Material Handlers in the Modern Recycling Industry: Trends and Innovations

The recycling industry continues to grow, as we live in a world where sustainability and a greener lifestyle for all is desirable and intended as a target from the government. Ensuring that the recycling industry evolves and becomes more efficient includes the evolution of equipment, machinery, and techniques that are used in the industry. This includes more effective use of material handlers and other recycling machinery to smooth processes, better sort materials, and ensure that we are making the most of recyclable waste.

Why are material handlers used in the recycling industry?

For indoor applications in a messy and dusty environment or for the sorting of materials and loading operations in a larger space, material handlers offer an effective way to help with recycling processes. They provide speed, precision, and are built to last, a robust piece of equipment that makes for a smooth recycling operation.

Material handlers and their application in the recycling industry

Materials handlers are the perfect tool for the waste management industry, especially the tasks that are repetitive, include large quantities of heavy items, and are hazardous.

Waste handlers

There is a wide variety of waste handlers, each suited to different types of materials. They are purpose-built to perform high-volume material handling duties, such as screening, unloading materials, sorting and separating, shredding, crushing, and many more tasks.

Attachments for material handlers

Attachments make a big difference to the flexibility of material handlers, transforming the way in which you can operate on site. Potential attachments include:

  • Magnetic attachments – to lift scrap and sweep areas clean with ease.
  • Crusher attachments – easily break down cumbersome waste materials.
  • Shear attachments – cut scrap waste that needs to be made smaller in size.
  • Grapple attachments – make it easier to grab and move odd-shaped waste materials.

What are the current recycling trends in 2025?

Materials handlers are the right choice for the recycling industry due to the robustness and versatility that they bring to the table. They are also a clear part of the current trends and future evolution of the industry. What are the other recent recycling trends of 2025 though?

Automation – automation makes it faster and more accurate at certain stages of the recycling process.

Modular processes – this allows for customisation and ultra-flexibility with speed and ease.

Digitisation – the implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the network of smart connections and data analysis makes it easier to analyse performance and improve planning.

Safety levels – the importance of high safety levels has never been more central to the philosophy of recycling companies, ensuring that hazardous tasks and materials handlers are handled correctly for ultimate safety.

Sustainability – it’s important in an industry that is central to sustainability that the machinery and techniques used promote sustainability in waste

Choosing the right type of material handlers for your recycling business will make the operation more effective. Waste handlers, screeners, grapplers, and other types of material handlers for the recycling industry make it much easier to sort through waste, separating materials and items that can be safely and efficiently recycled and those items that are just headed for the waste tip. Working with a supplier of material handlers that you can trust to deliver empowers your recycling company to perform at an optimal level at all times. It provides you with handlers that have consistent and reliable power transmission, lower emissions with every new model, modular solutions, and higher levels of efficiency.