You’ve collected your waste, segregated it and put it out for collection. Ever wondered what happens next? As we continue to promote more sustainable methods of waste management, we find ourselves asking more questions about recycling.
So, what happens to your waste once it’s collected? It all depends on the type of waste itself. Generally, waste is divided into household, commercial and construction waste before being sent to the appropriate processing plant. Afterwards, each type of waste follows a different process.
Plastic waste
Plastic waste, such as plastic bottles, goes to a ‘material recovery’ or ‘recyclate recovery’ centre. A material recovery facility helps to separate recyclable materials and identify which items can be used again.
A recyclate recovery centre helps to determine which parts of the plastic could be used again and then bulks it out with additional materials to serve a secondary purpose. In both cases, plastics will be melted down and moulded, depending on their individual properties.
Paper waste
Paper and cardboard waste goes to a recycling plant to be separated into different types and ‘grades’. This will help to determine how it can be used again. The paper then goes through a washing process to remove inks, plastic films, staples and glue, which creates a final ‘slurry’.
Again, workers add new materials to the slurry to create different kinds of products, such as cardboard or newspaper. They then roll the paper out into sheets before drying, cutting and turning it into these products.
Glass waste
After collection, glass waste goes through cleaning, separating and drying, in preparation for reuse. Workers crush the glass and melt it, ready to be remoulded for bottles and jars. Glass comes in different qualities and colours, so some may be used for other processes such as brick manufacture.
The great thing about glass recycling is that it does not degrade through the recycling process. This means we can use it again and again – ideal for the hospitality and construction industries.
Metal waste
Metal waste needs to be sorted into hazardous and non-hazardous. Though metal itself is not a hazardous material, its applications can be, such as aerosol cans. After this stage, processes segregate metals by type. For example, aluminium cans crush easily and hold their value, making them ideal for secondary use.
Scrap metal will go into a smelter or furnace and can be used to make anything from cans to components for everyday devices.
Food waste
Perhaps one of the most exciting waste recycling methods is food waste management. New developments are happening all the time, including anaerobic digestion. This involves breaking down organic materials using micro-organisms called ‘methanogens’. This process produces biogas – a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide – which can be used as renewable fuel.
Other landfill prevention methods
In some cases, waste may travel further to countries that have a need for recyclable material. While this may raise some concerns about the carbon footprint of transport, it does still reduce our reliance on landfill. For example, China has no access to indigenous forests or oil supplies, so will pay a premium for recyclable materials.
Choose a sustainable waste management method with Hubba
If you want to do your bit for the environment, a waste management audit is a great place to start. We’ll help you to identify your waste materials, segregate them, and explore the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective methods.
Save on landfill fees, reduce consumption and do more for the planet. It all starts with a review, so contact the Hubba team for your free audit today.