What happens to our waste?

Dry Mixed Recycling/Paper and Cardboard/Glass 

Dry mixed recycling, paper and cardboard are transported off-site to a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) for sorting (with glass processed separately at a dedicated plant). At the MRF, materials are placed on a sorting line where recyclables - such as plastic bottles, cardboard and paper - are separated and bulked into individual streams. Once sufficient quantities are collected, these materials are sent to manufacturers (e.g. paper mills or can producers) for reprocessing.

Glass is recycled into new bottles and jars or repurposed as aggregate for road construction.

Cans are melted down and remade into new aluminium and steel products, including food and drink containers.

Plastics are further sorted by type and recycled into a range of products, from food containers to carrier bags, garden furniture and even fleece clothing.

General Waste

General waste is initially taken to a specialist MRF designed to handle food and other wet contamination. Here, a small proportion of recyclable materials - such as wood, plastics and metals - is removed. The remaining waste is then processed into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), which is used in energy-from-waste facilities to generate electricity and heat.

Food Waste

Food waste is transported to an anaerobic digestion facility, where it is broken down to produce biogas - a renewable energy source made up of methane and carbon dioxide. A by-product of this process is nutrient-rich biofertiliser (digestate), which can be used to support healthy plant growth and improve soil quality.