Thomas Edison (in the context of waste recycling innovations)

Thomas Edison, while best known for inventing the light bulb, also contributed to waste recycling innovations. He developed methods to convert waste into useful materials, such as creating new substances from discarded products and finding ways to reuse waste as energy or raw materials. Edison's approach emphasized resourcefulness—turning what would be waste into valuable inputs, reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainability. His work laid groundwork for modern recycling practices by exploring practical technologies to repurpose waste efficiently, demonstrating he saw waste management as an engineering challenge worth solving through innovation.