies
Costs, benefits, and incentives of recycling
Social and cultural perspectives on recycling
Recycling regulations, laws, and governance
Recycling in the circular economy: closing the loop
How waste management helps preserve natural resources
Suggestions to promote environmental responsibility
Recycling as a way to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions

❓ Top 10 Recycling Research Questions

What is the positive impact of recycling?
How do social factors affect recycling habits?
What are the challenges of recycling e-waste?
How can AI help improve recycling processes?
How does public awareness influence recycling?
What can help recycling factories get more efficient?
What are the best methods to increase recycling rates in cities?
What are the implications of implementing mandatory recycling?
What psychological factors can stop people from going green?
Can sustainable practices help us get rid of landfill waste?

Recycling has numerous benefits for the society and the planet as a whole:

🎒 Topics about Recycling for High School Students

The golden rules of recycling everyone should know
Analyze how sustainable fisheries and aquaculture create jobs
How to promote eco-friendly tourism among teenagers
Organic farming : benefits and adverse effects
How do schools contribute to green and renewable energy ?
How should governments invest in green technology ?
Investigate how green business models create employment
Green energy and fossil fuels: compare and contrast
How do countries worldwide invest in green energy ?
How can we engage more people in plastic recycling ?
How does recycling relate to green energy sources?
Does recycling do more good than harm?
Ways of reducing the schools’ transportation impact on the environment
Why is green energy the best choice for the country’s economy?
What are the four main issues with reusing materials?
The United Nations’ actions for the renewable energy sector
Adoption of green technology through startups
Why are green jobs essential for sustainable development ?
How do we attract more employees to green jobs?
Evaluate the economic potential for green jobs in the service industry

A high school paper on recycling can cover many topics, from the importance of waste reduction to the types of recycled materials . You can explore the environmental, economic, and social benefits of recycling. Another option is to discuss the role of technology and innovation in improving recycling and reducing waste.

💡 Recycling Essays Topics for Argumentative Papers

How can recycling materials help improve the agricultural business?
Do green jobs impact the environment, and why?
How can recycling materials help create jobs?
Why should people be engaged in environmentalism ?
Why enhancing the effect of environmental justice is critical
The value of recycled materials in developing countries
Do the benefits of recycling outweigh its costs, and how?
Is upcycling better than recycling, and why?
Why should recycling be mandatory for all global businesses ?
How can an anti-plastic attitude help businesses?
The power of recycling and green chemistry
How does overpopulation cause more problems with waste management?
Does overconsumption prove the effectiveness of recycling materials?
Why is limiting consumption better than recycling?
Why do governments make recycling economically attractive for society?
The importance of recycling and green energy
Evaluate the impact of recycling on landfills
Why are the consequences of refusing to recycle plastic detrimental?
How can we utilize wastewater to increase agricultural impact?
Recycling waste is a success for green farming

In your argumentative essay , you can focus on the effectiveness of recycling as a solution to environmental issues. While recycling is important, more is needed to address all ecological problems.  Your paper can also argue that recycling must be coupled with other practices to make a meaningful impact and that it’s critical to a broader sustainability strategy.

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🌱 Other Recycling Topics to Research

Recycling research topics: waste management.

What are the categories of municipal solid waste ?
How do landfills harm the environment?
The effect of poor waste management on water sources
The barriers to implementing waste diversion acts
How to avoid inadequate management of non-industrial hazardous waste
The biggest problem of municipal waste management
Standardization of recycling bins: importance and legal regulations
How can we improve waste diversion programs?
How do waste management services vary across the US?
How does solid waste affect carbon footprint ?
Discuss the contribution of food waste to climate change
How odor management is related to waste management
Legal frameworks of waste management
How do types of waste management differ?
Composting of waste: advantages and disadvantages
Control of waste to minimize its effect on public health
The most effective global waste prevention practices
Why is food overproduction critical for food service waste management?
Proper and safe food waste management
How can people minimize food waste on a daily basis?

Your research can cover various topics related to waste collection, transportation, processing, and disposal. One option is to describe the benefits of different types of waste households, businesses, and industries. Alternatively, you may write about the potential environmental and health impacts of poor waste management .

The picture provides the definition and explains the goals of waste management.

Recycling Research Paper Topics: Recyclable Materials

The potential for job opportunities in recycling materials
What are the economic benefits of recycling ?
How does recycling contribute to the conservation of natural habitats?
What happens to the plastic that remains unrecycled?
What do the symbols on plastic items mean?
How does poor application of recycling harm the environment?
Which daily products should we all recycle, and why?
Ways of overcoming low market demand for recycled materials
What are the benefits of recycling aluminum?
Water recycling : benefits and limitations globally
What are the most recycled materials in the world?
What happens to paper when it is recycled?
The purpose of using animal waste as recycling material
Top recycled materials innovations and trends
How is the recycling of hazardous waste possible?
Which brands use eco-friendly and recycled materials?
The challenges companies encounter when reusing materials
Why should people continue using plastic ?
Compare glass disposal systems in different countries
Reasons to use disposable face masks during COVID-19

In addition to these topics, you may describe the types of materials that are commonly reused, such as paper, plastic, glass, and metal. Your research could also delve into the benefits, challenges, and limitations of recycling certain materials.

Research Topics about Recycling: Environment

The impact of recycling on reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Are recycling programs effective in mitigating climate change ?
The ecological benefits of recycling paper and reducing deforestation
What are the environmental consequences of recycling plastic waste ?
The role of recycling in conserving natural resources and reducing resource extraction
The economic and environmental implications of recycling electronic waste
Can recycling help reduce water pollution and conserve freshwater resources?
Explain the environmental impact of recycling glass and reducing energy consumption
Can recycling reduce air pollution and improve air quality ?
The lifecycle assessment of different recycling processes and their environmental implications
Ways of mitigating ocean pollution and protecting marine ecosystems with the help of recycling
How does reusing of materials correlate with waste management challenges?
The environmental benefits and challenges of recycling organic waste and composting
What is the influence of recycling on reducing the extraction of rare and valuable minerals?
Can recycling promote sustainable consumption and production patterns?
The environmental impact of recycling metals and reduction of mining activities
Is recycling efficient in reducing manufacturing industries’ energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions?
The social and environmental implications of recycling textiles and reducing textile waste
How does recycling influence the pollution from hazardous materials and public health?
What is the long-term sustainability of recycling practices, and how can we improve it?

If you want to explore the environmental benefits of recycling, you can write about reducing greenhouse gas emissions , conserving natural resources, and preventing the accumulation of waste. Alternatively, discuss the role of people and governments in promoting sustainable waste management practices. You may also suggest ways to encourage the popularization of recycling to preserve the environment.

🚀 Recycling Essay Prompts

In addition to the recycling topics, we’ve also developed plenty of fresh essay prompts to inspire you! Check them out below:

Benefits of Recycling Essay Prompt

In your essay, you might discuss the benefits of recycling and provide specific examples and evidence to support your arguments. You can consider the perspectives of different stakeholders, including individuals, businesses, and governments.

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Here are some of the questions to answer in your paper:

What are the environmental benefits of recycling? Analyze how recycling helps conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent pollution.
How does recycling support the economy and create jobs? Consider analyzing the industries that benefit from recycling and the impact of repurposing materials on the growth of a green economy.
What are the social benefits of recycling? Here, you can focus on how recycling promotes responsible consumption and waste reduction. Does it encourage individuals and communities to adopt more sustainable lifestyles?
What are the challenges and limitations of recycling, and how can they be addressed? You can also explore technology and innovation’s role in improving recycling and reducing waste or suggest your own ideas.

Should Recycling Be Mandatory: Essay Prompt

Some people believe mandatory recycling is necessary to reduce the environmental impact of humans. However, it may be challenging or counterproductive. In your paper, consider the arguments both for and against compulsory recycling.

The picture enumerates some of the benefits of recycling.

Here are some questions to consider:

What are the economic, environmental, and social benefits of mandatory recycling?  Argue that compulsory recycling is necessary to ensure individuals and businesses take responsibility for their environmental impact.
What are the potential drawbacks of mandatory recycling policies? You might also choose another side, namely: how might the policies be enforced, and at what costs?
What alternative strategies are there to encourage greater recycling rates?  You can propose your own or already existing ideas, such as more recycling bins, reusable bags, online promotions, etc.

Prompt for an Essay about Paper Recycling

Paper recycling is an essential aspect of waste management and sustainability. Your essay can explore the benefits and challenges of paper recycling and its role in promoting a more sustainable future.

Consider answering these questions:

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What are the benefits of paper recycling? You can analyze how paper recycling impacts the environment and how it fits into broader sustainability efforts.
What challenges exist in paper recycling? You can also suggest ways to address them. Is there any difference between the challenges in recycling paper and other materials?
How can individuals and businesses promote paper recycling? You can focus on the initiatives and programs that have been successful in increasing paper recycling rates.

♻️ Research Paper on Recycling: How to Write

Have you decided on the topic but don’t know how to start writing? Keep reading to learn how to write a research paper on recycling!

Recycling Research Paper: Introduction

In the introduction , provide the context of the topic and introduce the main arguments and themes you will discuss. For example, review the importance of recycling, the environmental challenges it addresses, and the potential benefits it provides. Your introduction should end with a thesis statement that outlines the central argument or perspective of the paper.

To attract your audience’s attention, you would need a catchy hook. For instance, consider using a citation such as this one:

“Recycling is a simple act with complex benefits. It takes a little bit of our time, yet it yields environmental, economic, and social returns that are simply too good to ignore.” – Ed Begley Jr.

Recycling Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is one or two sentences that highlight the main argument of a paper. It should also provide a roadmap for the reader by outlining all the critical points discussed in the essay. Here’s an example of a good recycling thesis statement:

By implementing effective recycling programs and encouraging individual responsibility, we can significantly reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and mitigate the harmful effects of climate change, leading to a more sustainable future for all.

You can also use our free thesis statement generator to save time and energy.

Research Paper on Recycling: Main Body

Describe the key arguments and evidence supporting the thesis statement in the main body. Pay particular attention to the structuring of your paper. Remember that each paragraph should focus on a specific idea that aligns with the thesis statement. Also, don’t forget to support your claim with evidence, such as statistics:

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA,) recycling aluminum cans allows saving 95% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum cans from raw materials.

Topic Sentence about Recycling: How to Write

A topic sentence expresses the main idea or point of a paragraph. It should briefly describe the paragraph’s content. 

To write a good topic sentence, ensure that it supports the thesis statement and the overall argument of the paper. It should introduce the idea you will discuss in the paragraph and relate to the essay’s broader themes. Here’s an example:

Recycling reduces the need for new resource extraction, preventing environmental degradation and conserving natural resources.

Recycling Essay Conclusion

For the conclusion , summarize the key arguments and evidence presented in the body of the paper. Additionally, rephrase the thesis statement and provide a final reflection on the importance of your topic. Your conclusion should leave your readers with a sense of the significance of the issue and its future implications. Check out this example of a concluding sentence:

We can create a more sustainable future for everyone by establishing successful recycling initiatives and promoting individual accountability, which can significantly decrease waste production, preserve natural resources, and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.

 Now you’re all set to write an excellent recycling research paper or an essay. Good luck! Feel free to leave a comment or share this article with your friends.

Haven’t found a suitable topic? Use our random topic generator to get more ideas for your essays.

122 Recycling Topics & Questions for Students

Are you looking for the best recycling title ideas for your research paper, debate, thesis, or argumentative essay? StudyCorgi has got you covered! On this page, you’ll find plenty of catchy recycling titles for your writing assignments. Read on to get inspired!

🏆 Best Recycling Essay Topics

🌶️ hot recycling essay topics, 🎓 most interesting recycling topics for students, 💡 simple topics about recycling, ❓ research questions about recycling, ♻️ creative titles for recycling projects, 🔎 recycling research topics.

Recycling Project Proposal: Paper Waste in Offices
Recycling: Benefits And Disadvantages
Disadvantages of Recycling Process
Benefits and Disadvantages of Recycling
Pros and Cons of Recycling
Waste Management and Recycling in Poor Communities
Four R’s of Recycling in Modern Understanding
Water Recycling: Why Is It Important? Different countries face varying challenges in as far as provision of clean water to its population is concerned depending with its economic development level and geographic location.
Is Recycling Worth the Cost? Despite recent advances in the waste industry, the amount of garbage disposed of daily requires increasing recycling efforts.
History of Batteries, What Is a Battery, Recycling of Batteries One of the most revolutionary ideas at the time of the invention was the battery. A battery is defined as a device where energy is stored and delivered through electrical means.
The Article “E-Waste: An Overview on Generation, Collection, Legislation and Recycling Practices” The aim of the paper is to analyze the article “E-waste: An overview on generation, collection, legislation and recycling practices” for readability and pseudoscience vs science.
Battery Recycling and Its Impact on Our Future Battery recycling can reclaim the following elements: nickel, cobalt, and even lithium that can be used in further production by the sustainable automotive industry.
Pop Culture: Developments, Recycling and Revitalizing Pop can be defined as the usual way of life of Americans. It refers to the popular culture that at least all Americans agree to.
Plastic Pollution in Arizona and Recycling Measures It is advisable to use existing approaches in combination and stay informed of the latest advances in technology to achieve the best effects and prevent the issue from compounding.
Recycling: Finding the Solution This proposal is aimed at discussing the effective solution that has the potential to inhibit the garbage crisis and offload local garbage stations.
Greywater Recycling: Limitations and Perspectives There are benefits for wastewater subsystems as the recycling of greywater reduces the amount of total wastewater that needs to be conveyed by wastewater subsystems.
Tire Recycling, Compactor Machine and Clamp System This report will describe the aims, technical information, problems, design concept, recycling procedures, and health benefits of recycled tires.
Recycling of Materials There is the need for crafting more sustainable structures of manufacture. Recycling is one of these methods with numerous benefits.
Canterbury Bankstown Recycling Recycling garbage is part of our everyday life and every country’s life. Companies always try to perform their work qualitatively but to improve such work.
Hospital Waste Recycling as a Policy Change Hospitals produce a large amount of waste daily from plastics, cardboard, needles, mixed papers, glass, and hazardous waste.
Recycling: Why Reusing Needs to Be User Friendly The article discusses the controversial topic of recycling, with some people finding the process to be inconvenient and highlights the need for well-structured recycling systems.
Recycling Is Vital for the Future of Earth The paper aims to argue why recycling is essential for addressing environmental issues and helping save the Earth for future generations.
Plastic Waste and Importance of Recycling Procedures The use of recycling procedures, combined with waste classification and prohibition of its dumping in landfills, can be an appropriate solution to the problem of plastic waste.
Importance of Recycling for Environment and People The study provides the necessary information on how to transform the disposal, and recycling of plastic waste.
Improper Recycling and Its Effects The effects of improper recycling that have been discussed in this paper pose a great danger to the well-being of society.
Recycling in the United States: Ball Corporation’s Report Ball Corporation’s report aimed to identify the current waste recycling quality and programs in the United States to start implementing better waste collection and reuse practices.
Disposal of Plastic: Burning and Recycling Burning plastics should be avoided to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; also, all non-biodegradable materials should be recycled, while biodegradable materials should be composted.
Integrated Water Strategies From Website Water Recycling The website http://waterrecycling.com/ is a front-end of their company showing various services that the company offers in the field of water recycling.
Application of Recycling to Waste From Refinery Industry The reason for the failure of recycling mechanisms; results from the polluting effect of gases produced during this process.
Recycling of Materials: Entrepreneurship Assignment Recycling of materials has been a very crucial part of our economic activities. It forms a part of the national income and also secures jobs for some individuals within the economy.
Recycling: Syllogism and Argumentation Recycling is generally regarded as the important and inevitable part of environmental protection, as well as saving of natural resources.
Philanthropy: Recycling Programs in Los Angeles The paper discusses the theory of the carrying capacity, aspects of recycling, consumption of the natural resources and the other point of view on this issue.
Rubbish Waste & Recycling Program “Rubbish Are Us” “Rubbish Are Us” could provide and maintain a well-functioning team as a contactor for the efficient collection and disposal of waste in the Derby borough.
Recycling-Related Benefits for Dubai Recycling is the process of changing wastes into new usable products. This essay seeks to establish how recycling has enhanced the health, safety, and economic status of Dubai.
Recycling in Dubai and Its Impact on the Population and Environment The proposal provides an insight into how recycling can be conducted and respective benefits of the same on the environment.
Environmental Studies: Water Recycling Different countries face varying challenges in as far as the provision of clean water to its population is concerned depending on its economic development level and geographic location.
Environmental Studies: Plastics Recycling and Recovery The essay intends to focus on the life cycle assessment and its relationship with the recycling and recuperation of plastic. Plastics contribute greatly to the high numbers of waste.
Electronic Waste Collection and Recycling
Curbing Environmental Pollution Through Recycling
Data Protection and Recycling Computer Hardware
Recycling and Its Effects on Our Environment
Lead Recovery From Battery Recycling Efforts
Landfills: Recycling and Land Fill Site
Chemical Substance and Local Chemical Recycling
Feasibility and Merit Criteria for Our Recycling Program
Diesel Crusher Applies for Recycling Construction Waste
Recycling Cities’ Industrial Areas
Carbon Revenue: Recycling Versus Technological Incentives
Recycling Process and Its Relevance to Environmental Issues
Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling
Research Methods for the University Recycling Program
Recycling With Endogenous Consumer Participation
E-Waste and Non-e-Waste Recycling in Costa Rica
Cleanliness: Recycling and Solid Waste Management
Incentive-Based Oil Recycling in Kenya
Battery Recycling and the Recovery of Lead
Good Practices Regarding Solid Waste Management Recycling
Circuit Board Recycling Machine Characteristics
Copper Recycling and Scrap Availability
Leveraging Consumers’ Recycling Incentives in a Circular Economy
Crawler-Type Mobile Crushing Plant Into Recycling Construction Waste
Effective Recycling Methods for Rare Earth Metals
Recycling Improves Soil Fertility Management in Smallholdings in Tanzania
Garbage and Recycling With Endogenous Local Policy
Paper Recycling and the Stock of Trees
New York Operates the Country‘s Largest Recycling Program
Behavioral Attitudes Towards Waste Prevention and Recycling
Recycling: Social Norms and Warm-Glow Revisited
Environmentalism and the Importance of Recycling
Recycling for Sustainability and Commerce
Optimizing Product Recycling Chains by Control Theory
Household Waste Recycling: National Survey Evidence From Italy
Recycling Means Converting Waste Into Usable Things
Mandatory Recycling and How It Can Help Our World
End-Of-Life Management and Recycling of PV Modules
Monopoly Power and the Recycling of Raw Materials
What Are Some Psychological Aspects of Recycling?
What Factors Are Influencing Households’ Participation in Recycling?
What Motivations and Behaviors That Support Recycling Are There?
What Are Some Recycling Issues for Composite Materials?
What Are Recycling Outcomes in Three Types of Recycling Collection Units?
What Is the Economic Evaluation of Recycling?
What Are the Determinants of Recycling Behaviour in Malta?
Why Is the Role of Automobiles for the Future of Aluminum Recycling?
What Are the Costs of Municipal Waste and Recycling Programs?
What Is Environmental Impact of Textile Reuse and Recycling?
What Are the Supply Chain Implications of Recycling?
What Is the Influence of Distance on the Motivation of Household Recycling?
What Is the Resource Conservation Effect of Recycling in a Dynamic Leontief Model?
What Are the Pros and Cons of Recycling?
What Are the Recycling Behaviours and Attitudes of Undergraduate Students?
What Is the Current Process for the Recycling of Spent Lithium Ion Batteries?
Is Waste Reduction as Important as Recycling in Saving Natural Resources?
What Is the Influence of Recycling on Monopoly Power?
Why Recover Phosphorus for Recycling, and How?
What Is Precipitation Recycling in the Amazon Basin?
What Is Are the Pathways and Mechanisms of Endocytic Recycling?
Why Is Recycling of Postconsumer Plastics So Challenging?
Why Is the Energy Benefit of Stainless Steel Recycling?
Why Is Recycling Potential of Medical Plastic Wastes?
Why Is the Technology of Lead Recycling So Important and Its Perspectives?
Upcycling wonders: giving new life to old things.
Recycling Renaissance: discovering the beauty of repurposed materials.
Making eco-friendly choices through recycling.
Recycling one bin at a time: the power of small actions.
Recycling art exhibition: artistic expression through waste.
Eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags.
Recycling reward system: encouraging the community to reduce waste.
Paper-making workshop: learning to make recycled paper.
Recycled toy drive: giving old toys to underprivileged children.
Zero food waste project: donating surplus food to those in need.
The economic impact of recycling.
Consumer behaviors and attitudes toward recycling.
The effectiveness of recycling policies in waste reduction.
Barriers to recycling in developing countries and ways to overcome them.
Recycled plastics: quality, safety, and applications.
The influence of awareness campaigns on recycling behaviors.
E-waste recycling: challenges and opportunities.
The carbon footprint of waste disposal methods.
Technological innovations for sorting and processing recyclable materials.
The impact of peer influence on recycling behaviors.

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StudyCorgi . "122 Recycling Topics & Questions for Students." May 10, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/recycling-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "122 Recycling Topics & Questions for Students." May 10, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/recycling-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Recycling were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on December 28, 2023 .

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104 Recycling Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Recycling has become an important topic in today's society as we strive to protect the environment and reduce our carbon footprint. With so many different aspects of recycling to explore, there are endless possibilities for essay topics. Whether you are writing a research paper, a persuasive essay, or simply want to raise awareness about the importance of recycling, here are 104 recycling essay topic ideas and examples to get you started:

The benefits of recycling for the environment
The impact of recycling on reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The importance of recycling plastic materials
The role of recycling in conserving natural resources
The economic benefits of recycling for businesses and communities
The challenges of recycling in developing countries
The role of government policies in promoting recycling initiatives
The connection between recycling and climate change
The impact of electronic waste on the environment and the importance of recycling e-waste
The benefits of composting as a form of recycling organic materials
The impact of recycling on reducing water pollution
The role of education in promoting recycling habits
The importance of recycling paper and cardboard materials
The connection between recycling and energy conservation
The benefits of recycling aluminum and other metals
The impact of recycling on reducing landfill waste
The importance of recycling glass materials
The benefits of recycling textiles and clothing
The role of recycling in reducing air pollution
The connection between recycling and biodiversity conservation
The impact of recycling on reducing ocean pollution
The benefits of recycling food waste through composting
The role of recycling in creating a circular economy
The importance of recycling batteries and electronic devices
The benefits of recycling construction and demolition waste
The impact of recycling on reducing plastic pollution in the oceans
The role of recycling in reducing deforestation
The connection between recycling and sustainable development
The benefits of recycling tires and rubber materials
The importance of recycling household waste
The impact of recycling on reducing water scarcity
The role of recycling in promoting social equity and justice
The benefits of recycling organic waste through anaerobic digestion
The importance of recycling hazardous waste materials
The connection between recycling and public health
The impact of recycling on reducing soil contamination
The benefits of recycling agricultural waste
The role of recycling in promoting biodiversity conservation
The importance of recycling plastic bottles and containers
The benefits of recycling packaging materials
The impact of recycling on reducing marine pollution
The role of recycling in promoting environmental justice
The connection between recycling and sustainable agriculture
The benefits of recycling automotive parts and materials
The importance of recycling industrial waste
The impact of recycling on reducing energy consumption
The role of recycling in promoting green jobs and economic growth
The benefits of recycling household appliances and electronics
The importance of recycling textiles and clothing
The connection between recycling and water conservation
The impact of recycling on reducing air pollution
The role of recycling in promoting sustainable urban development
The benefits of recycling paper and cardboard materials
The importance of recycling glass and plastic bottles
The connection between recycling and wildlife conservation
The impact of recycling on reducing toxic waste
The benefits of recycling organic waste through composting
The importance of recycling electronic waste
The role of recycling in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The role of recycling in promoting a circular economy
The importance of recycling tires and rubber materials
The role of recycling in promoting sustainable development
The connection between recycling and water scarcity
The impact of recycling on reducing plastic pollution
The role of recycling in promoting social equity
The connection between recycling and sustainable urban development
The role of recycling in promoting green jobs
The role of recycling in promoting water conservation
The role of recycling in creating a more sustainable future

These are just a few of the many recycling essay topic ideas and examples to help you get started on your writing journey. Whether you are a student, a researcher, or simply an advocate for environmental sustainability, there is a wealth of information and inspiration to be found in the world of recycling. So, roll up your sleeves, grab your pen (or keyboard), and start exploring the incredible world of recycling today!

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201 Recycling Research Topics & Questions

One tin would not damage the environment. But hundreds of thousands of cans can destroy the ecosystem in a decade. Waste sorting has become the everyday reality of our lives – we do not doubt where a plastic bottle or paper package should go.

Waste management and disposal is also powerful engine for the economic system. This article lists its benefits and challenges. But most importantly, here, you will find 200+ recycling research topics for students that would suit creative writing and essays.

📘 Top 15 Recycling Research Topics

✒️ Recycling Research
🌱 Recycling History
🌿 Legal Aspects of Recycling
🧹 Recycling Household Waste
🧱 Recycling Industrial Waste
💡 Criticism of Recycling
❓ Recycling Research Questions

🖇 References

The costs of collection, transportation, and processing trash outweigh its benefits.
Recycling industrial waste: Should individuals pay for it?
Artificial reefs on sunken ships: Is it an ecological way to recycle broken vessels?
Plastic cannot be recycled; it can only be downcycled.
Solar panels are not as good as we think: Recycling issues.
Why is a garden waste as harmful as used oil and tires to the environment?
Creating transparency and public awareness of recyclate quality.
Reverse vending machines have been the best recycling solution for decades.
The easier the sorting, the better the recycled raw materials.
Third-country business: Collecting and sorting garbage?
The environmental impact of processing paper packages.
Compulsory measures or laissez-faire: What is more efficient for the recycling industry?
Trash fees are inevitable.
Will complete recycling ever become possible?
How could we increase the public participation rates in recycling?

✒️ Recycling Research: The Basics

Recycling means processing disposable items that would otherwise be thrown into the dump. As a result of this process, raw materials and new products are produced. Recycling is beneficial for the environment and has many pros :

Reducing the waste volumes in landfills and incinerators;
Preserving timber, water, oil, energy, and minerals;
Cutting down greenhouse gas emissions;
Providing a domestic source of materials that would otherwise be imported;
Creating new industries and jobs.

Challenges of Recycling

Several challenges are hindering the popularization of recycling. Here are some excellent suggestions on what could be done to change them.

While writing your answers to recycling research questions, you will find these ideas useful. Below we have listed a broad selection of topics about recycling for high school and college students.

🌱 Topics about Recycling History

Plato as the first advocate of recycling.
Evidence of first recycling attempts in the pre-industrial era.
Economic benefits of recycling in pre-industrial times.
The rise of the shoddy industry in Britain in the 19th century.
Toyota Motor Corporation’s Sustainability Agenda.
The impact of industrialization on recycling.
The role of chemistry in recycling during the 19th century.
Recycling as a way to generate value in the early 19th century.
Salvaging scrap as a way to victory.
Municipal Solid Waste in the State of Kuwait.
Salvaging materials during World War II.
Recycling campaigns of different countries during World War II.
Recycling as a patriotic act in U.S. history.
Recycling aluminum in the 20th century.
Solid Waste Management in the Arab World.
History of first recyclable electronics.
Extracting valuable materials from waste.
Electronic waste in Asia during the late 20th century.
The emergence of the recycling industry.
The Ecological Footprint Calculation.
First automated recycling facilities in Europe.
The changes in consumption and production.
New Chinese policies and the crisis in the recycling industry.
Exporting waste for recycling.

🌿 Legal Aspects of Recycling: Research Topics

Ways to create a waste supply and demand.
The efficiency of recycling targets for cities.
The effects of bans on refuse in cities.
How to improve the success rate of recycling laws?
Optimal ways to organize the costs of refuse collection.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Control Implementation.
Governmental policies that promote recycling.
Legal ways to decrease the use of non-recyclable materials.
Supporting supply and demand of recycling services.
Illegal dumping and ways to prevent it.
The Built Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
The role of product labeling for recycling purposes.
Educating consumers on sustainable materials through labeling.
The benefits of utilization rates versus content mandates.
Promoting environmentally friendly options through laws.
Policies on minimum recycled material inclusion.
Financial aspects of material procurement mandates.
Can governments affect consumers’ preferences through recycling policies?
European Union laws on recycling electronic waste.
The impact of the Environmental Protection Agency actions.
Increasing the demand for products made from recycled materials.
Regulating prices of recyclable products through policies.

🧹 Recycling Research Questions on Household Waste

Ways to collect consumer waste.
How does the recycling industry resolve the unsorted garbage problem?
Expenses versus profits in collecting recyclates.
Systems involved in curbside waste collection.
Plastic vs. Paper Bags Comparison.
Mixed versus a separate collection of recyclates.
How sorting facilities deal with refuse from the curbside collection.
The impact of public education on the efficiency of curbside collection.
The role of source separation on waste collection costs.
Renewable Energy Generation, Application, Impacts.
Benefits of upholding a proper recycling stream.
Lowering the operational costs of sorting centers.
Decreasing contamination of sorted waste for better reusability.
Is commingled collection more efficient for the recycling industry?
Water, Wind, Solar, and Nuclear Power Technologies.
Incentivizing consumers to sort their waste through buy-back centers.
Should cities use drop-off or buy-back centers?
The necessity to support sorting centers by governments.
The profitability of educating citizens on waste disposal.
Recyclebots as an example of promoting sustainable plastic usage.
Automated waste sorting processes in material recovery facilities.
The importance of separating plastics and cardboard from other materials.
The removal of contaminants and their impact on waste processing costs.
How sorting waste helps the recycling industry?
Can early sorting transfer the savings to benefit consumers?
The process of sorting recyclates from households.
San Francisco’s goal of zero waste and its outcomes.
How sorting technologies reduce prices for consumers.
Why is it necessary to remove glass refuse from other materials?
Can waste drop-off replace curbside collection?
City-wide policies on recycling.
Educating citizens on recycling benefits.
Is sustainable waste collection impossible without increasing costs?
Reimbursing recycling costs at buy-back centers.
The value of mixed recyclables.
Is cleaning recyclables necessary?
The role of 3D printers in recycling.
Refuse logistics in different methods of collection.
Innovations in sorting consumer waste.
Methods of improving landfill diversion rates.
Food waste as a contaminant in consumer-generated refuse.
The impact of color-coordinated waste bins.
The need to create opportunities to sell garbage.

🧱 Topics about Recycling Industrial Waste

Industry-generated waste reduction methods and factors that prevent them.
Increasing cost-effectiveness of industrial recycling.
Ways to promote metal recycling among industrial refuse.
How to increase the recycling rates of rare metals?
Global Warming, Its Causes, and Potential Solutions.
Incentivizing industries to recollect used goods for recycling.
Disposing and recycling of military equipment and vehicles.
Reusing nuclear waste for military purposes.
Nuclear Waste Storage in the U.S. and Other Countries.
The link between renewable energy and recycling policies.
The usage of recycled plastics in industries.
Giving electronics manufacturers’ responsible recycling opportunities.
Poisonous chemicals stemming from non-recycled electronics.
Plastic Bags, Their Danger and Alternatives.
Ways to improve the recycling process of electronics.
Relationship between vehicle recycling and car prices.
How can recycling benefit the construction industry?
The decrease in the quality of recycled plastics.
Applying chemical and physical recycling for plastic waste.
How can the chemical recycling of polymers extend their life?
Using pyrolysis to produce valuable chemicals from plastics.
Dealing with poisonous materials during industrial recycling.
Promoting “urban mining” in the recycling industry.
Sustainability in the Food Service Industry.

💡 Criticism of Recycling: Research Topics

Achievability of zero pollution at production recycling facilities.
Are the economic costs of recycling justified?
Conflict of logistic operations and waste recycling.
Consequences of reusable materials: Morbidity and ill-health.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability.
Cost: Virgin materials are cheaper than recycled materials.
Cultivated forests will not renew soil resources.
Destruction of wood resources due to recycling.
Do companies allocate funds to reduce waste?
Does recycling lead to a culture of informed consumption?
Does the effect of recycling cover its cost?
Eco-friendliness of recycling: pollution is only increasing.
Effects of metals with long half-lives.
Ecological Models in Healthy People 2030.
Energy costs of recycling and production of recyclables.
Environmental effects of recycling electrical equipment.
Inadequacy of plastic recycling due to an abundance of materials.
Inadequate cost of recycling: Blurred boundaries of profitability.
Is resource continuity worthwhile in the city?
Is the personal profit of corporations from recycling greater than the public benefit?
Lack of effective technologies for incineration and recycling.
Low efficiency of the recycling industry.
Market value crisis: The impact of recycling.
Paper or plastic: Where more resources go.
Plastic recycling policy: Disadvantages and consequences.
Product unsuitability for recycling: Consequences.
Hydroelectric Power Dams’ Environmental Impact.
Unsafe and unhygienic recycling centers.
How are recycling conditions socially detrimental?
The impact of recycling on non-renewable resources.
Do recycling programs follow biodegradation principles?
The role and effects of lobbying in recycling.
Shifting the responsibility for recycling to less national development.
State evasion of responsibility for harm from recyclables.
The recycling cycle: unattainable strategies of environmentalists.
The government’s role in substandard recycling.
The inefficiency of recycling for economic development.
The mismatch between urban and natural ecosystems.
The positive effects of recycling are too long-lasting.
The problem with recycling: the zero-sum game.
The quality of recyclable materials is not proportional to their value.
The social dimension of recycling: poverty and unequal labor.
Why is ubiquitous recycling not achievable: equal opportunity issues?

❓ More Recycling Research Questions

Are existing recycling opportunities adequate for the consumer?
Are energy and material costs of recycling justified?
Are there any effective recycling strategies?
Do corporations harm the environment more than the public?
Does recycling shape the predisposition to various diseases?
How are policies regarding the recycling of hazardous materials shaped?
How did legislation stimulate environmental harm reduction?
How did the principles of recycling evolve?
How did World War II affect recycling?
How does legislation regulate and control the coding of recyclables?
How does recycling affect the added value of the commodity?
How does recycling impact society?
Is recycling an ethical choice?
How does the controversy over recycling affect consumer perception?
How have policies for recycled products influenced the culture of consumption?
How should the government influence corporate attitudes toward recycling?
Is recycling paper beneficial compared to using plastic?
Is the recycling market fair to the consumer?
Is there social support for recycling?
How is the consumer responsible for recycling?
What are the economic effects of recycling raw materials?
What are the most relevant critical claims in recycling raw materials?
What are the positive effects of piecemeal trash sorting?
What are the short- and long-term effects of recycling?
What changes in plastic recycling are effective?
What have principles of recycling industrial waste become prevalent?
What is the effect of recycling on public well-being?
What is the value of the recycling cycle?
What tools exist to improve the quality of recyclables?
Why are programs aimed at the consumer and not the producer?
Recycling Basics – the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Despite challenges, recycling is still the right thing to do – for the environment and the economy – Washington State Department of Ecology
Novel Advances in Waste Recycling Towards Circular Economy – Frontiers Research Topic
Frequently Asked Questions: Benefits of Recycling. Land, Buildings & Real Estate – Stanford University
The Ecology of Recycling – United Nations

Recycling Essay Examples and Topics

Garbage pollution.

Words: 1343

Zero Waste Management

Sustainability and waste management.

Words: 1362

Living a Zero Waste Lifestyle

Words: 1630

Improper Trash Disposal and Its Impact on Human Health

Problems of household waste disposal, aluminium cans recycling.

Words: 1975

Waste-to-Energy Conversion Efforts

Environmental health and safety, environmental impacts and solutions: solid waste.

Words: 1365

“The Reign of Recycling” Article by Tierney

Importance of recycling in conservation of the environment.

Words: 1107

Environmental Impact of Bottled Water

Words: 2189

Summary and Comparison of Articles; “Hiding in Plain Sight” by Heather Rogers and, “On Dumpster Diving” by Lans Eighner

Recycling greywater for irrigation and landscaping applications.

Words: 13802

Recycling Practices Among Latinos in the U.S.

Words: 4800

Environmental Protection and Waste Management

Words: 1724

Solid Waste Management: Hazardous Waste Management

Should recycling be mandatory, management recycling of the waste.

Words: 1444

Recycling in Campus

Economics of recycling: benefits and costs.

Words: 2146

Ontario Waste Recycling Policy

Words: 6124

How I Organize my Trash

Waste management practices: the shire of collie.

Words: 3301

Recycling Tires in the UAE

Words: 1075

Ensuring Healthy and Clean Environment: Importance of Recycling

Nepal’s waste management alternatives.

Words: 11699

Campus Waste Management

The effect of polymers on environment vs glass.

Words: 1287

Hazardous Waste and Their Treatment

Public speaking: why recycling is important.

Words: 1067

Is Recycling Good for the Environment?

Life cycle for a plastic bottle, waste recycling technologies in dubai.

Words: 3311

Zero Waste Principles Applied by Humans

Does recycling harm the environment, recycling in florida: why is it important.

Words: 1665

Tote Bags Made of Recyclables to Lessen Waste

Mandatory recycling program in murray, newspaper collection and general recycling, “recycling in america is a mess” by kimmelman, reign of recycling and waste management problem, attitude towards recycling during covid-19.

Words: 1455

Plastic Recycling at a University: Effects of Number and Location of Bins

Recycling plastic waste as class activity, how to write a business report, aluminum can recycling: eco-efficiency, fabric recycling: environmental collapse, proper recycling of e-waste in the southern new jersey community.

Words: 1556

Biogas as an Alternative Form of Electricity

Recycled water – is it safe for drinking, recycling plastic: exploration of opportunities, paper recycling: environmental and business issues.

Words: 18408

Sustainability in Packaging: Effective Use of Resources

On waste management: “the big necessity” by rose george, managing natural resources: recycling, recyclability of vehicular materials.

Words: 18141

Transpacific Waste Management Facility

The city of adelaide green waste recycling centre.

Words: 1066

What Do You Know About The Biodegradable Plastics

Words: 3354

African Towns’ Waste Management: Port Said, Egypt

Words: 1424

Waste Management in Developing Nations: A Need Assessment Plan

Types of secondary and tertiary packaging, electronic waste and recycling fees, waste reduction in the united arab emirates.

Words: 1699

Waste Collection, Cairo: History and Current Status

Global issue: wwf on bio-refineries, electronic waste management and recycling, recycling is not garbage.

Words: 1994

Energy in New York City Analysis

Words: 1506

Classification of Hazardous Wastes

Realizing the emerging importance of recycling.

Words: 1358

Recycling the End of Life Vehicles

Words: 2391

Degradable Plastics Usage Discussion

Words: 1619

Recycling Batteries: An In-Depth Look

Words: 2741

Evaluation and Enhancement of E-Waste Management in Dubai

Words: 4923

The Issue of Littering in Western Australia

Words: 2155

Norway’s Food Waste Policy Applied to Dubai

Words: 2043

Tullamarine Landfill: Causes, Problems and Treatment

Words: 1667

Recycling Plastic Packaging as an Enterprise

Hazardous waste classification.

Words: 1692

“The Poetics of Waste” by Binotto and Payne

Uae medical waste culture and environmental impact, e-waste management: reducing the toxicity.

Words: 1159

Plastic Consumption and Compostable Packaging

Words: 1395

Social Activism Against Plastic Pollution

Plastic waste accumulation and ways to address it.

Words: 1145

Tri-County Recycling Project Analysis

Words: 1371

Sustainability and Industrial Waste Management

Words: 1471

Waste Management Steps for Manufacturers

Waste management: building information modeling.

Words: 3554

Electronic Waste Management in China

Words: 6535

Waste Management in Food Processing: Different Types of Wastes and Recycling Ways

Words: 1096

Ablution Water Recycling in Mosques

Waste management in urban area: peer review, metalico inc.’s sustainability and waste management, interface inc.’s products and recycling strategies, etihad airways company’s waste management approach.

Words: 1708

Innovative Recycling Competition: Educating the Public

Plastic-related threats and need for replacement.

Words: 1151

Waste Materials as Soil Stabilisers

Environmental economics in philippines.

Words: 1190

Waste Management in Australia: International Lessons

Words: 2492

Improving Recycling Behavior in Dubai: Group Project

Sustainable energy: recycling of cars in germany.

Words: 5520

“How to Solve the Food Waste Problem” by Chavich

Hazardous waste disposal in the united states, reverse logistics optimization in plastic industry.

Words: 4411

Waste Management and Action Plan: SP AusNet’s Offices

Words: 2288

Plastic Wastes Recycling Plant in the United Arab Emirates

Words: 2504

Reverse Logistics and the Environment

Geelong resource recovery centre: waste management, transpacific, australian waste disposal agency, waste diversion program in ontario.

Words: 2557

The Inventory Plan: PET-bottles Recycling

The cost-effectiveness of recycling plastic, problem of waste in india, environmental impact – life cycle assessment.

Words: 2460

Global Solid Waste Problem and Management

Words: 2784

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5 NSF projects transforming how researchers understand plastic waste

The U.S. National Science Foundation champions research on how plastic impacts the planet. These five projects are changing how researchers think about plastic and what happens after it is tossed away.

Plastic is everywhere. Humans produce so much plastic that we end up throwing away about 400 million tons of plastic-related trash every year. And researchers are learning that this trash doesn't stay where it is deposited. From land to sea, plastic is found virtually everywhere on the planet.

Earth Day 2024 is highlighting the plastics problem with the theme: "Planet vs. Plastic." "Our reliance on harmful plastics is not sustainable," said Alexandra Isern, NSF assistant director for Geosciences. "We are committed to funding research that will address the plastics challenge to create a safer future for generations to come."

Here are five NSF-driven projects that look at the versatile material in both expected and unusual places and examine its impacts on the planet and the creatures who call it home.

1. In soils

About half of the 400 million tons of plastic that people worldwide discard annually migrates beyond landfills.

Brian Giebel, an assistant research professor at the City University of New York, and Benjamin Bostick, a professor at Columbia University, are studying how these discarded plastics can affect soil health and function . The team is especially interested in plastic's potential to change how soils emit climate-warming gases like carbon dioxide and methane.

How does a piece of plastic eventually end up as a gas? First, it breaks down through chemical and physical processes in soils. When it degrades to less than 5 micrometers in size, slightly bigger than a speck of dust, it can become a tasty lunch for microorganisms, which then release carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.

The team will use a variety of laboratory techniques, like stable isotope measurements and X-ray microscopy, to track plastic's degradation, microbial uptake and eventual transformation to gas.

2. In urban streams

From plastic wrappers to plastic bottles, plastics dominate daily life. Once used, however, plastic can often end up as litter within waterways.

Anne Jefferson, a professor at the University of Vermont, and her team are using time-lapse photography and repeat field surveys to understand how discarded plastic moves through and sometimes stays in streams . "I kept seeing trash everywhere in the urban streams where I was doing research for other projects," Jefferson said. "Since stopping litter from entering streams seemed like a losing battle, I wanted to know more about what happens to the litter once it got into a stream and how it interacted with other elements of the stream channel."

Jefferson's findings will improve litter tracking models that follow plastic from streams to oceans. She wants to learn how much plastic is stored in flood plains or within stream and river channels rather than entering the ocean. Her findings will also help guide litter management, environmental cleanup and ecosystem restoration efforts.

3. On the ocean's surface

Just like humans, plastic is carbon-based. Aron Stubbins, a professor at Northeastern University, is using this fact to better understand whether plastic pollution has fundamentally changed the ocean's surface.

Plastic has been accumulating at the ocean's surface ever since mass production started about 70 years ago. Stubbins and his team are collecting plastic samples from the open ocean and measuring natural organic carbon and plastic-carbon concentrations to determine if the plastic carbon now makes up a significant fraction of the total surface ocean carbon. If that is the case, as the team suspects, then it's very likely that the plastic carbon levels on the ocean surface today are unprecedented.

The team collected samples from the Atlantic Ocean on a research cruise last summer. The anticipated findings will reveal whether ocean scientists need to consider the role of plastic carbon as an active component of the surface ocean carbon cycle.

4. In the Arctic

Bits of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters can come from larger plastic pieces that have broken apart, byproducts of plastic manufacturing or microbeads used in health and beauty products.

These microplastics litter the seas, even reaching the remote Arctic Ocean. Alexandra Jahn, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, is studying how sea ice moves microplastics in polar regions.

Jahn and her collaborators at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research, the University of Washington and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute are investigating why observed concentrations of microplastics in sea ice are many times higher than in the underlying ocean and how this affects where microplastics end up. The team is also investigating whether sea ice is more likely to melt when it contains dark microplastics, which increase sunlight absorption.

To help answer these questions, the team is growing sea ice embedded with microplastics in a laboratory and adding microplastics to numerical models of various complexity.

5. In the atmosphere

Manufacturers add certain chemicals to plastic to make it stronger, more flexible and more durable. However, when plastic waste ends up in the ocean, these often toxic additives can leach into the water and accumulate in the sea surface microlayer, where the top of the ocean meets the atmosphere.

Nate Slade, an assistant professor at the University of California San Diego is studying how these chemicals can stick to droplets as they evaporate into the air , travel long distances across the ocean, pollute air quality, and eventually end up in a person's airways.

Slade and his team want to know how long plastic additives can last when stuck to those droplets, known as aerosols, and how other chemicals can affect their transport.

These and related NSF-supported projects will help scientists better understand how plastic impacts the planet and how to use that knowledge to build a resilient planet.

About the Author

NSF 101: The NSF brand identity

2023: A tremendous year for science that sets stage for an exciting 2024 and beyond

Mapping science: How GIS transformed our view of the world

Articles on Garbage

Displaying 1 - 20 of 24 articles.

Decades of public messages about recycling in the US have crowded out more sustainable ways to manage waste

Michaela Barnett , University of Virginia ; Leidy Klotz , University of Virginia ; Patrick I. Hancock , University of Virginia , and Shahzeen Attari , Indiana University

Leveraging digital platforms for public good: Stories of positive impact from India

Suchit Ahuja , Concordia University and Yolande E. Chan , McGill University

Rethinking the big spring clean chuck-out frenzy: how keeping old things away from the landfill can ‘spark joy’ in its own way

Ashley Jameson Eriksmoen , Australian National University

Human garbage is a plentiful but dangerous source of food for polar bears finding it harder to hunt seals on dwindling sea ice

Thomas Scott Smith , Brigham Young University

No time to waste: We need to start prioritizing solid waste management in First Nation communities

Anderson Assuah , University College of the North

What is pay-as - you-throw ? A waste expert explains

Lily Baum Pollans , Hunter College

Dissecting stories about garbage in popular culture. Why they matter

Mehita Iqani , University of the Witwatersrand

Better rat control in cities starts by changing human behavior

Michael H. Parsons , Fordham University and Jason Munshi-South , Fordham University

How to boost recycling: Reward consumers with discounts, deals and social connections

Magali (Maggie) Delmas , University of California, Los Angeles

Recycling rates could rise significantly with this simple tweak

Karen Winterich , Penn State ; Gabriel E. Gonzales , State University of New York at New Paltz , and Gergana Nenkov , Boston College

The ocean’s plastic problem is closer to home than scientists first thought

Ted Henry , Heriot-Watt University

Is burning trash a good way to handle it? Waste incineration in 5 charts

Ana Baptista , The New School

As more developing countries reject plastic waste exports, wealthy nations seek solutions at home

Kate O'Neill , University of California, Berkeley

Sending surplus food to charity is not the way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Elaine Power , Queen's University, Ontario

There’s no ‘garbage patch’ in the Southern Indian Ocean, so where does all the rubbish go?

Mirjam van der Mheen , The University of Western Australia ; Charitha Pattiaratchi , The University of Western Australia , and Erik van Sebille , Utrecht University

If you recycled all the plastic garbage in the world, you could buy the NFL, Apple and Microsoft

Liberty Vittert , Washington University in St. Louis

Craigslist can cut solid waste, one used sofa at a time

Suvrat Dhanorkar , Penn State

Trump should wage a war on waste instead of battling the world over trade

Clyde Eiríkur Hull , Rochester Institute of Technology

China’s garbage ban upends US recycling – is it time to reconsider incineration?

Thomas Kinnaman , Bucknell University

All-you - can-eat landfill buffet spells trouble for birds

Sahar Seif , Carleton University and Jennifer Provencher , Acadia University

Top contributors

Assistant Professor of Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management, The New School

Professor of Economics, Bucknell University

Professor of Global Environmental Politics, University of California, Berkeley

Professor in Media Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

Professor of Economics, The University of Queensland

Susman Professor in Sustainability and Professor of Marketing, Penn State

Visiting Research Scholar, Fordham University

Professor of Coastal Oceanography, The University of Western Australia

PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies and Fine Arts, Concordia University

Masters student, Carleton University

Professor of Environmental Toxicology, Heriot-Watt University

Professor of Government and Legal Studies, Bowdoin College

Professor of Management Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, Anderson School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles

Adjunct professor, Department of Biology, Carleton University

Professor in Oceanography and Public Engagement, Utrecht University

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April 22, 2024 Paper, plastics and penalties: How audits can improve curbside recycling

For decades, curbside recycling has been a fixture in U.S. neighborhoods as a way to empower ordinary citizens to protect their environment and reduce waste. It’s a system, though, that relies on consumers to know what items are recyclable ― and which ones can contaminate a delicate ecosystem.

New research from faculty at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business examines the effectiveness of one tool that recycling companies, organizations and municipalities can use to limit contamination: curbside recycling audits.

“Our objective was to examine how different forms of curbside audits impacted households’ recycling performance,” said Erin McKie, assistant professor of operations and business analytics at Fisher and lead author of the paper.

“Specifically, we wanted to find out how curbside feedback of varying severity influenced recycling quality (as measured using household contamination rates) and participation (as measured using recycling cart set-out rates).”

McKie, along with Aravind Chandrasekaran, the Fisher Distinguished Professor of Operations, and Sriram Venkataraman, associate professor at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, authored the study, which was recently published in Production and Operations Management .

Q&A with Erin McKie

I’ve heard most of our recycling ends up in landfills…is this true and why? If recycling is too expensive compared to other disposal methods, such as landfilling, then, yes, materials may be landfilled. However, the direct landfilling of recyclables is not as widespread of a phenomenon as often suggested by the media. Curbside recycling programs generate nearly $1 billion dollars in community revenues and recover millions of pounds of materials for reuse annually.

At the same time, markets for recyclable materials are extremely dynamic and profit margins can be very thin. According to industry experts, approximately 100 curbside programs have been cancelled in the U.S. in recent years, with even more scaling back their programs. Hence, the threat of program cancellation resulting in landfilled materials is very real and always present.

What are the biggest threats to recycling?

Contamination is one of the largest cost drivers and, accordingly, one of the biggest threats to the recycling industry. It is caused by household-level sorting errors – i.e., when unaccepted or non-recyclable materials are placed in recycling bins. About 20-25% of collected recyclables are contaminated.

Removing contaminants to meet industry quality standards costs material recovery facilities (MRFs) millions of dollars per year in operational costs. These costs can stem from increased plant downtime (a moderately sized MRF can lose $10,000 for every 10 minutes it is shut down due to contaminants), increased labor sorting fees, spoilage, etc.

In short, contamination is often what causes thousands of tons of otherwise recyclable materials to be burned or landfilled, thereby polluting the environment, and costing communities millions in foregone recycling revenues. Contamination can make recycling a revenue-negative effort.

Another factor that leads communities to abandon recycling is lack of program participation. In order for recycling to be profitable, residents must both recycle well and recycle often.

So, to get a better idea of how well households are recycling, you reviewed curbside audits conducted by a consulting group in Columbus, Ohio. During the auditing process, inspectors examined recycling bins for things that didn’t belong. What did the auditors do when they found a contaminant?

If a contaminant was found, then one of two possible outcomes occurred:

The household received a cart warning, wherein their recycling bin was tagged with an information card highlighting which item(s) were improperly recycled. We refer to this as an information-only approach to correct household behaviors.
The household received a cart refusal, wherein their recycling bin was tagged with an information card, and, in addition, the household’s recycling bin was not emptied. In this case, the resident was required to remove the contaminant to receive service in the future. We refer to this approach as an information-plus-penalty approach to correct household behaviors.

Did people take offense at being penalized for trying to recycle something that isn’t recyclable?

No, we found that the information-plus-penalty mechanisms (cart refusals) were very effective. Specifically, households that received this punitive feedback reduced their contamination severity by 59% and were 75% less likely to commit a violation in the future.

Additionally, we found that household recycling participation behavior did not decrease after households received a punitive feedback mechanism.

Was this surprising?

Yes! While the use of curbside auditing mechanisms are promising, recycling industry stakeholders (e.g., recycling education organizations, MRFs and local community leaders) remain divided on the use of cart audits. Several stakeholders fear that punitive mechanisms such as the cart refusal, in particular, will discourage participation.

However, we found that the opposite occurred ― households recycled more when they received either form of feedback (including cart refusal).

Prior to our analysis, we were unaware of any industry or academic study that had examined the granular, household-level effect of these feedback mechanisms to settle this debate.

What were some of the caveats from the research?

While we show that the cart refusal mechanism is effective, to be leveraged, a municipality must first have the political willpower to implement this type of punitive measure.

Second, there are conditions in which the mechanism is more/less effective, for example:

It is more effective when administered to households with moderate to high education and income levels, and low to moderate population densities.
It is most effective at reducing the presence of aspirational contaminants (e.g., to-go containers, plastic bags). We did not find evidence that suggested it would work well on more egregious contaminant categories (e.g., trash, bagged and bulky items).
It is also less effective when administered in areas with older populations and high population densities.

How can this research help recycling organizations and municipalities with their efforts?

In short, the results from our research show that information in the form of cart refusals can help increase the amount of materials captured, in addition to improving captured material quality.

By using the most effective feedback mechanism identified through this study, either exclusively or paired with a courtesy warning, recycling stakeholders can better protect the future of U.S. community recycling programs.

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Waste Management Dissertation Topic Ideas

Published by Owen Ingram at January 2nd, 2023 , Revised On August 11, 2023

Choosing an ideal waste management dissertation topic can be challenging. In order to ensure a healthy environment, we must learn to manage waste in a responsible manner. Contribute to the body of knowledge in the field, capture the reader’s attention in an important area that is usually overlooked, and maintain an academic tone by choosing a relevant and unique waste management thesis topic from the list below.

For you to avoid the headache and have a pleasant dissertation writing experience, our subject matter experts have compiled a free list of the top custom waste management dissertation topic ideas.

You can quickly select one that appeals to you and conduct your research on it by reviewing the following list of possible waste management dissertation topics:

List of Waste Management Dissertation Ideas

Investigating how decision-making affects waste management optimization.
Determining the elements that might reduce risk in situations involving the handling of hazardous waste.
An examination of the impact of environmental legislation on garbage from building
Identifying the potential environmental risks associated with solid waste management and greenhouse emissions.
An original investigation of the influence of gender on attitudes and perceptions of trash management in the UK.
Should we mine landfills for their valuable metals as part of the waste-to-resources process? Weighing the risks and the profits
Examine the population’s compliance with trash management in urban vs Rural parts of the UK.
A study of the significance of managing nuclear waste.
An evaluation of the impact of industrial waste metals in the UK on agricultural output and soil fertility and the harmful consequences of these items on consumers’ health.
Impact of oil spills on coastal waters: a comprehensive analysis. A thorough examination of each oil leak incident between 2000 and 2020, including an environmental impact assessment.
High-level versus low-level radioactivity wastes are compared regarding safety regulations for managing radioactive waste.
An innovative study on recycling garbage into usable, ecological building materials. How will it affect the UK’s building industry, and is it practical?
A comparison of textile waste from pre- and post-consumer sources.
Focus on developing nations for the effects of toxic animal manure on human health and the environment.
An investigation into the UK’s regulations for treating industrial wastewater from companies near rivers, lakes, and the sea.
A comparison and analysis of the ongoing argument between waste minimization and waste management. Weighing the benefits and drawbacks.
Economic benefits of better treatment plant construction for sustainable solid waste management.
Implementation and policy of solid waste management in emerging and rich economies are compared.
Waste management techniques in the fashion industry: possible difficulties and necessary solutions.
How virtual and visual aids can be used to teach waste management at the university level?
Focusing on X countries, local government involvement in municipal solid waste management policy.
Comparative examination of e-waste management practices in the world’s poorer nations.
Descriptive research looks into waste management methods’ effects on human health.
Using a descriptive method, we investigate polymer waste’s biodegradation, incineration, and recycling.
Creation of a hypothetical waste management strategy for a project in a developing nation during construction.

For your convenience, our senior industry professionals have also compiled a list of fantastic waste management dissertation topic ideas that you can use to create your own topic. However, if you still need further help in dissertation writing, our expert writers are available to help you out.

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Planet versus Plastics

Plastic waste has infiltrated every corner of our planet, from oceans and waterways to the food chain and even our bodies. Only 9% of plastic is recycled due to factors including poor infrastructure, technical challenges, lack of incentives, and low market demand.

“We need legislation that disincentivizes big oil from producing plastic in the first place, coupled with enforced single use plastic taxes and fines,” says Desiree LaBeaud , professor of pediatric infectious diseases and senior fellow at   Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment . “We also need truly compostable alternatives that maintain the convenient lifestyle that plastic allows us now."

Plastic presents a problem like no other. Stanford scholars are approaching it from many angles: exploring the connection between plastic and disease, rethinking how plastic could be reused, and uncovering new ways of breaking down waste. In honor of Earth Day and this year’s theme – Planet vs. Plastics – we’ve highlighted stories about promising solutions to the plastics challenge.

Environmental changes are altering the risk for mosquito-borne diseases

Our changing climate is dramatically altering the landscape for mosquito-borne diseases, but other changes to the physical environment - like the proliferation of plastic trash - also make an impact, as mosquitos can breed in the plastic waste we discard.

Since this study published, HERI-Kenya , a nonprofit started by Stanford infectious disease physician Desiree LaBeaud , has launched HERI Hub , a brick and mortar education hub that educates, empowers and inspires community members to improve the local environment to promote health.

Using plastic waste to build roads, buildings, and more

Stanford engineers Michael Lepech and Zhiye Li have a unique vision of the future: buildings and roads made from plastic waste. In this story, they discuss obstacles, opportunities, and other aspects of transforming or upcycling plastic waste into valuable materials.

Since this white paper was published, students in Lepech's life cycle assessment course have explored the environmental and economic impacts of waste management, emissions, and energy efficiency of building materials for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts. In addition to recycled plastic, they proposed a photovoltaic system and conducted comparison studies to maximize the system’s life cycle. This work is being translated into an upcoming publication.

Stanford researchers show that mealworms can safely consume toxic additive-containing plastic

Mealworms are not only able to eat various forms of plastic, as previous research has shown, they can also consume potentially toxic plastic additives in polystyrene with no ill effects. The worms can then be used as a safe, protein-rich feed supplement.

Since this study published, it has inspired students across the world to learn about and experiment with mealworms and plastic waste. Stanford researchers involved with this and related studies have been inundated with requests for more information and guidance from people inspired by the potential solution.

Grants tackle the plastics problem

Stanford Woods Institute has awarded more than $23 million in funding to research projects that seek to identify solutions to pressing environment and sustainability challenges, including new approaches to plastic waste management.

Converting polyethylene into palm oil

This project is developing a new technology to convert polyethylene — by far the most discarded plastic — into palm oil. The approach could add value to the plastic waste management chain while sourcing palm oil through a less destructive route.

Improving plastic waste management

This project aims to radically change the way plastic waste is processed via a new biotechnology paradigm: engineering highly active enzymes and microbes capable of breaking down polyesters in a decentralized network of “living” waste receptacles.

A new, artistic perspective on plastic waste

Whales eat colossal amounts of microplastics

Event | Pollution and Health

A greener future begins with small steps

Mosquito diseases on the move

Last straw: The path to reducing plastic pollution

Plastic ingestion by fish a growing problem

Stanford infectious disease expert Desiree LaBeaud talks trash, literally, on Stanford Engineering's The Future of Everything podcast.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
Should graduate students be able to form unions?

What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
How does stress affect the body?
Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
What were the causes of the Civil War?
How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
What caused Hitler's rise to power?
Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
What are the pros and cons of fracking?
What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
How are black holes created?
Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
Has social media made people more or less connected?
What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

Are you also learning about dynamic equilibrium in your science class? We break this sometimes tricky concept down so it's easy to understand in our complete guide to dynamic equilibrium .

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Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa).

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Critical Minerals Recovery from Electronic Waste

PNNL researchers achieve sustainable recovery of minerals from e-waste

PNNL materials scientist Qingpu Wang superimposed on a pile of electronic waste

Materials scientist Qingpu Wang of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and his colleagues developed a nontoxic method to recover valuable minerals from electronic waste.

(Composite image by Melanie Hess-Robinson | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

RICHLAND, Wash.—There’s some irony in the fact that devices that seem indispensable to modern life—mobile phones, personal computers, and anything battery-powered—depend entirely on minerals extracted from mining, one of the most ancient of human industries. Once their usefulness is spent, we typically return these objects to the Earth in landfills, by the millions.

But what if we could “mine” electronic waste (e-waste), recovering the useful minerals contained within them, instead of throwing them away? A clever method of recovering valuable minerals from e-waste, developed by a research team at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , is showing promise to do just that. Materials separation scientist Qingpu Wang will present recent success in selectively recovering manganese, magnesium, dysprosium, and neodymium, minerals critical to modern electronics, at the 2024 Materials Research Society (MRS) Spring Meeting on April 25, 2024, in Seattle, WA .

Go with the flow

Just as a prism splits white light into a dazzling rainbow of colors based on distinct wavelengths, so too can metals be separated from one another using their individual properties. However, current separation methods are slow, as well as chemical- and energy-intensive. These barriers make the recovery of valuable minerals from e-waste streams economically unfeasible.

Illustration showing a column-based separations approach overlaid on a periodic table

In contrast, the PNNL research team used a simple mixed-salt water-based solution and their knowledge of metal properties to separate valuable minerals in continuously flowing reaction chambers.

The method, detailed in two complementary research articles and presented this week, is based on the behavior of different metals when placed in a chemical reaction chamber where two different liquids flow together continuously. The research team exploited the tendency of metals to form solids at different rates over time to separate and purify them.

“Our goal is to develop an environmentally friendly and scalable separation process to recover valuable minerals from e-waste,” said Wang. “Here we showed that we can spatially separate and recover nearly pure rare earth elements without complex, expensive reagents or time-consuming processes.”

The research team, which included materials scientist Chinmayee Subban , who also holds a joint appointment with the University of Washington, first reported in February 2024 successfully separating two essential rare earth elements, neodymium and dysprosium, from a mixed liquid. The two separate and purified solids formed in the reaction chamber in 4 hours, versus the 30 hours typically needed for conventional separation methods. These two critical minerals are used to manufacture permanent magnets found in computer hard drives and wind turbines, among other uses. Until now, separating these two elements with very similar properties has been challenging. The ability to economically recover them from e-waste could open up a new market and source of these key minerals.

Recovering minerals from e-waste is not the only application for this separation technique. The research team is exploring the recovery of magnesium from sea water as well as from mining waste and salt lake brines.

“Next, we are modifying the design of our reactor to recover a larger amount of product efficiently,” added Wang.

Recovering manganese from simulated battery waste

Using a complementary technique , Wang and his colleague Elias Nakouzi , a PNNL materials scientist, showed that they can recover nearly pure manganese (>96%) from a solution that mimics dissolved lithium-ion battery waste. Battery-grade manganese is produced by a handful of companies globally and is used primarily in the cathode, or negative pole of the battery.

In this study, the research team used a gel-based system to separate the materials based on the different transport and reactivity rates of the metals in the sample.

“ The beauty in this process is its simplicity ,” Nakouzi said. “Rather than relying on high-cost or specialty materials, we pared things back to thinking about the basics of ion behavior. And that’s where we found inspiration.”

The team is expanding the scope of the research and will be scaling up the process through a new PNNL initiative, Non-Equilibrium Transport Driven Separations (NETS), which is developing environmentally friendly new separations to provide a robust, domestic supply chain of critical minerals and rare earth elements.

“We expect this approach to be broadly relevant to chemical separations from complex feed streams and diverse chemistries—enabling more sustainable materials extraction and processing,” said Nakouzi.

The research studies reported at MRS received support from a Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program and the NETS initiative at PNNL.

Learn more about materials sciences careers at PNNL.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory draws on its distinguishing strengths in chemistry , Earth sciences , biology and data science to advance scientific knowledge and address challenges in sustainable energy and national security . Founded in 1965, PNNL is operated by Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE’s Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science . For more information on PNNL, visit PNNL's News Center . Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn and Instagram .

Published: April 23, 2024

Research topics

Home office

How Do You Get Rid of Shredded Paper? Think Twice Before Recycling.

A pile of paper with shredded pieces of paper on top of the pile.

By Melanie Pinola

Melanie Pinola is a writer focused on home-office gear. To find the best paper shredder, she has shredded enough junk mail to fill several bathtubs.

It turns out, I’ve been recycling all wrong. After the latest round of testing nine paper shredders , I thought I’d put the resulting 65-plus gallons of shredded paper out for recycling. But when I asked my local sanitation department if it would prefer the shreds in clear bags or cardboard boxes, the representatives said neither.

Instead, they instructed me to toss the shredded paper in with the trash.

But wait: Isn’t shredded paper still paper, and thus recyclable? Isn’t throwing away shredded paper wasteful? The answer to both questions is, well, kind of. Here’s what you need to know about the best way to dispose of shredded paper.

Check your local guidelines

The American Forest & Paper Association confirms that shredded paper is indeed recyclable. But whether shredded paper is acceptable for recycling in your town or city is another story.

So it’s best to double-check with your local sanitation or public-works department to see what you’re supposed to do with your shredded paper. Local guidelines vary—and those guidelines may or not be on the publicly accessible website or in published brochures.

For example, San Franciscans are encouraged to either place shredded paper in a stapled brown paper bag labeled “SHREDDED” or compost the shredded paper. But if you live in Rhode Island, shredded paper isn’t accepted for mixed-recycling pickup; residents can compost their shreds, throw them in the trash, or drop off shredded paper at a disposal site in Johnston, Rhode Island.

Why shredded paper isn’t always accepted for recycling

A trash can for paper next to a pile of shredded paper.

Shredded paper can be a disaster for some recycling facilities. “Shredded bits of paper are too small to be properly sorted by our facility’s machinery,” said Jared Rhodes, director of policy and programs at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC). They can contaminate other materials and even lead to equipment malfunctions, he added.

An article in The Providence Journal expounds on the problem, noting that when local households sent their shredded paper for recycling in paper bags, the shredding machines ripped the bags, and tiny shreds flew everywhere. When residents tried using plastic bags (or even double-bagging in plastic), the shreds still flew everywhere—and plastic wrapped around the equipment, shutting the facility down for cleaning and repairs.

As a solution, some localities outsource the recycling of shredded paper to dedicated facilities that are equipped for it, but that costs additional time and taxpayer money. You can help reduce the load by composting your shredded paper, taking documents to be shredded to a community’s free shredding event (they’ll know how to dispose of the shreds), and reducing how much you shred in the first place.

Shred only paper containing sensitive information

Paper is most suitable for recycling when it isn’t shredded, because whole pieces are easier for facilities to sort and have longer and stronger fibers ready to be made into new paper. So it’s best to avoid unnecessary shredding.

To protect your privacy, you should still shred anything with sensitive information on it, of course, such as documents with your Social Security number, financial statements, and medical records.

Royal 14MC 14-Sheet Micro Cut Paper Shredder

The best home-office paper shredder.

This high-security shredder offers the best balance of ease of use, sheet capacity, and price.

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However, some information on a document may be personal but not necessarily sensitive enough to need shredding, such as your name and address; your contact information may already be available on public records or services such as White Pages.

“Consider how much junk mail and spam calls you receive; that’s how known your address and phone number are,” says Max Eddy, Wirecutter’s senior staff writer covering privacy and security. Instead of shredding documents that have only your name, address, and phone number on them, you can cover that information with permanent black marker and then put the sheets into the recycling bin.

Bonus: In addition to helping the environment, reducing how much you shred can prolong the life of your paper shredder. Everybody wins.

This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.

Meet your guide

Melanie Pinola

Melanie Pinola covers home office, remote work, and productivity as a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. She has contributed to print and online publications such as The New York Times, Consumer Reports, Lifehacker, and PCWorld, specializing in tech, work, and lifestyle/family topics. She’s thrilled when those topics intersect—and when she gets to write about them in her PJs.

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Religious restrictions around the world

For more than a decade, Pew Research Center has been tracking global patterns in restrictions on religion – both those imposed by governments and hostilities committed by individuals and social groups. Scroll down to explore restrictions in 198 countries and territories, and see how each country’s restrictions have changed since 2007.

For more details on restrictions on religion around the world, read our latest report on the topic, “Globally, Government Restrictions on Religion Reached Peak Levels in 2021, While Social Hostilities Went Down.”

Note: Government restrictions include laws, policies and actions by authorities that impinge on religious beliefs and practices, while social hostilities involving religion include actions by private individuals or groups in society that limit such practices.

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