How to Set Up a Recycling Company

Starting a recycling business can be a highly profitable and rewarding venture, especially for those who care about the environment and want to contribute to improving the quality of life. This business model not only offers opportunities for profit, but also plays a crucial role in preserving natural resources and reducing the environmental impacts caused by waste.

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Like any other business, recycling can generate wealth. Invest in it!

The Context in Brazil

The recycling industry in Brazil has its roots in a period before there was growing concern for the environment. In its initial form, it arose from the needs of the population who found a source of income in garbage collection. Over time, recycling began to be adopted by more representative economic sectors, expanding the recovery of recyclable materials and improving the processes involved.

The concept of recycling gained prominence in the 1970s, when environmental issues began to receive more attention, especially after the first oil shock. Recycling became an important strategy, and industries dedicated to the reprocessing of recyclable materials are known as secondary industries. These industries transform the recovered raw materials into new products, often very different from the original material.

Aluminum Market: Opportunities and Growth

The recycled aluminum market in Brazil has expanded significantly, generating billions of dollars per year. The high recycling rate of aluminum cans is an example of success, but there are still unexplored areas that present great opportunities for growth. Demand for recycled aluminum is increasing, driven by the construction sector and the automotive industry, both domestically and globally.

Strategic Location

To ensure the success of a recycling company, the choice of location is crucial. It is essential to locate the company in an area with easy access to raw materials and transport routes. Being close to urban centers can improve the efficiency of waste collection, while proximity to industrial regions can optimize logistics and reduce costs. Good infrastructure is also essential to maintain efficient operations.

Necessary Structure and Equipment

The basic structure of a recycling company must include a minimum area of 10,000 m², divided into four main sectors: industrial warehouse, office, changing rooms and toilets. This division helps to organize the space and facilitate the workflow.

Essential equipment for the operation includes:

  • Recycling machines, which vary depending on the type of product recycled.
  • Trucks for transporting materials.
  • Furniture and utensils for the office.

The basic team must include:

  • A manager to oversee operations.
  • A secretary to manage the administration.
  • An administrative assistant to support you with your daily tasks.
  • A production manager to supervise the recycling process.
  • Workers to carry out recycling activities.
  • A driver to transport the materials.

Considerations on Inputs and Logistics

While it may seem that recycling materials are readily available and inexpensive, the reality is different. Recycling faces significant challenges, especially when materials are disposed of improperly. Contaminated waste from landfills or dumps increases the cost of the recycling process due to the need for cleaning and sorting.

Industrial waste, although valuable, may already be collected by others and may have an associated cost. Domestic waste, on the other hand, is bulky and requires well-planned logistics and public education to ensure that it is correctly separated and reused.

Courses and Training in the Area

For those interested in deepening their knowledge in the area of recycling, there are specialized courses that can provide solid training. The courses cover topics such as:

  • Environmental preservation and corporate sustainability programs.
  • Intelligent use of natural resources and renewable energy.
  • Selective collection and sustainable consumption.

The Cursos 24 Horas platform offers a range of certified online courses that can be completed from the comfort of your own home. Investing in recycling education can make a significant difference to the success of your business. Click here to participate.

It is essential to consider all aspects involved, from the choice of location and structure to logistics and training. With a strategic and well-informed approach, your recycling company can contribute significantly to preserving the environment and reducing the negative impacts of waste.

Check out other interesting facts about recycling clicking here.
Learn how to make art by recycling, Click here.

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65 Comments

  1. I want to set up a recycling company here in my city, which has 44,789 inhabitants. How do I set it up? I need tips, help me.

  2. ME: I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SET UP A RECYCLING PLANT FOR GREEN COCONUT SHELLS. EVEN THOUGH MY CITY IS NOT ON THE COAST, I AM VERY SAD ABOUT THE DIRT IN THE RIVERS, WHERE I USE THEM FOR FISHING. I WAS SCARED BY THE DIRT FROM PLASTIC PACKING, PET BOTTLES, AND GREEN COCONUT. I AM COWARDLY WITH THE RIVERS, THEY ARE OUR SOURCE OF LIFE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND THE DEFENSELESS POPULATION. I WANT TO HELP CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO ACHIEVE THIS?

  3. Good morning!
    I live in Bahia in a city of approximately 25 thousand inhabitants and within a radius of 30km from my city, there are 06 cities of approximately 140 thousand inhabitants.
    I intend to set up a paper and cardboard recycling factory, collecting and producing office paper.
    I would like guidance and information about the implementation project.

    My thanks in advance

  4. I would really like to set up a recycling company, although I have cirrhosis due to the many medications I had to take, I would like to know if these courses are available online. Thank you.

  5. I would like to know more about glass recycling equipment and courses. I am very interested in the process and would like to open a company in this field.
    I await contact
    Marcelo

  6. I have a company that takes care of the environment, ecological washing, advertising on bread bags, the intention of eliminating plastic bags, and joining a consortium to manage city waste.
    We want to expand into recycling hospital waste, how can we do this?

  8. GOOD NIGHT RICARDO..

    I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO SET UP.. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 50 THOUSAND, MY BROTHER GAVE ME THE IDEA OF GETTING INTO RECYCLING.. I'M TRYING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SUBJECT.. COULD YOU HELP ME WITH SOMETHING? AND WILL IT BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS AMOUNT TO START INVESTING.. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

  9. Good morning!
    I want to open a computer parts recycling company, try to receive a printer for example and disassemble and resell the small parts.
    What reports and certificates do I need to be able to form partnerships with recycling companies that receive these materials?

    Hugs,
    Carlos Tosetti

  10. I loved the article, I live in Manaus and here the environmental problem of waste disposal receives little attention, mainly because people see themselves surrounded by abundant environmental resources and think they are infinite, I wanted to contribute to a recycling company, I'm just in doubt about which undergraduate course would be most appropriate, environmental engineering, administration or logistics…?

  15. Goodnight!
    I am setting up a micro-recycling business. How can I find buyers for the materials?
    I thank you in advance.

  16. Good afternoon! I want to set up a tire recycling plant. What equipment should I buy? Where can I get more information? Is there a Council of Recycling Plants? Where can I get information about conferences and lectures on the subject of recycling?

    • It's a painstaking job, Rosilde. There's too much at stake (I'm talking about the economic system) to expect people and governments to understand the global scenario and change radically, as much as I'd like that to happen. That's why the Recycling Sector began its activities in 2000, but I'm sure the work is just beginning.

  19. I am retired from the legal field and I want to set up a Styrofoam recycling company. I don't think we have any here in Piracicaba, SP. My question is related to selling the product. I would like to know if there is a demand for this product. I am sure that this business helps a lot in cleaning the environment.

  20. Ricardo Ricchini Good morning!!!!
    I want to set up an oil recycling plant in my city. I would like to know about machinery, courses, environment and collection of used oil for recycling.

  21. I AM INTERESTED IN OPENING A COMPANY IN THE RECYCLING COLLECTION SECTOR AT THE BEGINNING OF 2017. I ALREADY HAVE MOST OF THE NECESSARY PROJECTS AND STUDIES, BUT NOW I NEED TO GO TO THE MINISTRY, INSTITUTION OR OTHER ENTITY THAT CAN SHOW ME HOW TO OPEN IT WITH EVERYTHING REGULAR.
    AND, IF YOU KNOW, WHO SHOULD I CONTACT TO OPEN THE COMPANY WITH EVERYTHING RIGHT, SO AS TO AVOID LATER COMPLICATIONS.

  24. And what is your opinion about automotive recycling? Can it be a profitable business even in the long term? It is more or less the initial investment needed to start a business! Thanks

  25. Wonderful and valuable tips! Something that bothers me a lot is regarding fabrics, more specifically clothes that are no longer in usable condition. This is a constant topic on my mind. Do you have anything that can help me? How can I start a fabric recycling business? What is this market like?
    If you could send it to me by email I would be very grateful.

  26. Good afternoon, I am a student of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, and I will finish the course next year. I live in a city of 22,000 inhabitants and there are several small towns nearby. A friend of mine from the same course and I are very interested in starting a company in the area of recycling various materials. However, we have doubts about the destination of these materials and how we could generate byproducts from the collected waste within the company.
    I would like some guidance, considering that the site offers extremely important content. Thank you.

  27. Hello, I want to open a recycling company in my city, but I would like to start in a simple way, that is, at home, since I have a large space. And if it works out and I am successful, I would like to continue with the project in order to expand it. My future goal is to not only carry out the recycling itself, but also to organize the collection, since my city does not have any of these activities, and with all this, to have the possibility of generating employment and having a source of profit that contributes to the planet. Since I am only 18 years old, I would like to know how it would be best for me to start, what course I should take, whether technical or higher, and the average investment amount.

  28. Hello, I want to invest in a selective collection company, because I would like to sell materials that can be recycled to companies in this sector. I need to know what the procedures and processes are, how much to invest, where I can find people who want to invest in my company and who I can sell to, and how to contact these potential customers.

    Att,
    Isaiah Maciel
    ATHOS ENTERPRISE – Socio-environmental solutions.

  29. HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN A RECYCLING COMPANY. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO RECYCLE, HOW TO BUY THE MACHINES AND THE COST TO OPEN. I WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR THIS.

  30. Ricardo, good afternoon. What stands out in all the news and information is how to acquire recyclable materials. There is no information that mentions the difficulty that plastic recycling companies have in buying and selling this material, the high cost of the collection, separation, processing and final destination process.
    It would be interesting to have a report with this “bias” because everyone knows what to do, but not how to do it and who is buying it.
    Try to find a company that buys plastics in small quantities and of different types, you won't find it!

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