Where does my recycling go?

Newspapers and Magazines

Newspapers and magazines are collected and taken to a Bulking Up/Transfer Station where the material is loaded onto large articulated trailers to a weight of 27 tonne.

The paper is then transported to Aylesford, Kent to Aylesford Newsprint, where it is converted into newsprint for newspapers to be printed on.

An example of the speed at which the material is turned around is if the newspapers and magazines were collected on a Monday they would be made into newsprint by Wednesday.

Glass bottles and jars

Glass is either collected by special kerbside vehicles or Roll-on/Roll-off containers and taken to a Bulking Up/Transfer Station where the material is tipped into separate bunds by colour i.e. clear, green and brown.

When there is sufficient material of one colour to make a load, it is loaded and transported to a glass bottle processing plant where the material is used to make new bottles and jars. It can also be used as a gravel substitute in making concrete.

Cans

Cans are collected and again taken to a Bulking Up/Transfer Station where they are separated, by magnets, into aluminium and steel.

When they have been separated they are baled into cubes.

The aluminium is transported to Warrington where it is melted down and converted into new drink cans.

Steel is sent to Corus Ltd who arrange for it to be converted into new food and drink cans.

Garden Waste

Garden waste is either collected on Roll-on/Roll-off containers at the Civic Amenity Sites or in special adapted refuse collection vehicles from the kerbside, when full they are transported to a composting outlet, Simpro Ltd who are based at Coven, near Wolverhampton, who use the garden waste as compost for on-farm composting.