Why Chain of Custody for Recyclable Materials Matters

The journey of recyclable materials from the moment they are placed in a recycling bin to their transformation into new products demands trust, transparency, and accountability. Our Chain of Custody Solution, powered by the EcoLedger™ platform, is designed to deliver the trust and transparency to assure effective recycling for organizations of every size and sector.

Small businesses, municipalities, corporate campuses, universities, arenas, and stadiums need the ability to accurately measure and track recycled material trends. This is more than a sustainability goal; it is a business imperative. Traditional recycling programs often struggle with data gaps, contamination, and a lack of visibility, making it difficult to prove environmental impact or meet regulatory and ESG requirements.

What is Chain of Custody?

Chain of custody refers to the documented and unbroken trail that tracks the movement and handling of materials through each stage of the recycling process. For example, in the recycling of plastic bottles and aluminum cans, chain of custody begins when a consumer places an item in a recycling bin. Ideally, each step, including collection by facility staff, transfer by a hauler, sorting at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), delivery to a processing plant, and conversion into new products, would be logged and verified.

However, in many traditional recycling programs, this process is fragmented. Materials are often mixed, data is lost, and there is little visibility into what happens after collection. This can lead to contamination, untraceable losses, and uncertainty about whether recyclables are truly being transformed into new bottles or cans.