Learn how full beverage containers enter recycling streams, the operational impacts on MRFs, and diversion strategies for companies committed to sustainability.
Peter W. Klaich
Unfortunately, contaminated recycling loads are a constant challenge for facilities. From plastic bags and electronics to non-recyclable materials that damage equipment, contaminants hinder efficiency and ultimately compromise the sustainability of the recycling process. However, there’s another contaminant that’s rarely discussed: full beverage containers.
This complex waste stream requires careful in order to separate and manage both the liquid and the packaging. And with expired, damaged, and recalled products quietly making their way into recycling streams, there’s a clear disconnect in how unsaleable beverages should be handled.
Keep reading to learn why this has become a growing problem, its impact on material recovery facilities, and strategies to address it.
How Full Beverage Containers Enter Recycling Streams
So why is this happening? Let’s take a look at the sources, disposal pathways, and underlying reasons contributing to this contamination:
- Sources: When a beverage expires, is damaged, or is recalled, it becomes unsaleable. This happens more than you think. For instance, in 2025. And while many companies follow proper disposal practices, particularly larger organizations with more resources, some do not manage this type of waste properly, leading to contaminated waste streams.
- Common disposal pathways: Full beverage containers cannot be handled the same as empty cans and beverages. However, they’re often mixed with recyclable packaging or enter municipal recycling through retail or distribution channels rather than being properly separated, further contributing to the issue.
- Why it happens: Ideally, this would never happen, but the reality is that it still does. Top causes include companies not having a standardized disposal procedure or the widespread misconception that containers will be emptied during recycling.
Operational Impacts on Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
Sustainability drives MRFs. And while this is great news, they must handle the many challenges that come with sorting and processing recyclable materials.
For this reason, we need to understand how full beverage containers affect MRFs:
- Liquid contamination: When liquids leak, they can contaminate entire batches, creating serious challenges during sorting and processing. This added moisture can clog equipment, slow down sorting lines, and increase the likelihood that recyclable materials will be rejected.
- Contamination rates: In the U.S., there’s an average inbound . While not the sole culprit, full beverage containers contribute to this figure, affecting the recovery rates at MRFs.
- Safety and operational risks: Rather than only sorting through recyclable materials, workers must be cautious of nonrecyclable materials. For instance, if soda cans explode at a facility, they can leave behind sticky residues that attract pests, creating sanitation issues and potential safety concerns for workers.
- Economic impact: There’s also an . When beverage containers must be removed from recycling streams, MRFs lose commodity revenue and often face higher net costs per ton.
Diversion and Destruction Strategies That Reduce the Problem
While full beverage containers are a critical problem in recycling facilities, there are ways to address the issue:
- Standardized disposal processes: Companies should have a diversion and destruction strategy in place before products become unsaleable. This includes proper sorting and storage at the source, dedicated collection streams, and partnerships with facilities to ensure products are handled appropriately.
- Pre-processing: There are depackaging systems that are critical to reducing contamination and supporting a company’s sustainability goals. These systems work by separating liquids from packaging, which can then be sent to processing facilities to be recycled. Because beverage packaging is made from different materials, the appropriate recycling method depends on the material type. For instance, with only one-third of glass recycled, companies that use glass containers can partner with recycling facilities to help keep these materials in circulation.
- Anaerobic digestion: is a process through which bacteria break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. While this disposal solution manages products like food scraps and agricultural waste, it can also handle industrial liquid waste. After separating liquids from packaging, companies can send the liquids to an anaerobic digestion facility to be turned into biogas, a renewable energy source, and digestate, a nutrient-rich material that can be used as fertilizer.
Lessons from Large-Scale 91²Ö¿â Logistics Networks
Many national waste management companies and reverse logistics networks are already successfully navigating the disposal of full beverage containers. Here are some tips we can take from them:
- Segregation at the source: Rather than combining all types of waste and segregating them downstream, full beverage containers should be separated from other materials at the source. This reduces the risk of contamination and supports more efficient operations at material recovery facilities.
- Specialized transport and processing channels: Effective beverage destruction relies on efficient transportation and access to processing facilities that have the capacity to manage your company’s commercial waste. Since infrastructure varies widely across locations, companies must form strategic partnerships to ensure on-time pickup and compliant transportation. For some companies, anaerobic digestion and recycling facilities may be located nearby, while others may benefit from partnering with companies that have a nationwide reach to facilitate logistics.
- Data tracking to reduce contamination: Companies should record and monitor the amount of waste they generate, how much waste they successfully recycle, and whether there are any contamination issues. This information provides valuable insight into whether they need to adjust their strategy to prevent further contamination.
Moving Toward Cleaner Recycling Streams
As companies move toward more sustainable recycling streams, they must ensure that everybody in their network has proper training to support greater recycling outcomes. This includes company-wide training for waste separation at the source, a proper pre-processing system, and stronger coordination between retailers, distributors, and recycling facilities.
Companies must also stay up to date with laws regulating waste transportation, recycling, and destruction. Since laws vary between states and cities, this becomes even more complex for multi-site locations. However, having a compliance expert on staff or partnering with one can help companies remain compliant, reduce their environmental impact, minimize the risk of fines, and strengthen brand credibility.
Conclusion
Full beverage containers have a huge negative impact on recycling streams. And while many people aren’t aware of this issue or don’t often discuss it, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect the progress of sustainability initiatives.
On the bright side, there are solutions to address this issue. Through pre-processing, strategic partnerships, and data tracking, companies can reduce contamination and stand out for their commitment to sustainability.
So ask yourself: Does your company contaminate recycling streams with full beverage containers? What can you do to reduce your environmental impact and support sustainability goals?
Peter W. Klaich is Director of Agriculture/Animal Health, at Shapiroe Enterprises. For more information, e-mail [email protected] ´Ç°ùÌý±¹¾±²õ¾±³Ù
Image courtesy of Shapiroe Enterprises via Freepik