What happens to the recycling that we collect?
In 2009 the residents of Derby generated over 40,000 Tonnes of recycling from Kerbside recycling, Raynesway recycling centre and various recycling sites across Derby. The materials collected are sent to many different companies for reprocessing, composting or recycling.
Paper
In 2009 we sent over 6000 tonnes of old Newspapers and magazines for recycling. This grade of paper is called PAMS (periodicals and magazines). The paper goes to two different paper mills depending whether it comes from the door to door collection or from the large recycling sites. These companies are Aylesford Newsprint and Palm Paper, they use the paper to make new paper for Newspapers. The quality of the paper we send for recycling has to be very high so that the finished paper is as white as possible, this is why we don't take coloured paper.
Aylesford Newsprint has more information on Paper Recycling: Aylesford Newsprint Recycling Pages 
Palm Paper have opened up a new paper mill in the UK their website has more information www.palmpaper.co.uk
Blue Bin Recyclables
Derby city residents put out an impressive 12,000 tonnes of recyclables in there blue bins. This is made up of approximately 40% glass, 1% aluminium, 20% steel and 36% plastic. The other 3% is material that we can't recycle, this costs us money to dispose of which is why we don't want contamination in the bin. The material is sorted at a Materials Reclamation Facility (MRF) run by Greenstar. The MRF is located in Victory Road. The material is sorted by machinery using magnets, screens and optical equipment, and is then sent for reprocessing by further companies.
Plastic Bottles
Derby City Council now collects plastic bottles and containers, last year we sent over 2,100 tonnes for recycling. The plastics are sorted at the Greenstar MRF and then sent to other companies for reprocessing. These companies turn the bottles into plastic pellets that can be remoulded into new plastic products. Some of the biggest packaging companies use plastics that started off in your blue bin and turn them into new items such as plastic milk bottles, plastic fencing and polyester fibre.
Glass
In 2009 we generated 7,600 tonnes of bottles and jars. The bottles and jars go to two different processes depending on whether they are collected at recycling sites or from the door to door service.
The glass from the main recycling sites goes to Berrymans Glass where it is processed and then sent for bottle and jar manufacture. It is important that we only get bottles and jars for recycling not, pyrex or broken cups and plates.
The kerbside bottles and jars go to companies like Berrymans or to LaFarge to be broken down and turned into aggregates for the construction industry.
Tins, Cans and Aerosols
The tins, cans and aerosols are separated at the MRF and then sent to reprocessors for manufacture into new products. The aluminium cans are reprocessed at the aluminium can recycling facility in Warrington operated by Novelis. We estimate that we send almost 200 tonnes of aluminium cans from Derby to this facility.
Noveils have more information on can recycling: www.novelisrecycling.co.uk and on the education website www.thinkcans.net.
The steel cans go for recycling through the firm European Metal Recycling, the cans will be recycled into a variety of metal products from building materials, food and drinks cans to fridges and bikes. For more information on steel can recycling visit www.scrib.org.uk.
Shoes and Textiles
Textiles collected in Derby end up at a variety of different locations and with a number of different organisations. The material collected through Recycle for Derby ends up with the Padley Group, a charity based in Derby helping residents. The Padley recycling project sorts the clothing into different grades and then sells suitable material through the Padley Shops. The other material that they can't sell goes to various textile recycling firms; most charity collections operate this way.
For more information about the Padley Group visit www.padleygroup.com.
There are also a number of charity shops in Derby that collect clothes for recycling. To help reduce the impact of bogus textile collections it is best to make sure that you give to shops and collectors that display the association of charity shops logo. For more information on this scheme visit www.charityshops.org.uk.
The Guardian newspaper produced an article following an item of clothing that was sent for recycling; to read the article follow: Guardian Textile Article
Shoe recycling collections in Derby are operated by The European Recycling Company. They collect about 40 tonnes of shoes in Derby every year. For more information on shoe recycling visit www.europeanrecycling.co.uk.
Brown Bin Waste
In 2009 22,000 tonnes of 'Brown Bin Waste' was collected and sent for composting at the Vital Earth facility in Ashbourne. This facility is one of the most advanced composting facilities in the UK. All the composting is done inside which means that we can compost not just garden waste but food (including meat and bones), cardboard and shredded paper. The material is processed to the highest standard and sold to garden centres and nurseries. For more information on the composting facility visit www.vitalearth.tv.
Contact Us
For further information about your refuse collection please contact us on.