Black bin waste
We send black bin waste to the Energy from Waste facility at Rookery South in Stewartby.
The facility burns non-recyclable, non-hazardous household waste at high temperatures to generate energy.
The heat turns water into steam. The steam powers a turbine, which generates electricity for the National Grid.
The facility removes metals from the remaining waste for recycling. It also recycles the ash as an aggregate for use in construction.
Energy generated from black bin waste
In 2023, we sent about 50,000 tonnes of black bin waste for energy recovery.
This generated enough electricity to power more than 10,000 homes for a year.
Recycling
We take recycling collected from kerbside and communal bins to a materials recovery facility.
This includes:
- glass
- paper and cardboard
- plastic packaging
- cans
- drink cartons
- empty aerosols
The facility uses people and machinery to separate the recycling into different materials.
It then compresses the materials into bales and sends them to factories in the UK and abroad to make new products.
Household batteries
We send household batteries to a recycling plant near London.
The plant separates them into:
- zinc and manganese concentrate
- steel
- paper, plastic and brass
Manufacturers use these materials to make new products.
Plastic bottles
Manufacturers can use recycled plastic bottles to make:
- fleece jackets and hats
- filling for sleeping bags and duvets
Paper and cardboard
Manufacturers usually turn cardboard into new boxes and packaging. They can also use it as animal bedding.
Cans and aerosols
Manufacturers can recycle steel cans and aerosols into products such as:
- new cans
- bicycle frames
- pipes
- train tracks
Aluminium and steel can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality.
Glass
We take glass bottles and jars to a sorting facility.
The facility cleans and crushes the glass into small pieces called cullet. It then uses X-ray and laser technology to separate the cullet into clear, brown and green glass.
Manufacturers melt the cullet to make new glass products. They can also use it as an aggregate in construction.
Food waste
We take food waste collected from brown caddies to an anaerobic digestion facility.
The facility heats the food waste to remove bacteria and then places it in a sealed container.
As the food breaks down, it produces methane gas. The facility uses this gas to generate electricity for the National Grid.
The process also produces fertiliser, which farmers use on agricultural land.
Garden waste
We take garden waste to local composting sites in Haynes and Toddington.
The sites arrange the waste into long piles called windrows. Air and heat gradually turn the material into a soil improver for use on agricultural land.
Small electrical items
Small electrical items include:
- toasters
- electrical toys
- kettles
- power tools
- irons
These items often contain several recyclable materials, including wood, metal, plastic and glass.
Workers first remove items such as:
- ink and toner cartridges
- batteries
- cables
Machinery then separates the remaining materials into ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and plastics.
Manufacturers can use the recovered materials in products for the automotive and construction industries.
Textiles
We send collected clothes and textiles to a sorting plant in Germany.
The plant sorts them by:
- material, such as denim, cotton, leather and synthetic fabric
- type of clothing
- size and intended wearer
- brand, style, colour and quality
Clothing that is suitable for reuse is sent to markets where it can be worn again.
The recycling process also recovers materials such as zips, buttons and rivets.
The plant compacts dust from the sorting process into briquettes for use in paper and concrete manufacturing. It also sends the plastic collection bags for recycling.
You can recycle textiles even if they are damaged.
Manufacturers can shred damaged textiles and use them as:
- industrial cleaning cloths
- padding for chairs and car seats
- insulation
- fibres for new products