University of Buffalo Develops Recycled-Content Plastic Gauge

New technique combines multiple detection methods and AI to quickly measure recycled plastic percentages.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:34am

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Researchers at the University at Buffalo have developed a new method that combines several scientific testing techniques, including triboelectric, dielectric/impedance, capacitance, and mid-infrared spectroscopy, along with machine learning, to provide a quick and reliable way to assess the percentage of recycled plastic in a product. The goal is to create a tool that can help verify recycled content claims and support a more circular economy by reducing plastic pollution.

Why it matters

As more products claim to contain recycled plastics, there is a growing need for accurate and efficient ways to verify those claims. This new technique from the University at Buffalo could help regulators, manufacturers, and consumers better understand the true recycled content in plastic products, which is crucial for promoting a circular economy and reducing plastic waste.

The details

The researchers say that when plastic is recycled, it can be difficult to distinguish from new or virgin plastic due to its similar chemical makeup. However, there are subtle differences, such as microscopic impurities and broken polymer chains, that can be detected. To measure these differences, the team employed four sensing techniques: triboelectric testing to measure static electricity, dielectric/impedance spectroscopy to track energy storage and loss, capacitance analysis to monitor charging and discharging, and mid-infrared spectroscopy to analyze the chemical structure. They then used machine learning to analyze the data and correlate it with the percentage of recycled content. In testing, the system was more than 97% effective at determining recycled content in PET samples ranging from 0% to 50% recycled material.

  • The research findings were published in March 2026 on the 'Nature's Communications Engineering' journal website.

The players

University at Buffalo

A public research university located in Buffalo, New York, that conducted the research on the recycled-content plastic gauge.

Amit Goyal

A professor in the University of Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the corresponding author of the study.

New York State Center for Plastics Recycling Research and Innovation

The organization that provided funding for the research, supported by a grant from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

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What they’re saying

“Our goal is to create a quick and reliable tool that can be used to verify recycled material content, as well as enforce recycling regulations.”

— Amit Goyal, Professor, University of Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

“This is an ideal example of combining cutting-edge innovation in science and engineering with AI for social good, and to potentially realize significant societal impact.”

— Amit Goyal, Professor, University of Buffalo Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

What’s next

The researchers say their future work will involve combining the different sensing techniques and machine learning model into a portable device to enable widespread, real-time monitoring of recycled plastics in commercial products.

The takeaway

This new technique from the University at Buffalo provides a promising solution to the challenge of accurately verifying recycled content claims in plastic products, which is crucial for promoting a more circular economy and reducing plastic waste. As more regulations require the use of recycled plastics, this tool could help ensure compliance and transparency.