Podcast Summary: "How AI is Transforming the Way America Recycles"
Podcast: WSJ Tech News Briefing
Host: Isabelle Busquet, with Patrick Coffey
Guests: Clara Hudson (WSJ Sustainability Reporter), Ryan December (WSJ Commodities Reporter)
Date: January 13, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of WSJ’s Tech News Briefing explores two intertwined themes: the resilience and future of the solar energy industry in the US despite political headwinds, and the ways Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing recycling in America. The podcast unpacks why large corporations are persisting with solar investments even after subsidy cuts under the Trump administration, and dives deep into the mechanics and impacts of AI-powered sorting at recycling facilities, revealing how "garbage" is turning into valuable commodities.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Solar Industry’s Resilience Amid Policy Changes (00:19–04:51)
Current State and Challenges
- The Trump administration has significantly cut subsidies and incentives for renewable power, describing solar and wind energy as "the scam of the century."
- Despite political rhetoric and policy shifts, some sectors—particularly large corporations—are pressing forward with solar deals due to cost and installation speed advantages.
Corporate Investment Trends
- Any company with a public sustainability pledge is considering solar for both environmental and business reasons—including diversification of energy sources.
- Notable corporate players pursuing solar include:
- Tech giants: Meta, Google
- Fashion industry: Tapestry (owner of Coach and Kate Spade)
The AI Boom’s Influence on Solar Investments
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The escalating demands of AI and data centers have pushed tech companies to secure diverse and abundant energy sources. Solar, being quick and cost-effective to deploy, plays a critical role.
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Google is exploring futuristic approaches like powering AI with solar energy harvested from satellites in space.
“Tech companies in particular need to have a broader energy strategy for how they're going to power the growing demands of AI... and they really need everything that they can get, including solar.”
— Clara Hudson (03:09)
Impact of Policy Cuts
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Some solar companies have gone bankrupt or shut down, pointing to tough political and economic headwinds as the main challenge.
“The industry has definitely been rocky... some companies have filed for bankruptcy or announced that they're shutting down, and they're pointing to the new policy environment in the US as the reason for that.”
— Clara Hudson (03:50)
Long-term Prospects
- Despite near-term challenges, major business investments suggest solar has enduring value and potential in the US.
2. The Rise of AI in American Recycling (05:38–11:01)
The Challenge: Inefficient and Messy Human Sorting
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Traditionally, workers stood along conveyor belts in material recovery facilities (MRFs), manually sorting recyclables—a tedious, undesirable, and at times hazardous job.
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Poor recycling habits among Americans mean high-value materials often end up unsorted or in the trash.
“Humans are really bad. Americans in particular are really bad at recycling. We usually don't really know what's desirable, what's recyclable.”
— Ryan December (07:18)
AI-Driven Technological Revolution
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AI-powered systems now “watch” conveyor belts, instantly identifying material type, food grade, and even the current market price.
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They control robotic arms or air jets to sort items—replacing manual labor with precision automation.
“The AI is taking over as sort of a brain. It watches everything ... they instantly recognize what it is, if it's food grade material, how much the market price of it might be in the commodities markets to resell this stuff.”
— Ryan December (06:14)
Key Innovations in Sorting Technology
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Air Jet Separation:
- Instead of mechanical claws, air jets now “puff” selected materials off the line, creating cleaner separation of recyclables.
- The process looks chaotic but results in higher purity bales, improving material value and usability.
“They will be at the end of a conveyor belt or in a big box and the material goes in and the computer will basically tell it... Puff it, and it'll send all the newsprint one way and everything else ... goes the other way.”
— Ryan December (08:39)
Application to All Trash, Not Just Traditional Recycling
- Facilities are leaning into the idea of accepting mixed waste and letting AI sort it, instead of relying heavily on individuals to pre-sort.
- This means more valuable metals and materials can be recovered, even from unsorted waste.
Commodities and Market Drivers
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Aluminum: Tariffs have raised domestic value—AI systems prioritize extracting aluminum cans and debris, as aluminum is infinitely recyclable.
“Aluminum is one of these things that's infinitely recyclable. Once you make it, you have it forever as long as you don't bury it in a landfill. So that's a product that's got an improved market.”
— Ryan December (09:30) -
Cardboard: As mills that use fresh wood pulp decline, recycled cardboard becomes crucial; clean, sorted cardboard is in high demand.
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Plastics: New regulations (extended producer responsibility laws) are pressuring manufacturers to reclaim and reuse their plastic products, further incentivizing precision sorting technologies.
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
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On the future of solar:
“There are still lots of bright spots for solar in the long term because some of the biggest companies in the country are working to make that happen.”
— Clara Hudson (04:18) -
On the transformation of recycling work:
“It's taking one of probably the least desirable jobs in the country away.”
— Ryan December (06:14) -
On broader recycling strategies:
“Maybe we just throw it all in one trash bag and then they sort it, let the computers do the work.”
— Ryan December (07:18) -
On real-world use of AI in facilities:
“In the end, they're getting much more pure and clean bales of material. And theirs have a better market price and are more useful to people to reuse.”
— Ryan December (09:00)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:19–04:51: Solar industry outlook and corporate investment trends (Isabelle Busquet & Clara Hudson)
- 06:10–07:10: Overview of AI in recycling and shift from manual labor (Patrick Coffey & Ryan December)
- 07:18–08:27: Single-stream recycling, human limitations, and introduction of AI-driven Mixed Waste sorting (Ryan December)
- 08:39–09:21: The air jet breakthrough, higher purity and market value bales (Ryan December)
- 09:30–11:01: Most valuable recyclables (aluminum, cardboard, plastics), rising economic and regulatory pressures (Ryan December)
Conclusion
This episode illustrates how, against political and economic turbulence, technology—especially AI—is creating new resilience and efficiency in both the renewable energy and waste management sectors. While major companies bet on solar to power the rising tide of data and AI, recycling facilities are themselves turning to AI to transform mountains of trash into valuable resources, revealing a future where innovation and sustainability are inseparable.