Recycling changes: Soft Plastic Waste Accepted In Irish Household Recycling Bins

In recent years, there have been significant improvements in the technology used for recycling plastics in Ireland, which has resulted in the recent addition of soft plastics to the household recycling lists along with rigid plastic waste.

Making the announcement, Minister of State with special responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth TD said that as of September 7th, Irish households can now place all plastic packaging waste, including soft plastics, into their recycling bin (blue barna recycling bin) as long as its clean, dry and loose. Here at Barna Recycling, we have curated this blog to help you understand what this change means for your household and the impact it will have on our environment.

Background

Currently, Ireland recycles less than one third (28 per cent) of all plastic packaging waste.

Irish Data from 2018 shows that out of the 264,000 tonnes of plastic packaging generated, only 82,000 was recycled. Almost all remaining plastic packaging was often shipped overseas to Europe for incineration or use by energy plants.

As stated by Waste prevention co-ordinator Pauline McDonagh & Minister of State for the Circular Economy Ossian Smyth TD, over the last few years, nearly €10 million has been invested into technological advancements for Ireland’s waste management sector, resulting in a significant ramp-up of plastic recycling capacity in recycling facilities nationwide. These advancements include installing optical sorting equipment that can identify and segregate different types of plastic materials.

This new move represents an essential & positive step for managing recycling plastic packaging waste in the country. It will help put Ireland a huge step forward towards achieving the increased packaging recycling targets set by the EU.

What is soft plastic?

Soft plastic is any type of plastic that you can scrunch in your hand. This includes a wide range of objects such as plastic wrap on products – including plastic labels, bubble wrap, plastic packaging pillows, bread wrappers, sweet wrappers, crisp packets, and pasta bags. (Source: mywaste.ie)

Only rigid plastics, such as plastic bottles and food trays, were accepted in the recycling bin. Going forward, households can place all plastic packaging waste, including soft plastic, into the recycling bin as long as they’re clean, dry and loose.

Allowing soft plastics into recycling bins would significantly simplify household waste segregation by eliminating any confusion over the various types of plastics.

You can always check What Goes in My Blue Bin if you are unsure of items that can be recycled.

Barna’s Recycling Process and Tips

• Once your plastic waste is placed in the household recycling bin, our licensed bin men then collect your blue bins on the designated day and deliver the waste materials to our EPA licensed recycling facility.
•  Once your waste materials are delivered to our facility, the recycled items are then sorted for processing on our picking line.
• Here, the recycled waste is separated into six different categories such as paper, cardboard or hard plastics, glass, aluminium & steel cans.
• As a result of new technology and upped investment, soft plastics can now be segregated in this same way with the use of advanced optical sorting equipments
•  Plastics have a high energy content that can be converted to electricity, synthetic gas, fuels, and recycled feedstocks for new plastics.
• The recyclable plastic & cardboard waste is baled & shipped abroad to be sold and recycled in European and other markets or used by manufacturers or energy plants.

Additionally, If you are looking to reduce the use of single use plastics in your home and not sure where to start you can have a read of our blog which outlines 8 steps you can take to start reducing plastic in your home today.

If you would like more information on where to dispose of certain items or would like to order a skip give our team a call today on 091 771619.

Barna Recycling’s Top Tips For Recycling & Upcycling Old Clothing/Textiles

Here at Barna Recycling, we often find our customers wondering the best way to dispose of old clothes and textiles that have already seen their share of wear & tear. But don’t worry, we got you covered. This blog has outlined plenty of sustainable ways for you to repurpose, recycle, and dispose of old textiles.

1) Shop Smart

Did you know that the textile industry is the second largest contributor to global pollution? (Source: mywaste.ie)

Every piece of clothing you own or use has undergone a complex manufacturing process that utilises a high amount of electricity, water, and energy sources.

When you choose to recycle & upcycle unwanted textiles, you save energy by reducing/ eliminating the need to make materials from scratch. Before purchasing a new piece of clothing, shoes, etc., always think if you need it and will you wear it.

2) Donate to charity

You can also donate clothes & textiles in good condition to local charity shops as there are often non-profits and charities that would be highly grateful for your donation. Generally, the proceeds from clothing sales in charity shops are used to support causes in your local area or community. Some organisations accepting clothing donations are Enable Ireland, Oxfam, NCBI, Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) and Liberty Recycling. The Irish Charity Shops Association website will help you to find your nearest charity shops & clothing banks near you.

Top Barna Recycling Tips:

• When you donate clothes to a charity shop, you give life to your old clothes and provide financial assistance towards a good cause.
• When dropping your unwanted clothes at a charity shop, familiarise yourself with other items they may accept for upcycling or re-selling, such as household goods, books, electrical items etc., as some of these shops also take things other than clothes.
• When dropping off clothes, always look at what’s for re-sale and help the charity by purchasing something on the same journey.
• Be sure to check in advance if the charity shop accepts bedclothes & duvets.
• It’s essential to check in advance if heavily soiled or damaged clothes will still be taken in some banks.
• Old clothing that cannot be re-used can still be shredded first and used for furniture stuffing.

3) Swap/hand them down

If you have used clothes & textiles in good condition, another idea is to passing them on to a friend or a family member if they might be interested in them. Remember to be honest about any damage and wash the clothes before you pass them along. Alternatively, you can also swap a few item with the ones closest to you. This way, you are giving your clothes a new life & everyone walks away happy with some new pieces they can add to their wardrobe for free!

Online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace & Depop also allow you to swap or re-sell your clothing.

4) Transform & Upcycle

With a bit of creativity, you can transform damaged/stained clothes into new items such as face masks, tablecloths, cleaning cloths, blankets, padding for chairs, bags, t-shirts, and so much more! You can check out Pinterest or some DIY YouTube videos for inspiration.

5) Civic Amenity Sites

If you feel you cannot do any of the above, you can always bring large volumes of your old textiles to your local civic amenity site or clothing banks near you. Some of our civic amenity sites will also accept any type of clothing, footwear, textiles, including blankets at selected civic amenity sites. However, an extra charge would apply for disposing of bedding and mattresses.

How does fabric get recycled?

• After your clothes are collected from various points, the first step is to segregate them into wearable, unusable and usable garments or products.
• Once the sorting is done, the textiles are shredded & pulled into fibres to form yarn. Other fibres may be added to the mix depending on the end-use of the yarn. The yarn is then re-spun to be re-used, either by being knitted or woven.
• Any fibre that cannot be made into yarns is processed into fillings, such as insulation or textile filling inside mattresses.
• If you’re recycling polyester-based textiles, these are granulated into polyester chips. The chips are melted so that they can create new fibres for new polyester textiles.
• In recent years the most popular method of re-using clothes is through charity shops or re-selling to second-hand shops.

An Effective Guide to Reducing Household Waste: Bathroom Edition

If you pay close attention to your personal care, beauty, and general hygiene routine, you might be surprised to find that often there is more waste in your bathroom than anywhere else in the house! From shampoo bottles, shower gels, soap packaging, disposable razors to bathroom cleaners and toilet rolls, our bathrooms are packed with recyclables!

Even though we all use toiletries, personal care items and bathroom cleaners on a daily basis. When it comes to reducing household waste, we find bathroom waste often tends to get overlooked. It’s important to understand how and where to dispose of your bathroom waste correctly.

Below we have outlined some excellent tips and techniques for creating a low waste, eco-friendly bathroom.

Reorganise & Declutter

The fewer products you have in your bathroom, the less waste you will produce!

• Every now and then dedicate time to reorganise and rearrange all your cosmetics, personal care items and toiletries. So, you know what you need/use regularly and keep them easy to reach.
• Dispose of the items that you do not need or the ones that have expired

Use Biodegradable Products

• Instead of using plastic combs and brushes, opt for a biodegradable bamboo or wooden toothbrush/hairbrush. You can find wooden/bamboo combs and brushes that are all-natural, biodegradable and very chic!
• Instead of buying shampoos and soaps in plastic bottles, switch to using soap bars and shampoo cars. This is way is eco-friendlier and more cost-effective compared to using liquid soap, shampoos and shower gels that come in plastic containers and non-recyclable plastic pumps.
• You can also go a step further and look for organic, palm oil free soaps made from all-natural ingredients with compostable packaging.
• If you are someone with a regular makeup or skincare routine, then you know it is quite common to use up cotton pads per day and throwing them away after use. Instead, we recommend using reusable cotton makeup removal pads, which can be washed along with your regular laundry. In fact, several make-up brands, reward you for recycling their old products which might also be worth looking into.

Shop Smart

• Most beauty products & toiletries, tend to come with excessive plastic packaging including cardboard boxes, sometimes even the ones that say are eco-friendly!
• Instead of purchasing these products, opt for products that come with sustainable, compostable, or biodegradable packaging materials, corrugated bubble wrap, biodegradable foam beads etc. With boxes or bubble wrap, it is always a good idea to re-use them where possible.

Understand what you can recycle

The good news is that almost all your bathroom waste items can in fact be recycled. Here is a list of the items that can (and should) be recycled from your bathroom:

• Shampoo, conditioner & shower gel Bottles
• Hand soap bottles (reuse or remove the pump dispenser as you cannot recycle it)
• Cardboard boxes, e.g., toothpaste or soapboxes
• Bathroom cleaner and bleach bottles
• Toilet roll tubes
• Deodorant lids

Note: Items such as nappies, toilet rolls, wipes, cotton wool CANNOT be recycled and would have to be disposed of in the general waste bin (black Barna bin)
Remember, all items being recycled must be clean, dry, and loose. So, make sure to rinse out any bottles and containers before popping them into your recycling bin. You can also check What Goes in My Blue Bin if you are unsure of items that you can recycle.

Visit our website If you would like more information on where to dispose of certain items or would like to order a skip, give our team a call today on 091 771619.

Barna Recycling’s Top Tips for Waste Awareness & Disposal

The best way to effectively manage waste is by using fewer resources, reducing consumption, and buying less. Here at Barna Recycling, we are always trying to find ways to educate our customers on the steps they can take to minimise household waste daily. It all starts with understanding what items go where.

Below we have outlined some smart tips to help you to reduce your bin costs and be environmentally friendly when it comes to waste management for each bin type.

General Waste Bin

Generally, this bin is for any waste items that you CANNOT put into your recycling or organic such as Ashes, Tin foil, paint, non-recyclable plastic, food wrappers.

• ALWAYS remember NOT to include any kind of liquids in your general waste bin
• ALWAYS ensure you separate the packaging to segregate out the food waste and recyclable materials such as envelopes, milk cartons, newspapers. This way, you are saving costs, maximising space, and making sure that you are not overloading your general waste bin.
• Use a reusable lunchbox to store your food instead of cling film or tinfoil.
• Should you have additional waste to dispose of, such as extra bags or cardboard boxes, please make sure you let our office know beforehand. This is so we can inform the people collecting your waste, so they can watch out for the bags at the right house. (Sometimes non-customers leave waste alongside customers bins).

Click here for the full list of items that cannot go into your black bin.

Food waste/Compost bin

Below are some of our top tips for reducing food waste at home.

• Always Shop Smart – write a shopping list before you head to the grocery store and stick to only purchasing items on the list!
• Plan your meals – Create a meal plan for the week and meal prep in advance to save time
• Make sure fruit and vegetables are stored correctly. Use your freezer as much as possible

Green Waste – Grass, leaves and hedge clippings

Green waste can be disposed of in your compost bin along with your organic food waste. Home Composting is an excellent way to get the most out of your organic food as well as your green garden waste. It reduces the need to collect, process, treat and/or dispose of biodegradable materials and can be used as a potting mix for your garden, as it is rich in nutrients and is great for soil health. Check out our useful guide on composting to get started!

Recycling bin

You can check What Goes in My Blue Bin if you are unsure of items that can be recycled

• Break down larger items such as boxes and squash them down, before putting them into the bin.
• Food containers must be clean, dry and loose in your recycling bin.
• Utilise reusable bags while shopping to help limit plastic waste and always look for items with recyclable, sustainable packaging options
• DO NOT use black bags in the recycling bin otherwise, your bins may not be emptied.

Here is a list of recycling and non-recyclable packaging:

If you have large volumes of general, recyclable, or organic waste, you could always bring them to one of our seven civic amenity sites across Connacht to dispose of them at a reduced cost. Click here for more information on our civic amenity sites.

If you would like more information on where to dispose of certain items or would like to order a skip give our team a call today on 091 771619.

Barna Recycling’s Guide to Effectively Disposing Garden Waste

Our country finally basks in summer sunshine, with temperatures expected to rise even further over the coming days. We imagine for many of us this is the perfect time to get back into gardening, clear out our gardens and backyards to host that long-awaited barbeque and enjoy this unbelievable summer weather!

At Barna Recycling we understand there can be some confusion around what garden waste items are recyclable and how best to dispose of them.

Below we look at each item in detail, along with some excellent tips that you can follow to effectively manage your garden waste.

What is ‘Green’ garden waste?

Green Garden waste is decomposable and consists of flowers, leaves, grass, weeds, tree bark and pruned branches, clippings and twigs, home-grown fruit, or vegetables. – mywaste.ie

Your disposal options are:

• Home Composting – Composting at home is one of the best methods to dispose of garden waste. As compost is rich in nutrients and great for your garden, shrubs, or even indoor plants. It is an excellent way to get the final use of your organic garden waste. You can have a read of our helpful composting guide here.
• Grass recycling – When mowing the grass in your lawn, you can choose to leave the grass clippings on the ground, so it decomposes naturally. Once on the ground, the grass clippings become dry and decompose quicker, thereby returning valuable nutrients like nitrogen back into the soil.
• Civic amenity sites – If you have large volumes green garden waste, you could also bring them to our recycling centres at Ballinasloe, Carrowbrowne and Cartrontroy Athlone.
• Compost / Food Waste Bin – Alternatively, you could also dispose of your green garden waste by putting it in the compost bin.

Old Swing sets and Garden Furniture

If you have an old garden swing set or garden furniture that is still in working condition, you could consider selling them or passing them on to someone you know or donating them to local charity shops. However, if they are not in working condition and if they require disposal, you can bring them to your nearest local civic amenity site.

Garden Chemicals / Liquids

Items like weed killers, petrol/fuel for your lawnmower, pesticides and herbicides, fertilisers, and some plant foods will have to be properly stored and disposed of, as some of these items can be hazardous and can be very harmful to the environment

Here are some of our top tips on safely disposing of these items:

• While purchasing these items, consider whether the packaging can be recycled and see if environmentally friendly alternatives are available.
• Retain all original packaging and labelling, so you are aware of any expiry or use-by dates, which will assist in disposing of the item correctly.
• Be sure to get in-store advice on how much you need beforehand, so you are only buying as much as you need and not overstocking/overusing.
• ALWAYS remember liquids of any kind should NOT be included in your general waste bin.
• ALWAYS remember NOT to mix chemicals for disposal under any circumstances, no matter how small the quantity. This can lead to the emission of toxic gases, which can be highly lethal and could lead to hospitalisation.
• Alternatively, you can also check with your local civic amenity sites to see if they accept the chemical items as part of their hazardous waste services. Please be sure to check our website for the full list of items accepted at your nearest centre.
• If the civic amenity site cannot take the item, contact a specialist hazardous waste company who may collect the item from you directly.

If you have large volumes of garden waste or are undertaking bigger garden projects, then hiring a skip would be the best option for you.

You can order a skip by calling our skip team on 091-771619 or enquiring through our website www.barnarecycling.com/ and our team to advise you on sizes and prices available.

Barna’s Top Tips to Declutter Your Homes for The Summer

With the significant easing of COVID restrictions this month and the promise of good summer weather finally setting in, our country has taken a giant step on the road back to normality. What better way to get a fresh start to the season than decluttering your home?

From clearing out the massive mess in the shed, old clutter in the attic, and sorting out all the unused clothing, old blankets, bedding to old books, now is the perfect time to deep clean your homes inside out before heading off on your well-deserved summer staycation!

In this blog, we have outlined our top tips and key information to help you understand what to do with the different types of waste from your home clear out. Where and how to dispose of them to make your life easier and set you up to enjoy the summer months in peace.

Get to Know Your Local Civic Amenity Site

Barna’s purpose-built Civic Amenity Sites will assist you greatly when clearing out your home. We have seven civic amenity sites across Connacht for your convenience, where you can dispose of a large variety of non-hazardous and recyclable household waste at a reduced cost. Visit our website to find out where your nearest recycling centres might be located

Here are some of the benefits of using one of our civic amenity’s sites.

• They are cost-effective and cheap to use.
• Accept a wide range of items, including hazardous materials.
• They are clean, local, and easily accessible.
• Open on weekends to make them more accessible to all.
• They are well laid out and marked for each waste material.
• Cater for small and large deliveries in the exact location.
• Provide WEEE and Glass Bottle services free of charge.
• Cater for small and large deliveries in the exact location.

Items Accepted

Below are examples of a few types of items accepted at our sites:

Old blankets/ Bedding & Mattresses: Some of our civic amenity sites will also accept any type of clothing, footwear, textiles, including blankets at selected civic amenity sites. However, an extra charge would apply for disposing of bedding and mattresses.

Books: Generally, books should be placed in the household recycling bin. However, if you have a large volume of old books, phone books, newspapers, and magazines, you can dispose of them at some of our local civic amenity sites.

Electrical items: You can bring unwanted electrical waste, more commonly known as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), such as Computers, Monitors, Mobile Phones, Electronic Toys, Game consoles, Speakers, Headphones and electrical appliances to your local amenity site to dispose it free of charge. Check out our blog to find out more about disposing of WEEE items,

The items accepted will vary for each of our civic amenity sites. Please be sure to call in advance or check our website for the complete list of items accepted at your nearest centre. The charges for the items you bring to the respective civic amenity centre will be based on the type of vehicle you have, not the quantity or weight of the waste items themselves.

Our Barna Recycling team are always on hand at our civic amenity sites to greet you on arrival, assist you with drop-offs, and provide you with advice and information about recycling and waste disposal.

Additionally, you can also choose to hire a skip, which makes throwing away rubbish much quicker and easier. At Barna Recycling, we have skips of all sizes for all purposes, so you can be sure we will have one to suit your needs and requirements– have a look at our helpful skip sizing guide here for more information.

If you would like more information on where to dispose of certain items or order a skip, give us a call today on 091 771619.

Barna’s Guide to Waste Disposal for Households

As our country takes another stride towards normality with the recent easing of COVID restrictions, we are all looking forward to enjoying the fresh summer evenings. And what better way to get a fresh start for this most awaited season than decluttering your house? And if like us you want to get your house organised now while you are waiting for the sun to appear, you might be confused or unsure as to where to dispose of certain items.

Well, we got you covered with the perfect guide.

We have come up with an easy guide for you to follow, which indicates what can and cannot go into your waste bin and how to dispose of other larger items that cannot fit in your household bins.

So, let us start with what can go in your waste bin:

• Nappies
• Tin Foil
• Aero board
• Contaminated and wet paper
• Ashes can but they must be placed in a bag after they have cooled before placing them in the waste bin, it reduces the risk of fire and dirtying the bins.

Now let’s look at what cannot go into your waste bin:

• Paint cans – They can only be brought to a local Civic Amenity Site.
• Clothes cannot go in your waste bin but can be brought to a clothes bank or charity shop.
• IT equipment and electrical goods are more commonly referred to as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), all electrical goods retailers must be registered as a producer of WEEE and take back your old electrical equipment free of charge when you buy new goods – you can read our blog to find out more about disposing of WEEE.
• Batteries – Used batteries can be brought back to shops, a lot of supermarkets have drop off points to recycle batteries.
• Glass – should be washed and brought to your nearest bottle banks.
• Duvets cannot be disposed of in your waste bin, but they can be brought to your local Civic Amenity Site.

If you are still unsure about how to dispose of an item, be sure to check if the item can be disposed of in the recycling or food waste bin here. This will allow you to keep the weight down in your general waste bin and reduce your bin costs. Here at Barna Recycling we always recommend using our general waste bin (black Barna bin) as a last resort.

Disposing Larger Items:

For larger items that cannot be disposed of in your general waste bin, you should consider hiring a skip. At Barna Recycling we have skips of all sizes, so you can be sure we’ll have one to suit your needs and the space available to you – check out our useful skip sizing guide here.

The benefits of hiring a skip include:

• You can keep the skip as long as you require it.
• The convenience of not having to take large awkward items in your car to the Civic Amenity Site.
• By hiring a skip you are doing your part to protect the environment, as we are responsible for the management of waste in an environmentally friendly manner.

However, there are certain items that cannot go in a skip, which are as follows:

• Hazardous Waste: The big rule that is often forgotten is that hazardous waste should not go in a skip. It can leak and contaminate other recyclable materials.
• Asbestos: If you come across asbestos during a renovation project or a home clear out, this must be dealt with by a team of specialists and not put into a general skip.
• Appliances: Other items that we find causes great confusion is around electrical items, especially large household appliances. Refrigerators, freezers, microwaves & cookers should not go in a skip but instead, be brought to a Civic Amenity Site.
• Oil or paint cans
• Tyres
• Solvents, fuels, and batteries
• Chemicals, flammable materials
• Household waste: Such as food scraps, soiled nappies, and sanitary items.
• Liquid Concrete

If you would like more information on where to dispose of certain items or would like to order a skip give our team a call today on 091 771619.

Tips For Reducing Your Use Of Plastic

Are you looking to reduce your use of single-use plastics in your home but not sure exactly how to start or just need a bit of inspiration as to alternatives you can use instead of going for the safe option of a e.g. plastic water bottle, then look no further, we’ll set out 8 steps you can take to start reducing plastic in your home today, and don’t worry they aren’t too drastic, just small changes that can make a big difference.

1. Carry reusable shopping bags

Do you often go to pick up some groceries and then have to pay for a plastic bag to get them home? Why not start carrying around reusable shopping bags? Pop some bags in the boot of your car or leave them beside your shopping list, somewhere you’ll remember to grab them on your way out on shopping days. And why not use them for more than just grocery shopping, use them for the likes of clothes shopping too!

2. Food packaging

Approximately 25% of domestic waste is from packaging. Supermarkets offer more biodegradable food packaging options instead of carrying some loose netting or reusable bags to pack fruit, veg, or baked goods.

3. Stop using plastic bottles of water

Why not invest in a reusable water bottle and bring this to work/ on walks/ to the gym and just generally when you are out and about, a lot of restaurants/ bars are happy to refill your reusable bottle for you when you’re on the go. Not to mention using a reusable bottle will save you a lot of money in the long run.

4. Use a reusable travel mug for tea/ coffee

Similar to the step above, bringing a reusable travel mug with you when getting take away teas/ coffees will help reduce your use of single-use plastics. And often times, if you are using a reusable cup the shop will give you a small discount on the cost of your drink.

5. Don’t get the little plastic table when ordering pizza

This is something many people wouldn’t even think of, but when ordering a takeaway pizza, ask the restaurant not to include a little plastic table in your pizza!

6. Cut back on frozen convenience foods

There is a lot of packaging used for frozen convenience foods, we aren’t saying stop buying them altogether, they are handy to have in, for busy evenings when you don’t have time to cook, but why not try cutting back on the number of frozen convenience foods you currently purchase.

7. Choose toilet paper not wrapped in plastic

A lot of toilet roll suppliers are now using an alternative to plastic wrapping, they are using paper which is much more widely recycled. Why not opt for these brands of toilet roll over the plastic-wrapped options.

8. Choose shampoo, not in plastic bottles

Some shampoo producers are working on innovative ways to produce their shampoo without using plastic bottles. You could do some research to find suppliers who are moving away from the use of plastic bottles and find one you like.

These are just some simple ideas to get you started on reducing the use of single-use plastics in your home.

Barna’s Recycling Process and Tips

Have you ever wondered what happens to your recycling waste once it has been collected from your home? This blog outlines Barna Recycling’s process and gives some recycling tips.

Barna Recycling takes great pride in our recycling waste disposal process. Did you know we export recycled plastic waste bales overseas? These bales are often shipped to Europe for use by energy plants. As plastics have a high energy content that can be converted to electricity, synthetic gas, fuels, and recycled feedstocks for new plastics.

Barna’s Waste Disposal Process

The Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) has 40 member companies that collect, recycle & treat a wide range of waste types across 60 waste management facilities. These facilities are licensed by the EPA and approximately 30 waste management facilities are permitted by the local authorities in Ireland – Barna Recycling being one of those serving the Connacht region.

The process all starts in your home, whereby you separate your waste into general waste and recycling, compost too if you have a brown bin. Our licensed bin men then collect your blue bins on the designated day and deliver the waste materials to our EPA licensed recycling facility. These facilities can often be known as materials recovery facilities because that is the main objective, recover as much recyclable material within each load so that it can be re-used.

Once your waste materials are delivered to our facility, the recycled items are then sorted for processing on our picking line. Recycled waste is generally broken down into six categories: glass, aluminium and steel cans, paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and packaging, and other non-recyclable residual materials. Most of this process can be operated mechanically, but some manual work is required to obtain maximum recovery of recyclable materials. Any waste materials that are contaminated or non-recyclable are removed at this stage. All recyclable materials in good condition, are then prepared for re-use.

• Plastic and cardboard waste is baled and exported for use by manufacturers or energy plants.
• Glass bottles and jars are cleaned, sorted, and crushed. This material then becomes known as cullet, which is the term used for furnace-ready recycled glass. It is then remoulded into new products.
• Aluminium cans go through a cleaning and sorting process. Once ready for reprocessing, the cans go through a re-melting process which removes any ink or other coatings present. It is then made into blocks called ingots which can then be milled to create new products.

Some interesting facts on what happens to your recyclable items:

• Plastic bottles are made into items such as kid’s swings.
• Around 650 aluminium cans are required to make a kid’s bike.
• If you recycle one aluminium can today, it can be made into a new can, get filled, and be back on the shelf in just six weeks.

Recycling Tips:

• Don’t use plastic bags to pack lunches or store food items, buy durable lunch and storage boxes instead. Using storage boxes with lids also reduces the need to use cling film or tinfoil to cover a plate or bowl.
• Make sure your small recycling bin inside the home and the main bin outside are kept dry and clean – if recyclable items get wet, it becomes contaminated and cannot be recycled.
• Reduce the number of items such as fruit and veg packaged with plastic waste.
• Take a reusable bag when going out shopping.
• If shopping online, look for sites that offer reduced packaging or more environmentally friendly packaging options.
• When you receive your online goods, look to re-use the packaging when possible.
• Clean out and dry all food and drink containers and take the lids off bottles.
• Flatten plastic bottles, containers, and cardboard.
• Look to eliminate or reduce your use of plastic plates, cutlery, straws, and cups.
• Have a designated bin or reusable box in your home for glass items and cans, this will make it easier to transport these to a bottle bank or recycling centre.
• Encourage a community clean-up in your area and get the family involved – contact your local authority as they often help by providing gloves, bags and pick up the waste collected.

View a full list of recyclable items here.

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