What happens to waste?

Once your waste is collected, this is what happens…

Recycling

When your recycling is collected by the Recycling Collection Vehicle as part of the council’s kerbside collection service, it is transported for processing. For commingled services, this involves separation into the different material types – paper, plastics, glass etc. Each type of material is then processed accordingly, which can include washing, shredding and baling before being sold on as a commodity.

Green waste

Biodegradable waste that has been collected as part of food and garden waste collection services is sent for treatment via composting or anaerobic digestion (processing to create biogas and fertilizer).

Residual waste

When your general waste is collected by the Refuse Collection Vehicle as part as the council’s kerbside collection service, it is driven to an incinerator, called an Energy from Waste Plant. Here, the waste is burnt as a fuel to create hot water for heating or electricity for the National Grid.

Electrical waste

Any waste electrical items must be processed according to specific legislation requiring disposal via compliant scheme. In most cases, the items are stripped for parts and recycled.

Other waste types

Any items collected for recycling at HWRCs or bring sites are either reused or recycled using specialist recycling companies.