Circular Online explores seven innovative ways that new artificial intelligence technologies are advancing the circular economy.

The shift from a linear economy where resources are extracted, used, and disposed of, to a circular economy where materials are kept in use for as long as possible is an essential part of tackling resource depletion and environmental impact.

While recycling remains important, circularity goes beyond simply managing waste – it focuses on prevention, reuse, refurbishment, and remanufacturing to design waste out of the system altogether.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a key enabler of this shift. By improving material recovery, enhancing product design, and optimising supply chains, AI is helping businesses and policymakers make the circular economy more efficient and scalable.

Here are seven ways AI is already making an impact:

1. AI-powered sorting is improving recycling efficiency

One of the most immediate applications of AI in the circular economy is its role in waste sorting and recycling. Many recycling systems face challenges due to contamination, inefficient sorting, and an inability to process complex multi-material products.

AI is addressing these issues by increasing both the speed and accuracy of waste separation.

AI-driven computer vision technology allows machines to recognise different types of materials on a conveyor belt, distinguishing between plastics, metals, glass, and textiles with a high degree of precision.

Robotic arms, guided by machine learning, can then remove unwanted materials, improving the purity of recycled outputs. Over time, these AI models continuously learn and adapt, enabling them to identify new materials as packaging and product designs evolve.

Companies, such as ZenRobotics, TOMRA and Greyparrot, have developed AI-powered waste-sorting systems that significantly improve efficiency, ensuring that more materials are properly recovered and reintroduced into production cycles.

2. Machine learning is enabling smarter material design

AI is also transforming material science, enabling researchers to develop products that are easier to recycle, repair, and repurpose.

One of the biggest challenges in achieving circularity is the fact that many modern materials – particularly plastics and composites – are difficult to break down and reuse. AI-driven material discovery is helping scientists design more sustainable alternatives.

Machine learning algorithms can analyse the chemical properties of materials and predict how they will behave over time.

This can lead to the creation of self-healing polymers, biodegradable alternatives, and modular materials that can be disassembled and repurposed.

In the future, AI may even allow for programmable materials that can change their properties based on specific environmental conditions, making them more adaptable and reusable.

3. Predictive maintenance is extending product lifespans

One of the key principles of the circular economy is keeping products in use for as long as possible. AI is helping to achieve this by enabling predictive maintenance, which allows manufacturers, businesses, and consumers to anticipate wear and tear before it leads to product failure.

Rather than waiting for a machine or device to break down, AI can analyse performance data and detect early signs of deterioration.

This is particularly valuable in industries such as manufacturing, transport, and medical technology, where equipment failures can be costly and lead to unnecessary waste.

By predicting when maintenance is required, AI helps to extend the lifespan of products and reduce the need for frequent replacements.

Companies, such as Vanguard, are applying this approach in the medical sector, remanufacturing surgical tools to extend their use while maintaining strict safety standards.

4. AI is supporting circular product design

Circular economy principles are most effective when applied at the design stage. AI-powered design tools are helping businesses create products that are easier to repair, upgrade, and recycle.

By analysing vast datasets on material performance, supply chain logistics, and customer usage patterns, AI can assist designers in choosing the most circular materials and structures.

This approach is particularly relevant in industries like electronics and construction, where AI is being used to develop modular components that can be easily disassembled and repurposed.

Companies like Grafmarine are applying this concept in the energy sector, designing modular solar panels that can be repaired or upgraded rather than discarded when they reach the end of their initial use.

5. AI is enabling Product-as-a-Service models

The transition to a circular economy is not just about material recovery – it also involves rethinking ownership models.

AI is helping to support Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) models, where consumers access products through rental, leasing, or subscription rather than outright ownership. This approach ensures that products remain in circulation for longer, reducing unnecessary consumption and waste.

AI enables businesses to track usage patterns, optimise maintenance schedules, and predict when products need refurbishment or replacement. This makes PaaS models more viable and financially sustainable.

Companies, such as Grover, which rents out consumer electronics, and Rebike, which provides refurbished e-bikes, are already using AI to manage product lifecycles.

These models keep products in circulation for as long as possible, ensuring they are repaired, reused, and redistributed rather than discarded prematurely.

6. AI is enhancing supply chain transparency

One of the biggest challenges in achieving a truly circular economy is the lack of visibility across supply chains.

Many companies struggle to track where their materials come from, how they are used, and where they end up at the end of their lifecycle. AI is helping to close this gap by providing real-time insights into material flows.

Through the use of machine learning, big data analytics, and blockchain integration, AI can help businesses trace the origins of raw materials, monitor their environmental impact, and ensure that sustainability commitments are being met.

This level of transparency is particularly important in industries such as fashion and consumer goods, where supply chain complexity often makes it difficult to verify whether materials have been ethically and sustainably sourced.

AI-powered supply chain monitoring tools are already being used by companies seeking to improve their circularity credentials and meet evolving regulatory requirements.

7. AI is personalising consumer engagement in sustainability

Beyond industry and infrastructure, AI is also influencing how individuals engage with the circular economy.

AI-powered platforms are providing personalised sustainability recommendations, helping consumers make more informed choices about the products they buy, how they use them, and what they do at the end of their life.

By analysing purchasing habits and product usage patterns, AI-driven applications can suggest repair and refurbishment options, recommend second-hand alternatives, and connect users to local circular economy initiatives.

AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants may also play a role in guiding consumers towards more circular consumption habits.

Looking to the future, AI could support systems where consumers are incentivised for sustainable behaviour, such as returning used products for refurbishment or opting for repair over replacement.

The future of AI and the circular economy

As AI continues to develop, its role in supporting circularity will only expand. From optimising waste management to enhancing material innovation, AI is already demonstrating its potential to make the circular economy more efficient and scalable.

However, its success will depend on collaboration across businesses, policymakers, and consumers. The integration of AI into circular economy initiatives needs to be guided by clear policies, ethical considerations, and investment in sustainable infrastructure.

If applied effectively, AI has the potential to accelerate the transition to a more resource-efficient, low-waste future, helping businesses and societies move beyond traditional linear models towards a truly circular economy.

The post 7 ways AI is advancing the circular economy appeared first on Circular Online.

As National Apprenticeship Week (10 – 14 February) gets underway, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK looks at what the recycling and resource recovery sector do to attract and retain the talent the it needs.

In a report by SUEZ about green growth, jobs and resilience published in The New Statesman last year, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith acknowledged the waste sector’s key role in the transition to net zero.

It was a pivotal moment for our industry; a public declaration that there can be no net zero without a circular economy and no circular economy without a geared up and appropriately skilled waste sector.

Yet there are some discomfiting statistics about the availability of the skills needed to deliver the government’s net zero plans. Currently, the UK has a green skills deficit of around 70,000 people and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) estimates that the sector will need 238,000 more skilled practitioners by 2040.

Green skills and the circular economy

Dr Adam Read, Chief Sustainability and External Affairs Officer for SUEZ and Chair of the CIWM’s Skills of the Future Working Group, says this means a concerted effort from both a practical and policy perspective is needed to make up for the momentum lost when the body tasked with staffing the transition to net zero, the Green Jobs Delivery Group, was stood down in October 2024.

“Our sector is the net zero failsafe mechanism,” Read said. “We input at every stage of the current linear economy to reduce its carbon impact, but it is our presence at the end of the line, where we ensure vital resources are pushed back into circulation, that showcases our foundational role in the circular economy.

“The government must align its green skills policy with businesses like ours that are so fundamental to a functioning circular economy and invest in education, training and skills now so that the transition to net zero can happen at the pace required.

“After all, it takes time to recruit, train, develop and empower any workforce to deliver change, and the scale of change in our sector is more than significant, so to deliver by 2040 we need joined-up thinking and delivery now! But are we clear about what green skills and new roles and competencies we will need?”

Whilst academia is also playing catch up with a rapidly evolving green skills agenda through new courses and, in some cases, new industrial partnerships, specific skills development and programmes like apprenticeships and interns, the government is hoping to do more to directly incentivise the sector to train its own talent.

Last September, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced that the unpopular Apprenticeship Levy will be replaced by a new Growth and Skills Levy which will prioritise careers in industries where they are most needed and offer greater flexibility for employers to provide shorter or more agile apprenticeships.

In its current incarnation, the levy is criticised for only being available for apprenticeships of 12 months or more, even though some skills development does not require that timescale.

The unintended consequence is that the levy has failed to reverse the steady decline in the number of companies investing in both on and off-the-job training. Instead, they look to buy the skills they need, creating a highly competitive labour market against a backdrop of increasing green skills scarcity.

Why do they choose to buy, not build skills? Because the cost in time and effort of a 12-month apprenticeship when six months may have sufficed is simply not viable for many smaller businesses – the very businesses that make up the majority of the UK economy.

This resulted in the supposedly fully-funded initiative proving too expensive for many smaller cash-strapped companies.

How to kick-start a green skills revolution

Dr Tracey Leghorn, SUEZ Chief Business Services Officer says: “The UK’s skills and industrial policies must work hand-in-hand, ensuring businesses have the right incentives to invest in training for the future and in the areas that will underpin a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.

“The Growth & Skills Levy can help deliver this by facilitating the right training, in the right way, for the right sectors.”

But even with the new Levy, it will take a number of years for the necessary effect of these changes to materialise.

So, with green skills in demand, and those possessing them likely to have a wide range of opportunities to choose from, what can the waste sector do now to lure talent across the weighbridge?

How likely is it that the youngest cohort of Generation Z schoolchildren choosing their options this year, are dreaming of a future in waste? Even optimistically, the answer is likely to be very few.

Dr Leghorn believes the industry must work a lot harder to dispel some of the negative aspects of its image to resonate more accurately with a younger generation who, according to the Deloitte 2024 Millennial and Gen Z Survey, “want purpose-driven work and are not afraid to turn down work that doesn’t align with their values”.

“There is a need to collectively reposition a career in resource recovery and recycling as a significant contribution to net zero and circularity,” said Dr Leghorn, who is also Chair of the CIWM Social Inclusion Forum.

“If we look at our sector through the lens of its role in sustainability, together with the wide range of careers that can be pursued in the waste sector, we should be seen as an attractive proposition.

“No other sector offers this younger demographic the chance to directly address their key concerns about sustainability and the environment.”

There is a compelling story behind the fact that so many who join the industry have remained in it for the entirety of their career.

Career opportunities in the sector

Looking back and comparing where it is today, it’s a sector that has been continually growing and evolving, providing stability of employment but importantly a rich and fertile career environment in which those with a growth mindset can have multiple careers without ever moving employer.

The downside to this is that the average age of a waste sector worker is heading towards 50 – just 5% of staff are between the ages of 16 and 24.

Dr Leghorn says: “A sector demographic timebomb is rapidly heading our way and we must look to the future skills requirement with urgency and the agility needed in a rapidly changing world where employers need cost-effective capability and skills development, and our future employees are looking for a very different career proposition to those of their parents.”

Outreach to schools, colleges and universities can help tell that story about sustainability and the vast array of career opportunities available. It forms a pillar of the HR activity and SUEZ has an armoury of talent acquisition and training initiatives as part of its People Strategy.

This last year, they have onboarded more than 30 new apprentices, welcomed 20 graduates on graduate training schemes and currently have 10 interns across all areas of the business. Whilst quality must always be the focus, apprenticeship plans in 2025 extend into triple figures.

“Connecting early and relevantly is key to successful recruitment and, as well as engaging with educational establishments across all topic areas – whether that be STEM (science, technology engineering and maths) or business support functions such as law, HR, IT, finance etc – we also take a creative and socially inclusive approach to proactively sourcing the skills we need to ensure the future success of our business,” said Dr Leghorn.

This includes reaching out to ex-services personnel and, as a Veteran Gold Covenant Holder, SUEZ knows the value of the transferable logistics and technical skills that former members of the armed forces bring to the table.

Every area of the business is working towards having an apprentice in place as part of the inevitable succession planning needed in an industry where we are, in some part for the reasons outlined earlier, all fishing in the same relatively small pool.

One crucial area where skills are already in short supply, and where SUEZ is addressing the issue in-house with its own Academy, is Data and Digital Skills.

Bringing the industry into the future

The growing need for advanced waste sorting technologies, AI-driven recycling initiatives, and digital waste tracking systems require workers skilled in data analysis and management – all of which is a far cry from the manual labour image the industry has traditionally carried.

Being able to excel with data is crucial to retaining a competitive advantage in an increasingly sophisticated and data-reliant marketplace.

Dr Leghorn says: “This is a data-heavy business and becoming more so. We must ensure that the people handling that data have the appropriate skills to optimise and commercialise the vast array of rich data that we have at our disposal.”

The Digital and Data Academy saw 30 people enrolled in January, all of whom are studying for a range of relevant qualifications, including Degrees in Data Science. A further 60 will join over the coming few months.

Dr Leghorn says: “We are problem solvers at our very core so by making the sector more attractive to younger generations, offering agile, more exciting career pathways, and embracing technology-driven roles we can grow our own talent.

“Meanwhile, government intervention through training programmes, financial incentives, and education will be crucial to ensuring a workforce equipped for the future.

“By addressing the skills gap and promoting green careers, the waste management sector can position itself not just as a crucial link in the circular economy, but a leader that will drive sustainable change for generations to come.”

The post Why we must recruit new talent to the resources & waste sector appeared first on Circular Online.

As National Apprenticeship Week (10 – 14 February) gets underway, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK looks at what the recycling and resource recovery sector do to attract and retain the talent the it needs.

In a report by SUEZ about green growth, jobs and resilience published in The New Statesman last year, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith acknowledged the waste sector’s key role in the transition to net zero.

It was a pivotal moment for our industry; a public declaration that there can be no net zero without a circular economy and no circular economy without a geared up and appropriately skilled waste sector.

Yet there are some discomfiting statistics about the availability of the skills needed to deliver the government’s net zero plans. Currently, the UK has a green skills deficit of around 70,000 people and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) estimates that the sector will need 238,000 more skilled practitioners by 2040.

Green skills and the circular economy

Dr Adam Read, Chief Sustainability and External Affairs Officer for SUEZ and Chair of the CIWM’s Skills of the Future Working Group, says this means a concerted effort from both a practical and policy perspective is needed to make up for the momentum lost when the body tasked with staffing the transition to net zero, the Green Jobs Delivery Group, was stood down in October 2024.

“Our sector is the net zero failsafe mechanism,” Read said. “We input at every stage of the current linear economy to reduce its carbon impact, but it is our presence at the end of the line, where we ensure vital resources are pushed back into circulation, that showcases our foundational role in the circular economy.

“The government must align its green skills policy with businesses like ours that are so fundamental to a functioning circular economy and invest in education, training and skills now so that the transition to net zero can happen at the pace required.

“After all, it takes time to recruit, train, develop and empower any workforce to deliver change, and the scale of change in our sector is more than significant, so to deliver by 2040 we need joined-up thinking and delivery now! But are we clear about what green skills and new roles and competencies we will need?”

Whilst academia is also playing catch up with a rapidly evolving green skills agenda through new courses and, in some cases, new industrial partnerships, specific skills development and programmes like apprenticeships and interns, the government is hoping to do more to directly incentivise the sector to train its own talent.

Last September, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced that the unpopular Apprenticeship Levy will be replaced by a new Growth and Skills Levy which will prioritise careers in industries where they are most needed and offer greater flexibility for employers to provide shorter or more agile apprenticeships.

In its current incarnation, the levy is criticised for only being available for apprenticeships of 12 months or more, even though some skills development does not require that timescale.

The unintended consequence is that the levy has failed to reverse the steady decline in the number of companies investing in both on and off-the-job training. Instead, they look to buy the skills they need, creating a highly competitive labour market against a backdrop of increasing green skills scarcity.

Why do they choose to buy, not build skills? Because the cost in time and effort of a 12-month apprenticeship when six months may have sufficed is simply not viable for many smaller businesses – the very businesses that make up the majority of the UK economy.

This resulted in the supposedly fully-funded initiative proving too expensive for many smaller cash-strapped companies.

How to kick-start a green skills revolution

Dr Tracey Leghorn, SUEZ Chief Business Services Officer says: “The UK’s skills and industrial policies must work hand-in-hand, ensuring businesses have the right incentives to invest in training for the future and in the areas that will underpin a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.

“The Growth & Skills Levy can help deliver this by facilitating the right training, in the right way, for the right sectors.”

But even with the new Levy, it will take a number of years for the necessary effect of these changes to materialise.

So, with green skills in demand, and those possessing them likely to have a wide range of opportunities to choose from, what can the waste sector do now to lure talent across the weighbridge?

How likely is it that the youngest cohort of Generation Z schoolchildren choosing their options this year, are dreaming of a future in waste? Even optimistically, the answer is likely to be very few.

Dr Leghorn believes the industry must work a lot harder to dispel some of the negative aspects of its image to resonate more accurately with a younger generation who, according to the Deloitte 2024 Millennial and Gen Z Survey, “want purpose-driven work and are not afraid to turn down work that doesn’t align with their values”.

“There is a need to collectively reposition a career in resource recovery and recycling as a significant contribution to net zero and circularity,” said Dr Leghorn, who is also Chair of the CIWM Social Inclusion Forum.

“If we look at our sector through the lens of its role in sustainability, together with the wide range of careers that can be pursued in the waste sector, we should be seen as an attractive proposition.

“No other sector offers this younger demographic the chance to directly address their key concerns about sustainability and the environment.”

There is a compelling story behind the fact that so many who join the industry have remained in it for the entirety of their career.

Career opportunities in the sector

Looking back and comparing where it is today, it’s a sector that has been continually growing and evolving, providing stability of employment but importantly a rich and fertile career environment in which those with a growth mindset can have multiple careers without ever moving employer.

The downside to this is that the average age of a waste sector worker is heading towards 50 – just 5% of staff are between the ages of 16 and 24.

Dr Leghorn says: “A sector demographic timebomb is rapidly heading our way and we must look to the future skills requirement with urgency and the agility needed in a rapidly changing world where employers need cost-effective capability and skills development, and our future employees are looking for a very different career proposition to those of their parents.”

Outreach to schools, colleges and universities can help tell that story about sustainability and the vast array of career opportunities available. It forms a pillar of the HR activity and SUEZ has an armoury of talent acquisition and training initiatives as part of its People Strategy.

This last year, they have onboarded more than 30 new apprentices, welcomed 20 graduates on graduate training schemes and currently have 10 interns across all areas of the business. Whilst quality must always be the focus, apprenticeship plans in 2025 extend into triple figures.

“Connecting early and relevantly is key to successful recruitment and, as well as engaging with educational establishments across all topic areas – whether that be STEM (science, technology engineering and maths) or business support functions such as law, HR, IT, finance etc – we also take a creative and socially inclusive approach to proactively sourcing the skills we need to ensure the future success of our business,” said Dr Leghorn.

This includes reaching out to ex-services personnel and, as a Veteran Gold Covenant Holder, SUEZ knows the value of the transferable logistics and technical skills that former members of the armed forces bring to the table.

Every area of the business is working towards having an apprentice in place as part of the inevitable succession planning needed in an industry where we are, in some part for the reasons outlined earlier, all fishing in the same relatively small pool.

One crucial area where skills are already in short supply, and where SUEZ is addressing the issue in-house with its own Academy, is Data and Digital Skills.

Bringing the industry into the future

The growing need for advanced waste sorting technologies, AI-driven recycling initiatives, and digital waste tracking systems require workers skilled in data analysis and management – all of which is a far cry from the manual labour image the industry has traditionally carried.

Being able to excel with data is crucial to retaining a competitive advantage in an increasingly sophisticated and data-reliant marketplace.

Dr Leghorn says: “This is a data-heavy business and becoming more so. We must ensure that the people handling that data have the appropriate skills to optimise and commercialise the vast array of rich data that we have at our disposal.”

The Digital and Data Academy saw 30 people enrolled in January, all of whom are studying for a range of relevant qualifications, including Degrees in Data Science. A further 60 will join over the coming few months.

Dr Leghorn says: “We are problem solvers at our very core so by making the sector more attractive to younger generations, offering agile, more exciting career pathways, and embracing technology-driven roles we can grow our own talent.

“Meanwhile, government intervention through training programmes, financial incentives, and education will be crucial to ensuring a workforce equipped for the future.

“By addressing the skills gap and promoting green careers, the waste management sector can position itself not just as a crucial link in the circular economy, but a leader that will drive sustainable change for generations to come.”

The post Why we must recruit new talent to the resources & waste sector appeared first on Circular Online.

As National Apprenticeship Week (10 – 14 February) gets underway, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK looks at what the recycling and resource recovery sector do to attract and retain the talent the it needs.

In a report by SUEZ about green growth, jobs and resilience published in The New Statesman last year, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith acknowledged the waste sector’s key role in the transition to net zero.

It was a pivotal moment for our industry; a public declaration that there can be no net zero without a circular economy and no circular economy without a geared up and appropriately skilled waste sector.

Yet there are some discomfiting statistics about the availability of the skills needed to deliver the government’s net zero plans. Currently, the UK has a green skills deficit of around 70,000 people and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) estimates that the sector will need 238,000 more skilled practitioners by 2040.

Green skills and the circular economy

Dr Adam Read, Chief Sustainability and External Affairs Officer for SUEZ and Chair of the CIWM’s Skills of the Future Working Group, says this means a concerted effort from both a practical and policy perspective is needed to make up for the momentum lost when the body tasked with staffing the transition to net zero, the Green Jobs Delivery Group, was stood down in October 2024.

“Our sector is the net zero failsafe mechanism,” Read said. “We input at every stage of the current linear economy to reduce its carbon impact, but it is our presence at the end of the line, where we ensure vital resources are pushed back into circulation, that showcases our foundational role in the circular economy.

“The government must align its green skills policy with businesses like ours that are so fundamental to a functioning circular economy and invest in education, training and skills now so that the transition to net zero can happen at the pace required.

“After all, it takes time to recruit, train, develop and empower any workforce to deliver change, and the scale of change in our sector is more than significant, so to deliver by 2040 we need joined-up thinking and delivery now! But are we clear about what green skills and new roles and competencies we will need?”

Whilst academia is also playing catch up with a rapidly evolving green skills agenda through new courses and, in some cases, new industrial partnerships, specific skills development and programmes like apprenticeships and interns, the government is hoping to do more to directly incentivise the sector to train its own talent.

Last September, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced that the unpopular Apprenticeship Levy will be replaced by a new Growth and Skills Levy which will prioritise careers in industries where they are most needed and offer greater flexibility for employers to provide shorter or more agile apprenticeships.

In its current incarnation, the levy is criticised for only being available for apprenticeships of 12 months or more, even though some skills development does not require that timescale.

The unintended consequence is that the levy has failed to reverse the steady decline in the number of companies investing in both on and off-the-job training. Instead, they look to buy the skills they need, creating a highly competitive labour market against a backdrop of increasing green skills scarcity.

Why do they choose to buy, not build skills? Because the cost in time and effort of a 12-month apprenticeship when six months may have sufficed is simply not viable for many smaller businesses – the very businesses that make up the majority of the UK economy.

This resulted in the supposedly fully-funded initiative proving too expensive for many smaller cash-strapped companies.

How to kick-start a green skills revolution

Dr Tracey Leghorn, SUEZ Chief Business Services Officer says: “The UK’s skills and industrial policies must work hand-in-hand, ensuring businesses have the right incentives to invest in training for the future and in the areas that will underpin a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.

“The Growth & Skills Levy can help deliver this by facilitating the right training, in the right way, for the right sectors.”

But even with the new Levy, it will take a number of years for the necessary effect of these changes to materialise.

So, with green skills in demand, and those possessing them likely to have a wide range of opportunities to choose from, what can the waste sector do now to lure talent across the weighbridge?

How likely is it that the youngest cohort of Generation Z schoolchildren choosing their options this year, are dreaming of a future in waste? Even optimistically, the answer is likely to be very few.

Dr Leghorn believes the industry must work a lot harder to dispel some of the negative aspects of its image to resonate more accurately with a younger generation who, according to the Deloitte 2024 Millennial and Gen Z Survey, “want purpose-driven work and are not afraid to turn down work that doesn’t align with their values”.

“There is a need to collectively reposition a career in resource recovery and recycling as a significant contribution to net zero and circularity,” said Dr Leghorn, who is also Chair of the CIWM Social Inclusion Forum.

“If we look at our sector through the lens of its role in sustainability, together with the wide range of careers that can be pursued in the waste sector, we should be seen as an attractive proposition.

“No other sector offers this younger demographic the chance to directly address their key concerns about sustainability and the environment.”

There is a compelling story behind the fact that so many who join the industry have remained in it for the entirety of their career.

Career opportunities in the sector

Looking back and comparing where it is today, it’s a sector that has been continually growing and evolving, providing stability of employment but importantly a rich and fertile career environment in which those with a growth mindset can have multiple careers without ever moving employer.

The downside to this is that the average age of a waste sector worker is heading towards 50 – just 5% of staff are between the ages of 16 and 24.

Dr Leghorn says: “A sector demographic timebomb is rapidly heading our way and we must look to the future skills requirement with urgency and the agility needed in a rapidly changing world where employers need cost-effective capability and skills development, and our future employees are looking for a very different career proposition to those of their parents.”

Outreach to schools, colleges and universities can help tell that story about sustainability and the vast array of career opportunities available. It forms a pillar of the HR activity and SUEZ has an armoury of talent acquisition and training initiatives as part of its People Strategy.

This last year, they have onboarded more than 30 new apprentices, welcomed 20 graduates on graduate training schemes and currently have 10 interns across all areas of the business. Whilst quality must always be the focus, apprenticeship plans in 2025 extend into triple figures.

“Connecting early and relevantly is key to successful recruitment and, as well as engaging with educational establishments across all topic areas – whether that be STEM (science, technology engineering and maths) or business support functions such as law, HR, IT, finance etc – we also take a creative and socially inclusive approach to proactively sourcing the skills we need to ensure the future success of our business,” said Dr Leghorn.

This includes reaching out to ex-services personnel and, as a Veteran Gold Covenant Holder, SUEZ knows the value of the transferable logistics and technical skills that former members of the armed forces bring to the table.

Every area of the business is working towards having an apprentice in place as part of the inevitable succession planning needed in an industry where we are, in some part for the reasons outlined earlier, all fishing in the same relatively small pool.

One crucial area where skills are already in short supply, and where SUEZ is addressing the issue in-house with its own Academy, is Data and Digital Skills.

Bringing the industry into the future

The growing need for advanced waste sorting technologies, AI-driven recycling initiatives, and digital waste tracking systems require workers skilled in data analysis and management – all of which is a far cry from the manual labour image the industry has traditionally carried.

Being able to excel with data is crucial to retaining a competitive advantage in an increasingly sophisticated and data-reliant marketplace.

Dr Leghorn says: “This is a data-heavy business and becoming more so. We must ensure that the people handling that data have the appropriate skills to optimise and commercialise the vast array of rich data that we have at our disposal.”

The Digital and Data Academy saw 30 people enrolled in January, all of whom are studying for a range of relevant qualifications, including Degrees in Data Science. A further 60 will join over the coming few months.

Dr Leghorn says: “We are problem solvers at our very core so by making the sector more attractive to younger generations, offering agile, more exciting career pathways, and embracing technology-driven roles we can grow our own talent.

“Meanwhile, government intervention through training programmes, financial incentives, and education will be crucial to ensuring a workforce equipped for the future.

“By addressing the skills gap and promoting green careers, the waste management sector can position itself not just as a crucial link in the circular economy, but a leader that will drive sustainable change for generations to come.”

The post Why we must recruit new talent to the resources & waste sector appeared first on Circular Online.

We’re already a few weeks into tax season! For many people with complicated returns, tax prep started well before January. But even if your situation is fairly simple, you would still need to gather documents, review your finances, and account for any big changes that may have happened over the past year.

Are you ready for tax season? What documents do you still need, if any? Are you filing your own taxes or hiring someone to do it?

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Preparing for tax season often seems more like a sprint than a marathon. You receive your W2 forms in the mail in late January, and then it’s time to excavate your receipt shoe box and spend a stressful weekend trying to make sense of your tax return. All in all, it feels like a hurried, overwhelming, and nerve-wracking chore that you dread every year.

But what if filing your taxes didn’t have to be quite so stressful?

The trick to making your tax season a breeze is preparing for it early. As in, right now. If you want an easy and relaxed tax season, here’s what you can do now to get ready.

Make a list of the information you’ll need

One of the most frustrating moments in tax preparation is discovering you’re still missing one vital piece of information after you’ve gathered everything you thought you needed. And it’s even worse if you don’t know how to find the missing information. 

So look over the specific info you need to file now, to give yourself time to gather all the items well before Tax Day. Specifically, you’ll need:

• A copy of last year’s tax return
   
• The Social Security or Tax ID number of every member of your household
   
• The income records of every member of your household
   
• Receipts for your deductible expenses
   
• Records of any taxes you’ve paid throughout the year

Putting together your list of necessary information and checking each item off as you gather it will ensure that you’re fully prepared when you finally sit down to file. (See also: The 7 Most Common Tax Questions for Beginners, Answered)

Organize your receipts

Keeping track of tax-related receipts throughout the year is one of the most difficult parts of handling your taxes. Many people throw all of their receipts for work-related expenses, charitable donations, mortgage payments, medical expenses, and interest statements in a single folder or box to deal with "later." 

Now is an excellent time to dig out your receipts and start organizing them according to category. Having your receipts neatly separated now will make it easy to sort the last few that come in as the year comes to a close, and can help you get into the habit of putting them in order as you receive them.

Gather your paystubs together

Though the majority of filers will receive either a W2 or 1099 form from their employer(s), it’s still a good idea to gather your paystubs before the end of the year to get a rough idea of your income. That will help you identify any potential mistakes on your W2 or 1099 forms as soon as they arrive. It’s far better to catch a mistake early rather than find you need to request a corrected form close to the IRS deadline.

Plus, checking over your paystubs all at once gives you a chance to take a look at your federal and state tax withholding over the year, as well as any pretax contributions you’ve made to your 401(k) or IRA. 

Review your W4

Another great reason to look at your paystubs now is that it gives you a chance to review your W4 with your employer. 

The W4 form determines how much tax withholding is taken from each paycheck. If you expect to receive a large refund this year, you can adjust your withholding allowances now to ensure that more of your paycheck will come home with you in 2020. If, on the other hand, you worry that you may owe money because you didn’t have enough withheld, now is a good time to adjust your W4 to be sure you don’t have the same problem in the coming year. (See also: Are You Withholding the Right Amount of Taxes from Your Paycheck?)

Send more money to your retirement fund

If you have access to a tax-deferred retirement account like a 401(k) or an IRA, now is the time to see how much money you have set aside this year, and try to increase that number. 

As of 2019, workers under 50 years old can save up to $19,000 in a 401(k) and up to $6,000 in an IRA. And every dollar you put into these kinds of accounts reduces the amount of income you have to pay taxes on. 

Now is an excellent time to try to maximize your 2019 contribution. You have until the end of the calendar year to maximize your 2019 401(k) contribution, but you can continue contributing to your 2019 IRA until April 15, 2020. 

Getting into the habit of increasing your contribution now can also help you reach the maximum in 2020, which is going up to $19,500 for 401(k) accounts, although the IRA maximum will hold steady at $6,000. (See also: 8 Tax Return Mistakes Even Smart People Make)

Plan ahead for your refund

If you expect to receive a refund this year, start thinking about the best way to use the money now. We tend to think of a tax refund as "free money," even though it’s just your own salary being returned to you. But with a free money mindset, it’s very easy to go overboard spending the refund on fun stuff, like a vacation or a new gadget.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your tax refund, but taking a hard look at your budget and finances now can help you to determine if having fun with your refund is the best use of the money. Is there some debt you could pay down (or pay off) with the refund instead? Or is there a major goal you’re saving toward — like a down payment on a house — that would benefit from an injection of cash? 

Thinking through the best use of your tax refund before you have it in your hot little hands makes it more likely you’ll make good decisions with it. Once you have the money in your possession, it’s very tempting to make it rain instead of saving for a rainy day.

Make your tax season less stressful

Getting a jump start on your filing chores will not only make tax season much easier, but it can also help you prepare for your finances in the coming year. Start 2020 on the right financial foot by starting your tax season preparation early.

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Editor’s Note: Congratulations to P, Samantha, and Tabathia for winning this week’s contest!

You don’t want to get your taxes wrong, but if your finances are fairly simple and you’re usually pretty organized, it’s pretty safe to file taxes on your own.

Do you file your own taxes? What do you think is the most complicated part of the process? What advice would you give to someone who is filing their own taxes for the first time?

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Welcome to Wise Bread’s Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on tax secrets of the rich, ways to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle, and household chores you should outsource.

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9 Tax Secrets of the Rich They Don’t Teach You Anywhere — Learn how to use income and expenses to reduce your tax burden. [Wallet Hacks]

8 Ways to Adopt a Zero-waste Lifestyle — It’s not easy to achieve a zero-waste lifestyle, but it is possible with a little dedication and some really good tips. [No Sidebar]

Stress Less: 6 Household Chores to Outsource — Outsource these time-consuming household tasks and reclaim some much-needed time for yourself! [Everything Finance]

How to Watch ESPN Without Cable: 10 Great Options to Consider — Need your sports fix on the cheap? Here are a few options to follow your favorite teams without ponying up for cable or satellite TV. [Frugal Rules]

Insider Tips For Saving Money on the Great Summer Road Trip — Accidents, construction, and road closures can happen on any route, but you’ll save time, gas, and patience by planning some backup routes just in case. [PopSugar Smart Living]

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The 5 advantages of selling your home for fast cash — There are a few benefits to finding a cash buyer to purchase your home instead of listing your home with a realtor. [Disease Called Debt]

How to Stock a Home Bar on a Budget — Booze tends to see the highest markup whenever you go out for food or drinks. If you’re deliberate and patient, you can stock up your home bar for a fraction of the price you would spend at a bar. [Money After Graduation]

How to Write a Professional Work Email — The lack of verbal cues can cause misunderstandings in emails. Use this simple guide to help you handle your electronic correspondences like a pro. [Daily Worth]

9 indestructible houseplants that purify the air — These nine houseplants will continue to purify the air in your space even if you neglect them. [Frugal and Thriving]

Post-crisis banking rules: now altered but not undone — Here’s what you need to know about the state of banking oversight and the economy today. [The Christian Science Monitor]

In 2017, the IRS received 152,235,000 tax returns — and of those returns, more than 73 percent were granted a refund. With the average refund last year standing at $2,895, you might think getting a windfall in the spring is a good thing. But rather than giving the government an interest-free loan all year, wouldn’t you have preferred to have an extra $241.25 per month in your paycheck?

On the other hand, the 27 percent of taxpayers not receiving a refund may be getting the opposite — a big tax bill. They may not be having enough money withheld from their paychecks for taxes.

This is why it’s important to withhold the right amount of taxes out of your paycheck. Let’s review how to cover your projected tax liability while minimizing your refund. (See also: Bigger Paycheck or Bigger Tax Refund — Which Should You Pick?)

Meet the IRS Withholding Calculator

With the passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, many Americans are still trying to figure out the full effects of this legislation on their paychecks. In an effort to help taxpayers make sense of recent changes to the tax law, the IRS updated its Withholding Calculator on February 28, 2018.

While the IRS recommends that all taxpayers take a second look at how much in taxes they’re taking out of their paychecks, the agency highly encourages the following groups to check their withholdings for 2018:

• Two-income families.

• People with two or more jobs at the same time or who only work for part of the year.

• People with children who claim credits such as the Child Tax Credit.

• People who itemized deductions in 2017.

• People with high incomes and more complex tax returns.

How to use the IRS Withholding Calculator

Here’s your game plan to achieve a "Goldilocks" withholding rate on your paycheck this year.

1. Gather your latest pay stub(s) and latest tax return

If you don’t receive a pay stub in the mail, contact your human resources office to get a copy or learn how you can download one online from your company portal. Depending on your unique financial situation, you may also want to find your 2016 return (or your 2017, if you’ve completed it) to more accurately estimate your 2018 income, budget, expenses, and list of tax credits.

2. Provide general information and list potential tax credits

In the first two sections of the IRS Withholding Calculator, indicate your filing status, whether or not anybody can claim you as a dependent, how many jobs you and your spouse (if applicable) have, how many dependents you will claim on your return, and whether or not you or your spouse will be 65 or older on January 1, 2019.

Additionally, you will need to list any applicable tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. This is why it’s helpful to have past returns handy to help you estimate those credits. (See also: 8 Tax Return Mistakes Even Smart People Make)

3. Detail your wage income and withholding

Next, enter your gross wages, salaries, tips, and any bonuses you expect to receive in 2018. Using your most recent pay stubs, enter the total federal income tax withheld to date in 2018 and the federal income tax withheld from your last salary payment. Indicate how frequently you receive your paychecks, and, if applicable, when you started this job in 2018, and when you expect this job to end in 2018.

If you receive any other taxable income, make sure to include it as well. The IRS Withholding Calculator is only as accurate as the information you enter, so leaving that income out may result in a higher tax liability.

4. List deductions

Here is one of the biggest changes implemented by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. If your standard deduction ($12,000 for individuals, $18,000 for heads of household, and $24,000 for married filing jointly) is more than your total itemized deductions, your standard deduction will be used to calculate your withholding. Otherwise, your total itemized deduction amount will be used. So, this is why it still pays to keep track of all of those deductions throughout the year.

Use your latest return to estimate your 2018 itemized deductions, including medical and dental expenses, paid taxes (up to $5,000 for single filers and $10,000 for married filers for applicable state and local income taxes, property taxes, or sales taxes), gifts to charity, and other itemized deductions. Remember that beginning in 2018, job and certain miscellaneous expenses are no longer deductible. (See also: 12 Things You Should Know About the New Tax Law)

5. Adjust your W4

Once you have entered all the data, the IRS Withholding Calculator will provide you with clear instructions on how to update your W4 with your employer. Depending on your situation, some action items may include changing your filing status, adjusting your number of allowances, and withholding an extra amount every paycheck.

Following the instructions from the calculator, you’ll cover your tax liability just right.

Revisit the IRS Withholding Calculator as necessary

Don’t set it and forget it. If your job (Promotion? Salary bump? Side gig?) or life situation (Married? Baby?) changes, revisit the IRS Withholding Calculator. The calculator will help you make sure you have the right amount of tax withheld from your paycheck at work.

The IRS recommends submitting your updated W4 to your employer as soon as possible. Withholding takes place throughout the year, so it’s better to take this step right away.

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The deadline to file your tax return is quickly approaching, so it’s a good idea to wrap things up and double check for any deductions or credits you might have missed.

It’s extra important to pay close attention and make sure you’re getting the most of deductions this year. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminates several popular deductions for the 2018 tax year, which means this is the last chance you’ll have to claim them on your return.

To minimize your tax bill and increase your chances of getting your refund, make sure you take advantage of your last opportunity to claim these deductions. (See also: 12 Things You Should Know About the New Tax Law)

1. Unreimbursed work expenses

If you were not reimbursed for required work expenses, such as a job uniform, work-related education, business travel, or union fees, those costs are tax deductible for tax year 2017. The new tax law eliminates this deduction.

2. Job-related moving expenses

If you’ve moved in the last year for work, you may be able to deduct certain expenses like hiring movers or renting a truck. To qualify under the current rules, you must have moved at least 50 miles from your previous address, your moving date must correspond to when you started your new job, and you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first 12 months after your move. This deduction will no longer be available for the 2018 tax year and beyond.

3. Tax preparation

The new law eliminates your ability to deduct tax preparation expenses, such as the cost of using software or hiring someone to do them for you. If you spent money for tax preparation in 2017, this will be your last year to claim that deduction.

4. Casualty and theft losses

Under the current tax law, you can deduct any casualty and theft losses that you experienced during the tax year. For individual taxpayers, you can deduct losses due to a fire, storm, or from theft. Under the new law, you will only be able to deduct casualty losses if the loss is attributable to a disaster as declared by the president, such as a hurricane.

5. Alimony deductions

If you’ve gone through a divorce and you pay alimony, the money you pay your former spouse under a divorce or separation agreement is currently tax deductible. Depending on how much you pay in alimony, the tax deduction can be significant.

Under the new tax plan, alimony payments will no longer be deductible. The change will apply to any divorce or separation that occurs after December 31, 2018.

6. Personal exemptions

With the current tax structure, you can claim a personal exemption of $4,050 for yourself, your spouse, and each of your dependent children. The new tax plan eliminates personal exemptions.

Instead, the plan increases the standard deduction from $6,350 to $12,000 for single filers, from $12,700 to $24,000 for married filing jointly, and from $9,350 to $18,000 for heads of household. Although some people will benefit from the change to a higher standard deduction, the elimination of the personal exemption could hurt families with multiple children, lower incomes, or single parents.

7. Mortgage interest deduction

Currently, you can deduct the interest you paid on a mortgage or home loan balance as large as $1 million. For mortgages that originate after December 15, 2017, the limit is lowered to $750,000. Although that number is still high, it could affect homeowners in areas with sky-high real estate prices.

8. State and local tax deductions

Current law allows you to deduct the full amount of either your state income taxes or state and local taxes. You can also deduct property taxes. For those in areas with a high cost of living, this deduction is a significant help.

The new tax law merges the three taxes together and caps the deduction at $10,000. With a smaller deduction available for state and local taxes, some families could face a higher tax bill.

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