Recycling centres

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Overview

Councils use different methods of collecting your recycling. There are kerbside 'sort' schemes where recyclables are sorted into their respective materials on the lorry at the kerbside; and co-mingled collections where all your recyclables are put into one compartment on the lorry before being taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and sorted. This section is looking at co-mingled collections.

At the MRF, all the mixed recycling is sorted and separated into different types of materials by hand or machine (or both) before being sent to manufacturers who make it into new products. As the machinery, processes and the materials that each MRF can accept do vary, so the video explains the basic principal of the process.

Once materials have been sorted, recycled materials become valuable commodities in the worldwide market.

The process

• The recycling bin, box or sack is emptied into collection vehicle.
• The co-mingled materials are taken to a Material Recovery Facility and loaded onto conveyors.
• The sorting process begins with the removal of incorrect items such as crisp packets and plastics bags.
• A vibrating machines separates the cardboard and paper - different types of paper are sorted by hand and then baled.
• The remaining recyclables continue on another conveyor where steel cans are removed using magnets.
• Different types of plastic are identified and separated using optical scanners.
• A special kind of magnet called an eddy current is used to sort aluminium cans.
• Glass is the remaining material and this drops off the end of the conveyor into a large container (Note - not all MRF's accept glass).

Once separated they are taken for reprocessing at specialist factories.

Problems and issues

The biggest problem is when incorrect items are put in the recycling container as they have to be removed by hand. This slows down the process and if these items are missed it can clog or damage the machinery and other equipment. This is why it is important to know which items you can and can't recycle in your local area.

To find out what you can recycle at home check the recycling locator.