We are proud to announce the highly anticipated release of the 2024 Global Waste and Recycling Benchmark Report. This invaluable resource is the most comprehensive survey of its kind ever conducted in the industry.

The complete report enables organizations to understand the challenges their peers around the world are facing, what technology they are using to overcome them, and how they plan to utilize innovation to solve problems moving forward. Waste and recycling companies can use this expansive range of insights to inform their own strategies for the future.

Topics covered in the report include how organizations around the world are harnessing the potential of digital transformation, the focus on sustainability as a driver for innovation, and how waste and recycling companies are positioning themselves to play a key role in an emerging circular economy. Let’s look at some key takeaways.

The future of waste and recycling is becoming increasingly both digital and circular. Despite security concerns and adoption challenges, 51% of respondents plan to evolve and invest in IT architecture over the next year, while just 2% say they currently have no innovation plans. A full 49% say they will boost efforts to preserve resources, achieve recycling targets, and meet other environmental goals.

Sustainability is growing in importance and becoming a major driver for innovation and business opportunity. As they look to operationalize best practices across their organizations, respondents recognize that improving sustainability while remaining competitive requires continuous evolution. More than half of respondents cited sustainability efforts as a top priority in the coming year. Many plan to begin with the transition to green fuels, sustainability education and health and safety initiatives.

Digital transformation is viewed as a journey – a continuous and iterative process that encompasses technology, staff, new business models and engagement with customers and suppliers. While respondents overall feel positive about their ability to integrate innovation, with an average score of 6.4 out of 10, companies face multiple challenges along the way, including staff engagement and entrenched legacy IT systems. Adopting new innovations without disrupting current operations is a prime concern.

Finding new and retaining existing skilled staff presents a significant challenge. Respondents cited staffing problems as a major factor influencing workforce dynamics, ranking it as their top concern. The lack of qualified candidates, a competitive job market, and rapid growth of the overall industry may all be causes of staffing difficulties. While some organizations are looking to new sources for hiring, it remains to be seen what impact skills gaps will have on the pace of technological innovation and the transition to a circular economy. Technology—including automation and artificial intelligence—holds the potential to play a key role in alleviating staffing issues.

Employee resistance and other training challenges highlight the need for supportive change-management processes. A full 60% of organizations cited resistance to change as their largest implementation challenge. While the industry understands and embraces the need for technological innovation, organizations are coming to understand that those advancements need to provide demonstrable value for everyone.

AMCS is proud to provide this first-of-its-kind report to the industry. It is another example of our ongoing commitment to helping waste and recycling organizations achieve environmental goals, while simultaneously maximizing business performance and optimizing service. Our intelligent solutions are designed to empower organizations to strike that vital balance, enabling them to drive growth and sustainability in a changing world.

Download the Global Waste and Recycling Benchmark Report