05 Dec 4 Ways Technology is Innovating Waste Management
No matter what industry you’re in, new technology is eventually going to come along and change the way business is done. That’s why all of us here at Lakeshore Recycling Systems pay attention to the latest advances and newest tech industry. These efforts help us deliver the best possible services to our customers here in the Chicagoland area. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways that technology is innovating in the waste management sector.
Turning Waste Into Energy
One of the biggest innovations coming to the waste management industry is the ability to turn waste into actual power. Instead of sitting in a landfill, certain types of waste can simply be converted into energy. New machinery known as “digesters” can take the waste and the biogas it produces and turn it into energy that can be used on site. This kind of technology can be used on a variety of waste, including food, animal waste, agricultural leftovers, and more.
Thermal conversion is another new technology that can be used to convert waste into specialty products. This process takes some cues from natural geothermal processes that use heat and pressure to turn useless materials into useful products. It could be used to turn waste into chemicals, fertilizes, oils, and other things that could give your waste another life.
Some landfill gas can even be converted into energy. This kind of gas would normally be released or flared, but now it can be turned into energy with the aid of some new technology. Bioreactors, microturbine technology, and even fuel cells can now be used to do something useful with waste. (Note: Lakeshore Recycling Systems does not own landfills)
New Ways to Recycle Precious Metals
So many products and industries require the use of precious metals. Because these minerals are so useful, they can be rather expensive. These materials, which include platinum, palladium, and iridium, can be used as catalysts in a wide variety of industries, including the automotive and chemical sectors.
New methodologies like plasma arc recycling can help our society meet rising demands for these materials. This tech can recover a vast majority of the platinum metal found in a vehicle or other object by using a super-hot plasma torch. Instead of mining for new ore, we can just reuse these materials and give them a second life.
Advances in Route Efficiency
While it’s not as cool as creating energy from waste or using plasma lasers, some technology has helped waste removal companies, like ours, optimize routes and improve efficiency. Advanced software has made it easier to plan out routes that can efficiently guide waste collecting trucks. This not only makes it easier to collect the waste and recycling materials that need to be collected. It also makes collection more fuel-efficient and reduces energy usage.
New Collection and Disposal Technology
New sensors can let waste management companies know that bins are full and need to be serviced. New types of screening technology can sort through recyclables quickly and efficiently, which takes the work out of the hands of consumers and encourage higher recycling rates. At Lakeshore Recycling Systems, we’ll keep incorporating the latest technology into our waste disposal and recycling efforts to make sure that we’re delivering the best services to our customers and doing our part to preserve the environment.