So, what does the future hold for recycling? In the sort term, increased investment in recycling infrastructure and over all improvements in recycling rates should continue to increase. More and more cities are going to semi-automated sorting and co-mingled collection, even when self-sorting had been a long-established norm.
However, over the long term, the goal of increasing the number of products that can be recycled (most notably, many types of otherwise immortal plastics) is the most important. Increases in recycling efficiency and the ability to create an even more pure recycled product is also in the cards.
Over the next few decades, it is likely that the price of energy will continue an overall upward trend. As such, the energetics of recycling will continue to make it a more and more attractive option. Increases in energy efficiency in the recycling process will also be major areas of interest for researchers and investors.
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