4 Recycling Businesses You Can Start Next Year

Julie Starr • December 16, 2021



America’s recycling industry is booming due to the large amount of waste produced in the country. According to an EPA study, recycling and reuse activities accounted for about $37.8 billion in wages and 681,000 jobs in 2016. Numerous opportunities remain available in the industry for people seeking to start a business with a small investment. Therefore, consider starting a recycling business next year to do your part for the environment and earn a decent income while at it. Below are some recycling businesses you can start next year.

  • Plastic recycling

Plastic recycling is one of the best and profitable recycling businesses you can set up in the US. Research reveals that America is the world’s leading producer of plastic waste . In addition, a Greenpeace article suggests that America lacks enough plastic recycling companies due to China halting its waste imports and local recycling facilities being overwhelmed by the huge amounts of plastic waste that must be processed. Consequently, there is always room for recycling businesses whose efforts can change this reality. Plastic waste is abundant in the country, so your primary income source will never run dry. What’s more, you can obtain a government grant to set your company up in no time.

  • Refill toner cartridges

Fax machines, photocopiers, and printers used toners and ink cartridges that you can recycle easily by replenishing the ink. However, few enterprises and individuals take advantage of this, creating an opportunity for your small-scale business. After mastering some refilling skills, investing in a few tools, and arranging delivery to your patrons, you can readily start your business. Your business will enjoy a tremendous competitive advantage over new toner cartridge retailers because you can provide refills for nearly half the price without sacrificing profits. However, consider learning about the LLC application process to establish your company as a Limited Liability Company and enjoy the tax perks and flexible management inherent in this business structure.

  • Collect scrap metal

There is no shortage of opportunities in the scrap metal collection and sales sector, so consider setting up a business in this industry. As a scrap metal collector, you will typically pick up your materials from homeowners, remodeling projects, and other sources and then sell them to larger recyclers. The startup cost for this business is typically low, and you can easily expand with time. However, you will need essential machinery and equipment like a pickup truck, net and tie-downs, gloves, and safety shoes when starting, so keep this in mind. Also, scrap metal collection needs more manual labor than most recycling businesses, so budget for this.

  • Venture into paper recycling

Paper recycling has been thriving locally since the Chinese ban on America’s waste import, so there is a lot of cash to be made in this industry if you play your cards well. You can strike a business deal with offices or any other large paper consumer in your locality to get your primary resource for free. Then, feed your paper into machines to create a pulp after collecting it. This method demands a lot of water, so keep this in mind when drafting your practical business plan.

How Outsourcing Services Can Help Your Business Advance Sustainability Goals

By Julie Starr • April 20, 2025
Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a business imperative. From shifting customer expectations to regulatory momentum and investor pressure, today’s competitive landscape demands more than short-term cost savings. Companies are being called to demonstrate leadership by embedding sustainable practices across their value chain. For many organizations, this transformation can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. Strategic outsourcing can unlock both environmental benefits and operational efficiency—helping your company do more with less while strengthening its sustainability performance. By partnering with service providers who specialize in sustainability, you can streamline operations, reduce environmental impact, and build trust with customers, employees, and investors alike. Below are some key areas where outsourcing can support your sustainability journey. Green Energy Consulting Services Are you wondering how to lower energy consumption without impacting business performance? Green energy consultants specialize in reducing carbon footprints through practical, scalable solutions. These experts analyze your energy usage and identify opportunities like switching to renewables, upgrading to energy-saving systems, or adopting smart technologies. Outsourcing initiatives such as solar panel installation or wind-powered electricity procurement signals your organization’s long-term commitment to environmental leadership. And as with many sustainability investments, the result is not just impact—it’s also efficiency and cost savings. Framed in the right way, these actions can become powerful stories that demonstrate your company's values to customers and stakeholders. Sustainable Supply Chain Management A sustainable supply chain is essential for companies aiming to lead in today’s circular economy. Third-party logistics providers and supply chain consultants can help in auditing your supply chain to uncover inefficiencies, and recommend improvements aligned with eco-conscious goals. By outsourcing this function, you gain access to experts who help embed sustainability into procurement practices—using local materials, reducing waste, and improving freight efficiency. Many providers can also connect you with suppliers that share your environmental standards, enabling a cohesive approach to sustainable sourcing. These supply chain enhancements not only reduce emissions and waste—they also reinforce your brand’s environmental credibility across the stakeholder ecosystem. Eco-Friendly IT and Cloud Computing Running a tech-intensive business? Traditional on-site data centers are energy-intensive. Outsourcing IT infrastructure to green cloud providers can dramatically lower your environmental impact. Cloud vendors who use renewable energy for data storage and server operations offer an efficient alternative to on-premise solutions. They also reduce hardware waste and improve system performance—making them both eco-friendly and future-ready. For organizations prioritizing digital sustainability, this move can be a cornerstone of your environmental strategy—and a strong signal of innovation to your stakeholders. Sustainable Junk Removal Services Sustainable operations include responsible waste management. Outsourcing junk removal to companies that prioritize recycling and charitable donations keeps unnecessary items out of landfills and extends the life cycle of materials. These services allow businesses and individuals to declutter responsibly, supporting both environmental and community well-being. It’s a simple but visible action that can reinforce your sustainability message both internally and externally. Carbon Offsetting Services Not all emissions can be eliminated—but many can be offset. Specialized outsourcing firms help companies calculate, track, and neutralize their carbon emissions through strategic reforestation projects , renewable energy, or community resilience projects. These providers simplify the path to carbon neutrality, enabling your business to meet emissions targets without overwhelming internal resources. When shared transparently, these efforts can build credibility and show stakeholders your commitment to real climate action. Green Building and Facility Services For organizations with a physical footprint, outsourcing to green building service providers supports both environmental and business performance. Whether you're retrofitting with energy-efficient systems, reimagining interior layouts for LEED certification, or upgrading lighting and HVAC, retrofitting to eco-friendly office design supports long-term thinking. Outsourcing this expertise ensures you’re not only meeting today’s expectations—but also building for tomorrow’s workforce and market needs. Outsourced R&D for Sustainable Products Developing greener products doesn’t need to be done in-house. By outsourcing R&D to sustainability-focused experts, your company can bring innovative ideas—like biodegradable packaging or low-impact materials—to market faster. These partnerships inject creativity and specialized knowledge into your product development pipeline, helping you stay ahead of regulatory shifts and consumer demand. More importantly, they support a brand narrative rooted in innovation and responsibility. Conclusion: Aligning Profit with Purpose Sustainability isn’t just about compliance—it’s about competitiveness, resilience, and leadership. Outsourcing to sustainability-minded providers allows your business to focus on core strengths while accelerating progress toward environmental and ESG goals. From energy and IT to supply chain and product development, these partnerships offer a smart path forward—one that balances operational efficiency with lasting impact.  At its best, sustainable outsourcing isn’t a sideline strategy. It’s a meaningful part of how forward-thinking companies align profit with purpose—and demonstrate what’s possible when businesses lead with values.

How the Agriculture Industry Is Evolving — And Why It Matters to Your Business

By Julie Starr • April 18, 2025
Any business that focuses on sustainability needs to take a holistic approach to their operations. They’ll need to make sure everything is as sustainable as possible. This often feels complicated for various areas. One of the more notable is picking the right marketing strategies for sustainability companies. This can be difficult, as some options mightn’t be eco-friendly. That’s especially true with many more traditional options, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few your business can go for. There shouldn’t be a reason why they wouldn’t be sustainable marketing strategies. Run Eco-Friendly Digital Events Event marketing can often be a great area to invest in, but it’s not always the most sustainable option. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few ways to make it more sustainable. You could run digital events , which are often much more eco-friendly than their traditional counterparts. There’ll be no need for people to travel and generate carbon emissions, for example. There’ll also be a whole lot less waste during the event itself. Aside from being more environmentally friendly, this offers more than a few other benefits. There’s no reason why these events shouldn’t help your business. Invest in SEO Search engine optimization (SEO) can often be one of the better marketing strategies for sustainability companies. It doesn’t have a negative environmental impact, and it could offer you some amazing results. It’ll help you generate some great brand awareness, visibility, and even sales. This gets more and more in time. t can often be one of the more complicated areas to master, though. That doesn’t mean you can’t make it more straightforward. You can always look into professionals to help you with this, like here: https://tonimarino.co.uk . With a bit of time, you’ll see quality results from your SEO. Get Involved in Eco-Friendly Initiatives Countless eco-friendly initiatives are run every year, and these can often be great to get involved in. They can help you improve your brand awareness while getting in front of like-minded individuals. Many of these could be in a position to be interested in your products or services. Even sponsoring some of these initiatives can be worth it. It’s just a matter of looking into which initiatives you can actually take part in. Spend a bit of time figuring out which ones can be a great option for you. It’ll even help improve how people view your brand going forward. Figuring out the best marketing strategies for sustainability companies can often be a little complicated. Some options can be ruled out relatively quickly, as they mightn’t be too environmentally friendly. That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few options you can go for. A few of them could stand out. These shouldn’t have a negative environmental impact, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider them. They’ll also offer you some amazing results going forward. With the impact they can have, it’s more than worth putting the time and effort into them. You’ll see some quality results because of it.