by Waste Wise Team | Jan 17, 2026 | Playbook, Contamination, Contamination Prevention, Contamination Solutions, Data Collection, Data Management, PET, Recycling, Recycling Data, Recycling Stream, rPET, Stakeholders, Sustainability Strategy
Recycling contamination is the silent budget killer in commercial waste programs. When a stream is compromised, recycling often turns into landfill disposal plus extra handling, rejected loads, vendor disputes, and reputational risk. This occurs without delivering...
by Waste Wise Team | Jan 9, 2026 | Case Study, Contamination Solutions, Operational Intelligence, Sustainability Strategy
For the past two years, we’ve talked about the potential of the Topper Stopper™. We’ve shared the designs, the vision, and the goal of achieving zero contamination in high-traffic recycling environments. We’ve explained why physical design beats...
by Waste Wise Team | Dec 4, 2025 | Aluminum, Chain of Custody, College Campus, Colleges, Consumer Engagement, Contamination, Contamination Prevention, Data Collection, PET, Recycling, Recycling Data, Recycling Stream, rPET, Sustainability, Venues
Introduction: The Quality Crisis in Institutional Recycling If you manage recycling programs at a university, corporate campus, sports venue, or entertainment facility, you already know the challenge: contamination. Despite good intentions, 25-35% of material placed...
by Waste Wise Team | Dec 2, 2025 | Chain of Custody, College Campus, Colleges, Consumer Engagement, Contamination, Contamination Prevention, Data Collection, Data Management, Innovation, Listening, PET, Recycling, Recycling Data, Recycling Stream, rPET, Stakeholders, Sustainability, Venues
If you ask most people, they’ll tell you they recycle. They place bottles and cups in the recycling bin and assume those materials are getting a second life. Reality is more complicated. Across campuses, stadiums, offices, and cities, 30–50% of what enters a recycling...
by Waste Wise Team | Nov 12, 2025 | Consumer Engagement, College Campus, Contamination, Contamination Prevention, Data Collection, Data Management, Innovation, PET, Recycling, Recycling Data, Recycling Stream, rPET, Sustainability
When Waste Wise Innovation first partnered with the University of South Carolina Upstate, both organizations shared a vision of a cleaner, smarter, and circular campus recycling system. As the pilot progresses, that vision is being explored through on-campus...
