“Post-consumer” recyclable materials refer to any material or product that has already completed its useful life cycle after being used by an end consumer, but whose composition can be used to be chemically or physically transformed into new products (recycling).
These materials have already been purchased, used and finally discarded, which makes them waste that must be managed responsibly and, since they are potentially recyclable, seek the maximum use of that existing resource (circular economy). Some post-consumer recyclable materials are: glass bottles, plastic containers or bottles, metal cans, paper and cardboard.
Why is recovering post-consumer waste more expensive than recovering industrial waste?
Unlike industrial waste, which is generated directly in manufacturing processes and is generally more concentrated in one place, post-consumer recyclable waste is often dispersed in homes and businesses, and is often dirty or contaminated by leftover food, beverages or other materials. The latter occurs mostly in countries such as Ecuador, where we are still building a culture of recycling, as well as education and implementation of public policies from the State that are truly effective. Finally, these are the main reasons why recycling post-consumer waste is more expensive and complex than recovering industrial waste.
For example, in a cardboard box factory, production waste such as cardboard scraps or plastics is easy to group and reuse, since it is controlled and centralized. On the other hand, that box that is the product of manufacturing, once used, does not necessarily end up in an efficient collection infrastructure and a more robust recycling chain to be able to be properly processed.
However, finding the most efficient way to recover post-consumer recyclables is extremely necessary, since it guarantees that resources that have already been extracted from nature are used to the maximum and that they can continue to be used (finally, this is circular economy). For example, glass beverage bottles, after being used, may be broken, dirty or mixed with other materials, however, the recycling of post-consumer glass is crucial, since this material is 100% recyclable and can be reused indefinitely without losing quality.
The Role of Extended Producer Responsibility (REP)
To promote post-consumer recycling, many regulations, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (REP), force companies to take responsibility for the products they place on the market, even after use. This means that, for example, a company that sells millions of plastic bottles must contribute to the collection and recycling, even of a part of those bottles, once they have already been used by consumers.
On the other hand, companies that use these bottles to market a product (such as cola, juice, etc.), have an even greater responsibility to recover part of that waste, since in the end it is they who put that content on the market, through these bottles.
The existence of such policies is essential to ensure that both companies and consumers assume an active role in the management of post-consumer waste.
As a consumer, what options do you have for recycling your post-consumer materials? At ReciveCI we recommend you:
- Wash, rinse and dry your jars, bottles and containers after using them: This facilitates the recycling process and prevents other waste from contaminating the material.
- Deliver your clean, dry waste to basic recyclers: By giving them your clean post-consumer materials, you ensure that they can be effectively reincorporated into the production chain.
- Download the ReciApp: The first inclusive recycling app in the country was created by ReciVeci precisely to help you locate basic recyclers or recycling stations near you. With this tool, you can ensure that your waste reaches those who will best manage it.
- Recycle your glass at the Glass Hub in Quito: If you have glass bottles and jars, colors green, transparent and amber, you can deliver them to basic recyclers or take them directly to Glass Hub. This center is key in the transformation of the glass recycling chain in Quito.
By following these actions, you will be actively contributing to improving the efficiency of post-consumer recycling and helping to build a culture of circular economy in our country.
Thank you, Vecis, for reading us!
Find out more about inclusive recycling and the circular economy here.
