10169119Recycling Traceability: Transforming Recycling Data for Local Authority Net Zero GoalsClosedProcurementInnovate UKLocal councils across the UK are struggling to meet ambitious recycling targets without knowing what actually happens to packaging after collection. Current recycling systems operate as "black boxes" once materials enter waste facilities, councils lose all visibility, making it impossible to assess if educational campaigns work, identify contamination sources, or optimise collection routes. With 40% of potentially recyclable materials still reaching landfill and statutory requirements of 55% plastic recycling by 2025, councils urgently need better data to transform their waste management strategies. Polytag has developed groundbreaking UV tag detection technology that provides the recycling sector's first real-time, item-level tracking system. The solution works by applying invisible UV-coded tags to plastic packaging during manufacture, creating "digital twins" that can be tracked throughout their lifecycle. Specialised detection equipment installed at recycling facilities captures detailed data on each tagged item, providing unprecedented insights into recycling performance. This technology enables councils to finally answer critical questions: Which educational campaigns actually improve recycling? Where do contamination problems originate? How can collection routes be optimised for better environmental outcomes? Working with Cumberland Council and Cumbria Waste Group, Polytag will conduct an 8-month trial at the Hespin Woods Materials Recovery Facility in Carlisle. This real-world demonstration will prove the technology's effectiveness in operational conditions while providing Cumberland Council with actionable data to support their net zero ambitions by 2030\. The trial will process thousands of tagged items monthly, demonstrating how councils can move from guesswork to evidence-based decision-making in waste management. Success will provide a blueprint for deployment across the UK's material recovery recycling facility (MRF) network. This innovation directly supports the UK's net zero goals by enabling more effective recycling programs. Better data means councils can target interventions where they're most needed, reduce contamination that sends materials to landfill, and prove the environmental impact of their initiatives. The project represents a significant step toward transforming the UK's recycling infrastructure, providing the intelligence needed to optimise material recovery and accelerate progress toward national environmental targets.