What happens to your household recyclables

Green box materials

1. Your green recycling box is emptied into one of our collection vehicles at the kerbside
2. The plastic bottles and cans are taken to a materials recovery facility (MRF) at Rainham Essex
3. Here, the materials are sorted and separated out before being baled up
4. The bales of material are then sent on for recycling.  Plastic bottles are sent to the Veolia plastic bottle processing facility at Dagenham in Essex where the bottles are processed into food grade pellets, which can then be used to make more plastic bottles

Red box materials

1. Your red recycling box is emptied into one of our collection vehicles at the kerbside
2. The paper and card is taken to a paper mill recycling facility in Kings Lynn, Norfolk
3. Here, the paper and card is processed and turned into new, lower grade paper, where it is used in both the domestic and EU market

Food waste

1. Your large food waste caddy is emptied into one of our collection vehicles at the kerbside
2. The food waste is taken to a treatment facility in Halstead
3. Here, the food waste is processed and turned into compost
4. The compost is then used as soil improver for horticulture