Hi, we're SONAH in Aachen. We digitise recycling yards for cities. Most people will come across the yard as a visitor so this is the visitor version rather than the operator version.

Two failures appear every Saturday and they are not the same failure.

The first is the queue. You load the car, you drive over and the queue's already out on the street. The one piece of information that would have altered the whole trip is the wait time before you even leave the house. In Duisburg Wirtschaftsbetriebe Duisburg do publish a live wait time for the yards so you can see it before you go. A dashboard that only the yard office can see is of no use to anyone on a Saturday.

The second is the container. You're standing there with a bag you're not quite sure about and it goes into the green waste as the opening is facing you. A plastic sack in the branches is a mixed load. The staff will often see it when the container is already full, which is too late for that load. What we see at the green waste containers in Duisburg (the West and North yards amongst others) is a status rather than a video. It's either the wrong item or the container is filling up. A light on the container is sufficient whilst you're still there. Pull that bag back out. The yellow light means the container should be swapped prior to people starting to use the one next to it.

The camera bit - that's the first objection. The image gets processed in the sensor and is then discarded. What remains is 'container 4, misthrow, 11:04' or a fill level. There's no plate, no face, no archive. If a camera on a yard is a no then say so. That use case is the wrong one.

If you actually use a yard, would you check a live wait time before you even got in the car? And if the light at the container told you that the thing in your hand didn't belong there, would that be of any use or would it just feel like you were being policed?

i just want to put stuff in the right place but apparently thats obsessive and i shouldnt actually take it seriously and go off vibes like they do. i understand that taking shit is just part of living at home when ur an adult but like idk i just want to do stuff the right way and apparently doing research is bad and obsessive

I have a bunch of empty pens and refills, along with the plastic packaging the refills came in. I’ve been collecting them for about a year (Idk why), but now I want to get rid of them. Throwing them in the dustbin feels like a waste after all that effort. Is there a good way to reuse them, or somewhere I can donate them?

Note: They’re all plastic body ballpoint or gel pens that cost around ₹10–20 each.

If this isn't allowed please take it down, however im at a total loss on how to reuse anymore of these containers.

I use some for smaller item storage like guitar picks, computer screws and parts, guitar strings. I even reuse them for extra lotions, medication holders. However we still have quite a few and I feel bad just tossing them, so if you have any ideas please let me know!

Edit: 32g or 1 oz container size.

Let's Go

We are a UAE-based company specializing in the recycling of copper wires and cables.

We are looking for reliable suppliers who can provide copper scrap wires and cables on a weekly or monthly basis.

We are interested in establishing long-term business relationships with suppliers who can offer competitive prices and consistent quantities.

We are looking for:

Copper scrap wires and cables

Regular weekly or monthly supplies

Competitive pricing

Reliable, long-term cooperation

If you are a supplier in the UAE or can supply to the UAE, please feel free to contact us via DM to discuss material types, quantities, pricing, and delivery arrangements.

We look forward to building long-term business partnerships.

I have several kinds of electronic waste to clear out and would prefer one pickup rather than driving around to multiple recycling locations. The items include laptops, old PCs, monitors, keyboards, chargers, printers, and a few hard drives.

Things I'm checking before choosing a service:

1. Does it accept mixed electronic devices in one collection?

2. Is pickup available in my area, and is there a minimum quantity?

3. Can it provide secure data wiping or hard drive destruction?

4. Will I receive proof that the equipment was collected and processed properly?

Hummingbird International looks worth checking because it handles business e-waste pickup and IT asset disposal, including data bearing equipment. AVA recycling is another option I've found, although I'd want to confirm the same details and availability for my location before deciding.

I don't want to assume every company accepts every item, especially older screens or unusual equipment.

What e-waste recycling company would you recommend for a mixed load, and what should I ask before booking?

Has anyone here worked with glass recycling? How do you handle metal contamination in the glass stream?

Green recycling technology empowers sustainable road construction～

ZOOMLINE Recycled Asphalt Mixing Plant

Efficiently recycles RAP materials with high ratios and stable production.

Lower consumption, lower cost, eco-friendly, and adaptable to diverse working conditions.

Empowering global green infrastructure with proven equipment strength!

#RecycledAsphaltPlant #RAPrecycling #GreenConstruction

Would a picker come around and grab them?

I reused this glass bottle #reuse :) 12 oz of water is enough and it’s not like we’re in a survival crisis where water isn’t available on every corner. the wine bottle was made into a water spike for the garde

I keep seeing local supermarkets display special offers etc on large vinyl banners outside.
I cant help but think there's so much possibility with all that material that’s constantly being used, and wonder what they do with them once that banner has served its purpose.
Does anyone who works at a supermarket know what they do with the banners after use?
If I managed to get my hands on a few, what do you think could be made from them?
My immediate thought is backpacks, bags, wallets etc. but there’s got to be plenty of uses for such a material surely?

Hey everyone,

I’m working on an idea for a platform aimed at making doorstep scrap collection seamless for both households and scrap collectors (kabadis / ragpickers).

💡 The Core Idea

It’s a simple marketplace model:

1) Sellers (Households/Businesses): Take photos of their scrap (paper, metal, e-waste, plastics, appliances), set an estimated weight, and pick a convenient time slot for pickup.

2) Collectors: Log in to see a map/list of available scrap listings nearby, review the items, accept requests, and navigate to the seller's location at the scheduled time.

3) My Platform's Role: Purely facilitation — providing the technology to connect sellers with reliable local collectors.

❓ Key Questions for You All:

For Sellers (Households):

1) Would you use an app/website to sell household scrap, or do you prefer selling to your regular local street collector when they pass by?

2) What is your biggest pain point right now when disposing of scrap? (e.g., unfair weighing, waiting around, lack of buyers for specific items like e-waste?)

3) What is the minimum threshold of scrap weight/value that would make you use an app instead of just binning/gifting it?

For Founders, Logistics Enthusiasts & Industry Insiders:

1) Collector Adoption: Scrap collectors often rely on cash, informal networks, and non-smartphone tools. What’s the best way to onboard them effectively?

2) Monetization: How would you monetize this without squeezing the collector's small margins? (e.g., lead fee per pickup, premium listing for scrap buyers, commission, or B2B volume selling?)

3) Trust & Safety: How do we best address safety concerns regarding strangers entering homes for pickups?

Would love to hear your raw, honest thoughts, critiques, or potential pitfalls I might be overlooking!

Thanks in advance for your time and feedback!

I'm looking for a good way to recycle fabrics. Particularly items that are not suitable for resale, largely children's clothes that have stains and holes. I've used Trashie a few times but I've heard there are concerns about "greenwashing". From what I read on their website it sounds like a reasonable process but I'm sure they are selling themselves a bit. I also looked into Retold but it didn't sound any different. I know our infrastructure for recycling fabrics isn't great, but I feel like either of these options are better than nothing. Any suggestions or insight?

Has anyone used it?