Where does residents' recycling go?
In 2009/10, residents of Broxbourne recycled
13,219 tonnes of material, This is the equivalent to 174 times the
weight of the new footbridge currently being constructed across the
A10. However, it is important to realise that not only does
recycling reduce the amount of household waste produced; it helps
make new everyday products.
Once recyclables have been collected from the
kerbside or the Council’s network of neighbourhood recycling
centres (NRCs), they are taken to a materials recycling facility
where they are processed before being transported to a final
destination for recycling. The global nature of the recycling
market means that the materials are recycled both locally and
across the world.
Plastics are often exported to China to be
recycled while cardboard and paper has various destinations across
Europe and Asia. As the material collected in Broxbourne is
of a high quality, all material is recycled. The companies
used to recycle the material are reputable and quality checks are
carried out by the Environment Agency. Customs and Excise
ensure that the material is used for what it is intended for and
does not impact on the environment in other parts of the
world. Although the recyclables can be transported long
distances, they are often transported in container ships returning
to destinations after bringing goods to the UK which would
otherwise be returning empty.
However, some recycled material is reprocessed
locally. Green waste is now being transported to a new
composting facility at Ridge, near Potters Bar. The fertiliser
produced is used on nearby farms reducing the impact of
transportation, making it an even more environmentally friendly
process. Glass bottles collected from NRCs are taken to
Harlow, where they are turned back into bottles onsite.
Following reprocessing, materials can be made
into a variety of items. Cans are commonly used in the creation of
new cans, but can also go towards the construction of car and
aeroplane parts. Glass bottles and jars can be made from recycled
glass, as well as aggregate for use in the construction of
roads.
Recycled paper can create newspapers or
notepads but is also used in insulation for lofts or wall cavities
in homes. Plastics collected from the kerbside or at NRCs are
used in the production of new plastic bottles and various plastic
items, such as traffic cones. Some of this recycled material is
also used in more diverse products like fleeces.
For more information on recycling, please
visit the ‘environment and planning’ section or call the Helpline
on 01992 785577.
Page last updated:
10/18/2010