What happens to our recycling?

Step1
All the recycling collected from homes in Hampshire is delivered to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), ready to be sorted. It is fed onto conveyor belts where staff pick off any obvious items we can’t recycle.

Step 2
The recycling then enters two large spinning drums which separate the smaller items like plastic bottles, cans and smaller paper products from the larger ones like newspaper, magazines and card. The smaller items then pass over screen to remove any small contaminants (items that can’t be recycled).

Step 3
A set of magnets pull out the steel cans and a second set separate those made from aluminium, leaving just the plastic bottles and small paper products.

Step 4
Light sensors are used to sort the plastic from the paper and then the paper from anything else left that can’t be recycled. Light sensors are also used on the larger items to separate the newspapers and magazines from other paper products.

Step 5
Once everything has been separated, the cans, plastic bottles, paper and card are baled for easier handling and are loaded onto lorries, ready to be sent off to be recycled.