Closed-Loop Recycling for a Sustainable Future
Closed-loop recycling makes aluminum one of the most sustainable materials, ideal for replacing single-use plastics. However, the inconvenience of returning cans carried on the go has led to declining deposit rates and an estimated 30 billion cans being sent to landfills annually. "Depositly shelves," attached to public trash bins, offer a solution by allowing people to easily separate cans for collectors, streamlining the recycling process and encouraging sustainability.
About Depositly
Why Cans?
Recycled aluminum can be repurposed directly into new products, like turning a soda can into another soda can. This process uses 95% less energy than creating new aluminum from raw materials and keeps thousands of cans out of landfills. Unlike plastic, which can only be recycled into byproducts, aluminum is a sustainable alternative. As communities commit to reducing emissions and single-use plastics, effective recycling systems are crucial.
Community Benefit
Many communities invest time in collecting and returning aluminum cans. Often, they have to dig through public trash bins, putting their health at risk and often leaving litter behind as they sort. Collectors are doing our communities a service by saving cans from landfills, and Depositly shelves make their jobs safer and easier.
Our Plan
Depositly works with communities to pilot, roll-out, and monitor shelf design and installations. We research if shelves are a good fit for your community, and if so, help you through the entire process. Our shelves are designed with research at the forefront—working with prominent behavioral economics professionals and urban planners to create the best possible recycling system. If you think you would be a good fit for our program, contact us here.
Our Services
- Project Scope: We will help research if Depositly shelves are right for your community and budget considerations.
- Project Design: We help design shelves that are best-practice to entice utilization and are in line with your city / university branding.
- Initial Pilot Program: Once shelves are designed, our team helps to pick a suitable location for a pilot program and monitors results. After a suitable pilot, we consolidate our findings and help decide if a full roll-out is right for you.
- Full-Scale Rollout: After a successful pilot, our team helps you hit the ground running with at scale shelf manufacturing and messaging to promote usage. As needed, we will continue to support your initiative.
Case Studies
Reduction in landfill waste due to efficient collection.
Shelves piloted in exemplary communities
Aluminum reclaimed into circular recycling economy