ZeroTrash® Revolution Blog Blog
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Clear Drop: how we’re revolutionizing home wast...
Most household waste still ends up in landfills, not because people do not want to recycle, but because recycling systems are not designed for everything we throw away. Clear Drop...
Clear Drop: how we’re revolutionizing home waste management
Most household waste still ends up in landfills, not because people do not want to recycle, but because recycling systems are not designed for everything we throw away. Clear Drop enables a new way of managing soft plastic and organic waste right at home, making recycling easier, cleaner, and more efficient. Our goal is simple: remove the burden from households while ensuring that what leaves your home is actually processed, not discarded. Why Clear Drop? Clear Drop is a symbol of the neutral impact of humankind on nature. It is a metaphor for what remains after human consumption. Every day we as humans consume food and buy many products in packaging. It results in waste – plastic packaging, empty bottles, paper, glass, cans, organic waste etc. While only a marginal part of that is truly recycled, the footprint of human consumption is very high. The goal of Clear Drop is to reduce this footprint to a single clear drop. A new concept of pre-recycling Pre-recycling means optimizing waste at the source. Instead of hoping the recycling system will sort it out later, Clear Drop appliances prepare waste correctly right at home. It reduces volume, prevents contamination, and ensures soft plastics and food waste enter the proper recycling streams. The result: less landfill waste, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and a straightforward approach households can stick to every day. Pre-recycling is the approach that meets current challenges where the recycling system can’t deal with all types of waste we generate. Pre-recycling means preparing waste for its further efficient recycling before it is dropped into the recycling bin. Currently, some materials tackled by Clear Drop’s home appliances are literally not recycled as soft plastic, not being collected conveniently enough. The regular recycling process is often ineffective: trucks “transporting air”, and labor-intensive separation – together they consume a lot of energy, resources and create pollution of their own. With pre-recycling, discarded items are conveniently separated and prepared for recycling on the spot, facilitating waste reduction. Further on, the material is prepared for storing at home and further delivery to the recycling facilities of our partners. It is cleaner, denser, more convenient for transporting and all-around more manageable for further processing. Moreover, we guarantee recycling. The actual problems we address Challenging soft plastic waste An estimated five trillion plastic bags are used annually worldwide, not including numbers of film packaging and other types of soft plastic. Only 1% of households can recycle film at home today. Less than 10% of soft plastic is recycled, and the data is still not always being calculated and reported. Unlike some traditionally recyclable commodities, such as PET bottles or HDPE bottles, there is not very much publicly available information on the generation and composition of film and flexible packaging.Soft plastic is perceived as a barrier to the efficient process of recycling other types of plastic while being put together in a blue bin for recycling, as described in more detail in our overview of soft plastic recycling challenges. Soft plastics are lightweight, flexible and inexpensive to produce. This has made them popular choices for packaging. But this ignores the problems of disposal, including harm to nature and people when it ends up in landfills. Unless it’s compacted in a solid substance that changes the process of processing, soft plastics can get tangled or stuck in machinery at recycling or waste-processing facilities, causing inefficiencies and disruptions in the process. Clear Drop solution: compacting soft plastic waste Clear Drop offers the first step in solving this problem – business and home appliances that can prepare soft plastic waste for further transportation and actual recycling. Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) significantly simplifies the soft plastic collection and transforms fluffy packaging into a shape-preserving 12 × 8 × 4-inch block. It happens with the help of a patented plastic surface-softening technology to keep soft plastic compacted for storage and transportation that is safe for users and the environment. SPC accepts all major types of soft plastic packaging (excluding PVC and PS which are dangerous by nature) like food wrappers, soft plastic containers, shopping bags, cling film, and other types of packaging from your purchases.The device stores around one month of soft plastic waste and provides low energy consumption. The soft plastic prepared by the SPC is easy to pick up and transport, making it more manageable than any other option. The soft plastic block can be mailed to Clear Drop. We offer end-2-end service in collaboration with our recycling partners which adds more possibilities to soft plastic waste reduction in landfills. Make Soft Plastic Recycling Easier Turn bulky packaging into compact, ready-to-recycle blocks using the Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC). It simplifies storage, improves recycling efficiency, and guarantees that soft plastics will not go to landfill. Learn more about Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) How to Manage Soft Plastics at Home Soft plastics are everywhere in the home – from delivery mailers and snack packaging to produce bags and wrapping film. To make sure they are handled properly and stay out of landfills: Keep soft plastics separate from bottles and other recyclables. Ensure packaging is empty and reasonably clean. Compact them to reduce storage space and prevent tangling at facilities. Send compacted blocks via Clear Drop’s mail-in service for guaranteed recycling. This empowers households to contribute to a cleaner plastic supply chain with minimal effort. Dealing with the consequences of organic waste Organic waste is just as harmful to the environment as plastic if it ends up in landfills instead of being composted. When compostable materials, like food scraps and yard waste, are thrown in with regular trash, they end up in landfills. These materials could have been repurposed into nutrient-rich compost to enrich the soil and contribute to waste reducion, but instead, they take up valuable landfill space and contribute to 11% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In landfills, organic waste decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen), producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Methane is approximately 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, contributing significantly to climate change. Organic waste in landfills contributes to the production of leachate – a toxic liquid that can seep into the ground, potentially contaminating soil and water sources. Composting not only recycles nutrients but also helps sequester carbon in the soil, reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Without composting, this potential benefit is lost. Organics Collector: new technology to close the loop for organic waste To not let organic waste end up in a landfill, people don’t need to do composting by themselves to support waste reduction. Clear Drop makes collecting organic waste at home convenient, uninterrupted and without an unpleasant smell, leaks, dissolving organic bags, flies or the necessity to frequently empty the bin with one more home appliance – Organics Collector. Organics Collector (OC) stores and gradually accumulates food waste for several days up to one week. At the same time, the device helps to avoid the appearance of unpleasant odors and insects. Featuring non-energy-intensive processes, the OC consumes very little energy. The unique combination of the O3 generator and filtration system makes sure unpleasant smell is eliminated. Additionally, while stored, the organics in OC undergo a dehumidification process, reducing their moisture content by 30–40%. This makes all OC-collected material easier to transport and pick up and preserves composting features of the material. Once the bin is full, the dried organics can be disposed of at a municipal waste collection point or go to your local or community compost pit. You can also learn more about why electric composters are not real composting and how solutions like OC keep organics suitable for professional composting. Collect Food Waste Without the Mess The Clear Drop Organics Collector helps you store organic waste for several days odor-free and leak-free, reducing landfill emissions and keeping nutrients available for composting. Discover Clear Drop® Organics Collector (OC) Clear Drop® Founder's Message “These are just the first two systems we’re bringing to market. The problem is massive, and Pre-recycling is still in its infancy. But many more solutions are coming. Our promise to the world is that everything processed by our appliances will be recycled — if disposed of properly. We wouldn’t do this if we couldn’t make a difference. Let’s work together to make our future look like a hopeful science fiction story — not the bleak dystopias we risk if we don’t change our approach to waste management.” – Ivan Arbouzov, Founder & CEO of Clear Drop® Frequently Asked Questions What is pre-recycling? Pre-recycling is the process of separating and preparing waste at home to ensure it can be recycled efficiently instead of ending up in a landfill. It’s a form of smarter home waste management that optimizes materials before they enter traditional recycling systems. Which types of plastic can Clear Drop SPC compact? Clear Drop SPC handles major types of soft plastic packaging such as food wrappers, shopping bags, produce bags, bubble wrap, and other flexible plastics, excluding PVC and PS. These are typically the soft plastics that are not recyclable curbside. Does Organics Collector make compost? No. The Organics Collector (OC) does not make finished compost. It preserves essential organic matter by partially drying food scraps and controlling odors, ensuring they remain suitable for industrial or community composting. How does Clear Drop ensure recycling actually happens? Through partnerships with specialized recycling facilities and a mail-in system, Clear Drop guarantees that soft plastics processed by SPC are recycled responsibly, rather than being sent to landfill. Together with OC, these pre-recycling solutions turn home waste management into a reliable path to real recycling.
Tackling plastic in the healthcare industry: ch...
U.S. healthcare produces more than 5 million tons of waste every year, and plastics account for a significant portion of it. While safety and sterility require single-use items, much of...
Tackling plastic in the healthcare industry: challenges and solutions
U.S. healthcare produces more than 5 million tons of waste every year, and plastics account for a significant portion of it. While safety and sterility require single-use items, much of this plastic is still recyclable. This guide breaks down the main challenges and proven solutions that help hospitals improve soft plastic recycling and reduce operational waste. We also highlight technologies such as soft plastic compactors that make recycling more efficient in clinical settings. 5 million tons of plastic waste is generated in US healthcare annually The healthcare industry, while vital to human well-being, is a significant contributor to plastic waste. From single-use syringes and IV bags, to sterile packaging, PPE, food packaging, regular business operations, and more, the sector relies heavily on plastic materials to ensure hygiene, patient safety, efficiency and convenience. However, this reliance generates vast quantities of plastic waste – much of it non-recyclable due to contamination or mixed materials. According to a report by Healthcare Without Harm, hospitals in the U.S. produce over 5 million tons of waste annually, with plastics making up a substantial portion. To put it in perspective, 5 million tons is the equivalent of nearly 3 million midsize cars! Given the environmental urgency, healthcare sustainability professionals are increasingly seeking ways to reduce plastic use and improve recycling within their facilities. Here are six practical solutions that can make a meaningful impact: 1. Conduct a plastic waste audit A comprehensive plastic waste audit allows healthcare facilities to understand the types and volumes of plastics being used and discarded. By identifying high-waste areas, sustainability teams can target specific processes or departments for improvement. For example, operating rooms are known hotspots for single-use plastics and can benefit from focused interventions. However, we must remember that plastic plays a critical role in modern healthcare, offering numerous benefits like improved sterility, durability, and cost-effectiveness. So it’s important to not instantly demonize plastic, but instead examine how its use can be reduced or how recycling the material can be improved. A good audit will provide insight into opportunities for any healthcare facility. 2. Switch to reusable medical supplies where safe Many plastic products in healthcare are single-use for safety reasons, but some items can be safely replaced with reusable alternatives. Surgical instruments, gowns, and certain types of trays can be sterilized and reused. Hospitals should evaluate which plastic items could be replaced with reusable versions without compromising safety or compliance. 3. Implement recycling programs for clean plastics While contaminated plastics are difficult to recycle, clean plastics—such as packaging from sterile instruments—can often be recycled. Establishing a system where staff can easily separate clean from contaminated plastics encourages recycling. Partnering with specialized recycling companies can also open new avenues for processing healthcare-specific plastics. “As a research institute conducting studies on the impact of microplastics on human health, we analyzed how much non-contaminated plastic waste we were producing ourselves,” said Dr. Charlie Rolsky, Executive Director and Lead Research Scientist at the Shaw Institute in Blue Hill, Maine. “We couldn’t ignore the irony and decided to take action by evaluating how we can reduce that waste and also better ensure that as much of it is recycled as possible. We’re now working with suppliers that offer lower or plastic-free packaging, but we are also soon beginning a pilot program with Clear Drop to test their Soft Plastic Compactor device, which reduces the volume of the waste by about 90% – making it much easier for us to manage and also for recyclers to collect and process for re-use.” How Healthcare Facilities Can Improve Soft Plastic Recycling Track and separate clean vs. contaminated plastics during disposal workflows. Install dedicated bins for sterilized packaging and other clean soft plastics. Compact soft plastics to reduce storage volume by up to 90% for easier collection and pickup. Partner with specialized recycling companies that accept medical-grade plastics. Empower clinical staff through sustainability education and clear visual guidance. Many hospitals are piloting compacting technologies to improve recycling logistics. A soft plastic compactor helps keep recyclables out of biohazard waste streams and significantly reduces hauling frequency. Make Soft Plastic Recycling Easier in Healthcare Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) reduces the volume of non-contaminated plastic waste by up to 90% and prepares it for responsible recycling. See how hospitals are integrating it into sustainability initiatives. 4. Source bioplastics and eco-friendly alternatives The market for biodegradable and compostable medical products is growing. Items such as bioplastic syringes, eco-friendly bedpans, and compostable packaging can replace traditional plastic counterparts. Healthcare procurement teams can prioritize suppliers who offer sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. 5. Staff training and engagement Sustainability initiatives succeed when staff across all levels understand their role in reducing plastic waste. Regular training sessions, visual aids near disposal areas, and recognition programs for sustainable practices help create a culture of environmental responsibility. Engaged staff are more likely to follow recycling protocols and suggest improvements. 6. Work with manufacturers for sustainable product design Healthcare institutions can leverage their purchasing power to influence manufacturers toward more sustainable designs. This includes advocating for products with minimal or recyclable packaging, modular designs that reduce material use, or take-back programs where manufacturers reclaim used products for recycling. “There’s no single solution to solving the problems that are related to plastic waste,” said Ivan Abrouzov, President and CEO of Clear Drop, Inc. “Whether it’s within healthcare or other industries, many factors have caused the issues we face, especially when it comes to recycling. It will only be through multiple solutions that we can begin to reduce waste, improve recycling and create what we like to refer to as a ZeroTrash® Lifestyle. Our technology and products are a step toward making that a reality. Whether it’s with our products or not, I encourage everybody to be part of the solution.” Reducing plastic waste in healthcare is not without its challenges – safety, regulatory compliance, and cost all play a role in shaping what’s possible. However, by adopting targeted strategies and fostering innovation, the industry can significantly reduce its plastic footprint. Collaboration between healthcare providers, manufacturers, and sustainability experts is essential for developing scalable, practical solutions that protect both human health and the environment. Make Soft Plastic Recycling Easier in Healthcare Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) helps hospitals and research facilities keep clean plastics out of biohazard streams, cut storage volume, and prepare soft plastics for responsible recycling. Learn more about SPC for healthcare settings. Frequently Asked Questions Can hospitals recycle soft plastics like sterile packaging? Yes. Clean and non-contaminated packaging such as plastic film and wrap can be recycled if it is separated from biohazard waste and routed into dedicated recycling streams. How does a soft plastic compactor help? It reduces the volume of plastic waste, making it easier to collect, store, and send to recyclers without increasing operational burden on clinical staff or facilities teams. Do compaction solutions meet healthcare safety requirements? Yes. Compaction is used only for clean, non-contaminated plastics and is designed to support existing compliance, infection control, and sterilization workflows. What types of plastics are difficult to recycle? Mixed-material products, contaminated PPE, and medical-grade plastics exposed to bodily fluids cannot enter recycling streams and must be disposed of as regulated medical or biohazard waste.
Soft plastic recycling: key challenges and solu...
Soft plastics like grocery bags, bubble wrap, and packaging film make up a growing share of U.S. household waste, yet most of them are not recyclable curbside. This guide explains...
Soft plastic recycling: key challenges and solutions
Soft plastics like grocery bags, bubble wrap, and packaging film make up a growing share of U.S. household waste, yet most of them are not recyclable curbside. This guide explains why soft plastics are difficult to recycle in the United States and what practical home solutions, including a soft plastic compactor, can help reduce volume and improve recycling outcomes. Recycling soft plastics is one of the most pressing environmental challenges today. Soft plastics – such as plastic bags, wrappers, and packaging films – are often excluded from standard curbside recycling programs. This is due to a combination of factors, including the composition of the materials, limited processing infrastructure, and consumer confusion about disposal methods. The general reports on the plastic recycling industry in the U.S., which are now carried out by nonprofit organizations and are not systematic, don’t seem to show positive data. According to the latest rates from research on recycled plastic, "more than 95% of the plastics generated are put in a landfill or incinerated for energy". The research groups also revealed that while plastic recycling is on the decline, "the per capita generation of plastic waste has increased by 263% since 1980". Another investigation shows missed opportunities in about "83% of the plastic packaging that could be recycled curbside – think bottles and containers – not being put in the bin". And what about soft plastic? It is placed on a lower priority and also shows recycling rates of less than 10 percent, still not always being calculated and reported. Soft plastic is perceived as a barrier to the efficient process of recycling other types of plastic, being put together in a blue bin for recycling. Let’s figure out what the main challenges of soft plastic recycling are and what solutions could exist to work on changing these frustrating numbers of plastic waste and changing the attitude towards soft plastic. What is this soft plastic exactly? The name itself speaks about its look and structure - this film is simply soft. An easy way to identify a soft plastic product is to scrunch it up and see that it doesn’t bounce back fully. In other words, it is any lightweight package or part of a package whose shape can be readily changed. Flexible packaging includes, but is not limited to, bags, pouches, liners and wraps that utilize plastic or film. It can also be packaging such as grocery, zip lock, soft plastic containers, cling film, stretch wrap, shipping packaging, freezer bags, and dry-cleaning bags. Key challenges of soft plastiс recycling Being soft and light doesn’t mean being perfectly suitable for recycling. Recycling facilities face specific problems while having soft plastic on their board and these are the real reasons for these difficulties: 1. Contamination of recycling streams. While being useful for packaging purposes because of its thin, stretchy, clingy structure, plastic film is still difficult to recycle without specialized equipment. If mixed with other recyclables and processed through machines, plastic packaging tangles the mechanisms and jams the machines. This leads to operational disruptions and increased maintenance costs. Other than that, it endangers workers who try to clean it out of the equipment at the recycling facility. This problem occurs even earlier, when soft plastic is placed in the curbside recycling cart after mixed waste management. 2. Lack of recycling facilities. Out of approximately 500 Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in the U.S., only 20% to 30% can handle soft plastic waste. Their limited capacity also leads to the majority of soft plastics not being processed and often ending up in landfills. 3. Multi-layered plastic materials. Some soft plastic packaging, like aluminum-lined snack wrappers and food pouches, is often made from layers of different materials. It makes the package content protected by providing stiffness, oxygen barrier, UV protection, and sealability. This solution complicates soft plastic recycling efforts. Separating these layers is technologically challenging, which stands for the complexity of classification, layer separation, and is economically unfeasible due to high costs for treatment. 4. Consumer confusion about plastic waste management. Consumers are often not sure what type of plastic waste is accepted at their location because programs for recycling significantly vary. A survey revealed that "60% of people are uncertain about how and what to recycle, resulting in improper disposal of soft plastic waste". Lack of information and awareness about the easy options for plastic recycling leads to curbside recycling full of soft plastics. Soft plastic waste is one of the biggest environmental challenges today, leading to widespread pollution. The key environmental risks associated with soft plastic waste are: 1. Landfill overflow Plastic takes up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills. During this process of degradation, plastic waste may leach potentially toxic substances into the soil and groundwater, producing environmental and health risks. 2. Microplastics While degrading soft plastic waste fragments into microplastics, tiny parts less than 5 millimeters in size are created. These microplastics have been detected in various environments, including deep-sea sediments and remote areas, indicating their pervasive distribution. Microplastics can adsorb and transport harmful pollutants, potentially entering the food chain and posing risks to wildlife and human health. Studies have found microplastics in human organs, including the placenta, raising concerns about their impact on human health. 3. Ocean pollution In addition to microplastics wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems, soft plastic waste can directly influence the lives of marine animals. For instance, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals often mistake plastic waste for food, which leads to ingestion that can cause internal injuries, intestinal blockages, starvation, and death. Solutions: How to improve soft plastic recycling? The good point about these challenges is that they already have some solutions that can improve soft plastics recycling. Emerging innovations and technologies can significantly expand processing capabilities. Chemical plastic recycling technologies, like pyrolysis, involve breaking down plastic into smaller molecules using high heat in the absence of oxygen. Technology transforms plastic waste into raw materials such as oils, gases, and waxes, which can be used as a better alternative to virgin resource extraction. AI and robotics also enter the plastic recycling industry, suggesting new, efficient sorting systems. Robots are taught to identify and sort different types of plastics. Smart solution for your home that can make your home’s soft plastic waste management more efficient and prepare it to be actually recycled. Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) is an example being the first home and business appliance to simplify soft plastic collection and ensure it all goes to recycling. It transforms fluffy plastic packaging into a space-saving 12×8×4-inch block. Clear Drop sends free mailing envelopes with pre-paid labels to ship compacted plastic blocks directly to the facility. Unlike grocery store drop-offs or similar products, SPC guarantees that no soft plastic is left out of the recycling chain. How to Recycle Soft Plastics at Home Collect soft plastics separately from bottles and other hard plastics. Clean and dry them to remove food residue. Compact soft plastics using a home soft plastic compactor to reduce storage volume by up to 90%. Store compacted plastics in a bin or box until recycling. Take them to local retailer drop-off programs (Target, Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods) or send them using mail-in recycling services. Tip: Clear Drop SPC allows you to send compacted soft plastics directly to the recycling facility, avoiding the need to find a drop-off point. Consumer responsibility still plays a significant role in the whole plastic recycling process. Before plastic recycling, you can think of cutting the amount of waste and reducing your soft plastic consumption. Think about changing one habit and buying some products in refillable shops instead of contributing to plastic packaging, buy from local markets with your reusable shopper bags and beeswax wraps for food. Reorganize your waste management - keep soft plastic waste separate from other recyclables to prevent contamination in the recycling facilities. Read and share with your community information about restrictions for curbside recycling programs and verify your local recycling policies to prevent contamination. Use store drop-off recycling programs with retailers like Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods. They often provide collection bins for plastic bags and certain plastic films. The How2Recycle program offers a Store Drop-Off label, guiding consumers on which plastics are eligible for these programs. As consumers, we can play a pivotal role in reducing plastic waste by rethinking our consumption habits, organizing our home waste management, and correctly disposing of soft plastics through specialized recycling programs. Make Soft Plastic Recycling EasierCompact, store, and recycle from home. Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) turns bulky packaging into compact 12×8×4-inch blocks, ready for recycling.Learn more about the Soft Plastic Compactor. Frequently Asked Questions Why is soft plastic not recyclable curbside in the U.S.? Soft plastics jam sorting equipment at U.S. recycling facilities and contaminate other recyclable materials. They must be handled separately through store drop-off or mail-in programs. Can I recycle soft plastics at home? Yes. Collect them separately, compact them to reduce volume, and bring them to a drop-off location or use a mail-in program. How should I store soft plastics before recycling? Keep them clean, dry, and compacted to prevent contamination and save space. What happens to soft plastics after recycling? They can be recycled into composite lumber, outdoor furniture, durable packaging materials, and other long-lasting products.
