What happens to your recycling and waste?

Kerbside recycling

After your mixed glass, cans, plastic and cartons are collected, they are taken to one of our contractor’s transfer stations to bulk up, or they are taken directly to one of the sorting facilities. Here the recycling goes through a sorting cabin where staff pick out the items that shouldn't be there, as these items can damage the machinery. Then the waste is sorted by machines to separate the recyclables by type: 

• a magnet picks up steel cans as the recycling passes over it

• the recycling is then bounced over a series of metal screens

• the glass is broken into smaller pieces that fall between the gaps, removing the broken glass

• an eddy current separator is used to sort out the aluminium cans, as aluminium is not magnetic

• fast spinning magnets give the aluminium a temporary magnetic field which is repelled by another magnet which forces the can off the conveyor belt

The remaining plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays are removed for further sorting by type at the plastic reprocessors.

Cartons are separated out and processed by a company in Halifax into products, ranging from plasterboard liner to high-strength paper bags and envelopes.

The separately collected paper and card is taken to one of our contractor’s transfer stations to bulk up, and then taken to a UK paper mill. The paper and card is separated into different types and grades. It is then mashed with water and chemicals to separate the fibres and screened to remove inks, plastic film, paper clips, staples and glue. After cleaning, colouring agents may be added before a mixture of one per cent pulp and 99 per cent fibre is sprayed on to a fast-moving mesh which forms the sheet and removes the water. The sheet is pressed to remove water and then rolled and heated to make new paper and card products.

Some of the materials have a value and some have a recycling cost, however recycling them costs less than other methods of waste disposal.

The income generated from the sale of recycling is put back into essential council services.

Household rubbish

Once rubbish has been collected it is either bulked up at a transfer station or taken directly to Allerton Waste Recovery Park. Through a combination of three technologies, we are reducing the amount of household rubbish being sent to landfill by at least 90 per cent. This is done by:

• a mechanical treatment plant receives general rubbish mainly originating from household rubbish bins and removes any remaining metal and plastics for recycling

• an anaerobic digestion plant treats the organic waste part and produces a biogas which generates renewable electricity

• an energy from waste plant burns the waste which remains after separation of the recyclables and treatment of organic waste, producing steam to feed an electricity generating turbine that produces enough electricity to supply about 66,000 homes

Waste from our Household Waste Recycling Centres

Vapes and e-cigarettes

Single use and refillable vapes and e-cigarettes from our Household Waste Recycling Centres are collected through a compliance scheme and are sent to Gateshead for reprocessing. In Gateshead they are broken down by hand. The built-in batteries are removed for further recycling and the rest of the device is broken down by machine and by hand. The fragments are sorted into different materials such as metals and plastics, that then go for further processing.

Electrical items

Anything with a plug or battery can be recycled. All electrical items from our Household Waste Recycling Centres are collected through a compliance scheme and are sent to Gateshead for reprocessing.

Here they are broken down and shredded into small pieces through a mixture of manual and automatic processing.

Once shredded, strong magnets remove ferrous metals, such as steel. Other non-metallic metals are removed by using electronic currents. Plastic is sorted into types by using various methods such as near infrared light and density separation.

The copper motor in a hover mower can be turned into copper pipe, coins in some currencies, jewellery, wire, and as winding wire for motors in new electronic products such as fridges, vacuums, tools, toys and motors.

The circuit board in games consoles contain a range of precious metals including platinum and palladium which when recycled can be used in catalytic convertors, mobile phones and jewellery. Precious and semi-precious metals can be extracted from mobile phones and their batteries which can then be recycled.

Fridges and freezers

Fridges and freezers are dismantled to elemental compounds such as copper, aluminium and steel. Over 80 per cent of the material in each fridge is recycled into new products.

Fridges and freezers from our Household Waste Recycling Centres are collected through a compliance scheme and are sent to Gateshead for reprocessing.

Garden waste

Garden waste is mostly taken to Yorwaste’s Waste Transfer sites at Seamer Carr, Tancred and Harewood Winn where it is shredded and sanitised, then formed into large rows known as windrows. This is when the composting process begins with regular turning. After screening, the compost is stored in stockpiles for a further four weeks to mature before it is sent off to be bagged and sold. A smaller amount of garden waste is composted directly on one of 11 local farms and put back on to the land as a fertilizer.

Engine oil

Engine oil is collected by a waste oil collection company where it is transported to one of the strategically located depots across the UK. It is then transported in bulk to the re-refinery. At this facility, the used oil is processed back into a high-quality base oil, an essential component in the production of brand-new lubricating oil.

Cooking oil

Cooking oil is taken away by a cooking oil recycling company. They recycle used cooking oil into a patented biofuel, LF100, and generate green electricity and heat for all around the UK.

Scrap metal

Metals are taken away by scrap metal dealers in North Yorkshire and sorted into steel and aluminium. Ferrous metals (steel), being magnetic, are separated from non-ferrous metals (aluminium) to process each type so materials are sold separately for recycling. Other valuable metals are also recovered.

• steel can be recycled into a variety of products from train tracks and cars to bicycle frames and paperclips, as well as new food and drinks cans

• aluminium cans are usually recycled into new cans. Foil and other aluminium is generally recycled into engine components for vehicles, which makes them lighter and more fuel efficient

Glass bottles and jars

Glass bottles and jars are collected and taken to Pontefract for recycling.

The glass is cleaned of metal and paper, dried and then sorted and crushed into colours (clear, brown, and green) by scanners. The glass is then melted at 1500°C and other ingredients are added. The liquid glass can then be blown or pressed into new bottles or jars.

Paper and cardboard

Most paper goes to a paper recycling mill in Norfolk. Cardboard goes to a variety of mills in the UK and worldwide.

The paper and card is separated into different types and grades. It is then pulped with water and chemicals to separate the fibres and screened to remove inks, plastic film, paper clips, staples and glue. The pulp is sprayed onto a fast moving mesh to form sheets. The sheets are flattened and passed through heated rollers to make them the right thickness. The paper is then wound onto large rolls. Each time paper fibres are recycled they get shorter making lower quality paper, which is why tissues and paper towels (which have short fibres) cannot be recycled again.

Paper mills make a variety of papers from different recycled materials including; newspapers, cardboard boxes, writing paper, toilet rolls and tissue paper.

Textiles and clothing

All textiles and clothing from our Household Waste Recycling Centres are taken to a textile recyclers in Stirling, Scotland. The facility has modern grading equipment that processes the material. Any material that is not suitable for reuse is sent for recycling into carpet undelay/mattress filling and car insulation. New developments include fibre2 fibre recycling where old clothes are turned into new yarn for re-manufacture.

Gas bottles

Most cylinders are designed to be refilled and reused; gas cylinders are designed to have a long life.

Most cylinder owner companies now provide a 'repatriation' scheme at recycling centres. Many LPG and compressed gas brands belong to the company named on the cylinder.

Gas bottles from our recycling centres are collected by a couple of companies where they are checked and reused where suitable.

Plasterboard

Plasterboard is processed to be made into new gypsum-based products, which can be used in the plasterboard and cement industry.

Plasterboard from our Household Waste Recycling Centres is collected by a company in Darlington.

Wood

Wood is taken to wood recyclers in Middlesbrough and Manchester. Wood is recycled into panel board along with animal beddings for horses, poultry and cattle. The remaining items are sent as a biomass fuel.

Inert (hardcore and rubble)

Inert materials are taken by a local skip hire company where they are crushed down into four-inch material that can be then used in the building industry. 

Household batteries

Household batteries are collected by ECOBAT Recycling, where they are then sorted, shredded or crushed in a controlled environment. This separates:

• metals (like steel, zinc, nickel, cobalt, and lithium)

• plastics

• electrolytes (which are neutralized or safely disposed of)

Recovered materials are cleaned and sent to manufacturers to be reused in new products, including new batteries.

Car batteries

Car batteries are collected by a battery recycling company. The core material from these batteries is recovered and refined to manufacture lead and lead alloys, over 80 per cent of which is returned to battery manufacturing.

Tyres

Tyre are sent to a tyre recycling company in Weaverthorpe.

Tyres are sorted by type (such as car, truck, agricultural and various other types) and condition. Tyres in good condition are graded and sold as casings for re-treading, extending their life and reducing waste.

Tyres that cannot be reused are processed to recover materials:

• rubber is ground into crumb rubber for use in playgrounds, sports surfaces, and road materials

• steel is extracted and recycled

Medical equipment

Medical equipment is taken back to Medequip. All items returned are assessed, safety tested and either repaired and reused or stripped down for recycling.

Coffee pods

Both aluminium and plastic coffee pods are collected by Podback. After collection, the coffee pods are taken to specialist reprocessing plants in the UK. They are shredded to remove the coffee grounds.

The plastic and aluminium are then transformed into new products, including beverage cans, car components, building products or plastic garden furniture. The coffee grounds are processed by anaerobic digestion, which creates renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver. Aluminium pods are reprocessed at Tandom Metallurgical Group Ltd in Congleton, near Stoke-on-Trent. Plastic pods are reprocessed at Allensway Recycling Ltd near York.

Asbestos

Asbestos waste is disposed of by burial in a specially designed landfill site in Teesside that is regulated by the Environment Agency. These sites have engineered cells to contain the asbestos and prevent contamination.

Bric-a-brac and reusable household items

Items are collected by The Recycle Project - a not-for-profit organisation which takes items back to either their warehouse or shop in York. Items are sold on or upcycled in community workshops. Low-cost items are passed on to the community.

Plastic bottles

Plastics are collected and sorted at the waste transfer station and are sold to reprocessors in the UK offering the best value for the material.

Plastics are sorted automatically and manually to ensure all the contaminants have been removed. Once sorted and cleaned, plastic can either be shredded into flakes or melt processed to form pellets before finally being moulded into new products.

A wide range of products can be made from recycled plastic including:

• drinks bottles and food trays

• polyester fabric for clothing

• wheeled bins and food caddies

• refuse sacks and carrier bags

Waste for energy recovery skip (non-recyclable rubbish)

All non-recyclable rubbish goes to Allerton Waste Recovery Park off the A1 between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough. The material goes directly to the incinerator where it is burnt. This produces steam which feeds an electricity generating turbine that produces enough electricity to supply about 66,000 homes.

Tools

Tools from some of the Household Waste Recycling Centres go to Ripon tools for Africa. These tools are refurbished and sent to communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, where they are used to support trades and livelihood development. The project, in partnership with Tools with a Mission (TWAM), aims to provide tools for various trades like carpentry, blacksmithing, mechanics and more.

Fluorescent tubes

A company collects the lightbulbs and tubes and safely crushes them. This removes the mercury vapour and other gases so that the plastic, glass and metals can be recycled.

Hazardous chemicals

A specialised company collects the hazardous items in the chemical store. Chemists analyse the items and then dispose of them in the most efficient and environment friendly way.

Books

Books collected from the Household Waste Recycling Centres are taken for reuse and are resold in charities and organisations.

Waste upholstered domestic seating

Waste upholstered seating like sofas, armchairs, and office chairs need to be segregated and transported separately from other waste.

The Environment Agency has confirmed the widespread presence of large quantities of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and other hazardous chemicals in the textiles and foam of waste upholstered domestic seating. These chemicals, often used as fire retardants, stay in the environment, accumulating in human and wildlife fatty tissues, causing health and environmental harm.

The Environment Agency requires that this material be destroyed by incineration to prevent lasting environmental harm and impacts on the food chain.

These items are taken directly to Allerton Waste Recovery Park where they are incinerated to create electricity.