Materials Recovery Platform: A geospatial software approach to the circular economy

The Can I Recycle This (CIRT) Materials Recovery Platform is a tech-enabled circular economy solution that aggregates decentralized waste, recycling, recovery and reuse schemes across the U.S. MSW recycling system currently faces a number of challenges, including confusion about what materials can be recycled, recycling infrastructure that has not kept pace with today's diverse and changing waste stream, reduced markets for recycled materials, and varying methodologies to measure recycling system performance. Additionally, environmental justice issues are at the forefront of policy, and how we mitigate the effects of negative impacts on marginalized communities is pertinent. No singular solution will be enough to address this growing problem. CIRT is one tool that can be deployed and leveraged by companies, municipalities, and citizens across the United States. CIRT is the largest materials recovery data source, and has created software tools to enable citizens, consumers, and companies alike to access the right information about the end of life of their products and packaging wherever they live, work, and play. The data will point to gaps in the Municipal Solid Waste Infrastructure to increase collection and improve materials management population, identify and improve markets for recycling commodities, inform product and packaging design, enhance policies to support recycling to achieve the goal keep recyclable materials out of landfills, the environment and our oceans. CIRT is the guide to materials recovery. CIRT connects people, packaging, and producers to improve materials recovery, inform product purchasing, and help fight climate change.