MCR RECYCLING PROCESS

All materials handled by MCR are sorted at the point of collection. Kerbside collected materials are currently sorted into as many as 15 different ‘streams’ on the truck. Commercial collections use sacks or wheelybins of individual materials, and the same principle of separating at source, the only mixing is of paper and cardboard sometimes (with separation at the depot if necessary), and of all colours of glass.

Materials recycled by MCR

At the MCR depot the materials are checked for contamination, and bulked in bays or containers, and some are baled. They are then sent on to the various different reprocessors in loads of up to 25 tonnes of each material, where they are either recycled directly into new products (eg glass bottles), or are put through a further process (eg sorting, baling, granulating) to make them useable for manufacturers. With the exception of batteries, all materials MCR handles have a value when they leave the depot. Reprocessing adds further value, and this is reflected in the low cost of MCR’s service – second lowest cost in Wales according to Welsh Assembly Government data.

Outlets change from time to time, and in some cases individual loads will be sold to the reprocessor with most capacity or the best deal at the time. Waste transfer documentation and evidence of licencing or exemptions is always required, and written statements required from any third parties involved in export. In all cases MCR is selling a product rather than disposing of a mixed waste material.

The following list covers all materials handled by MCR in 2008-09, the recorded weights, recycling routes and where further information can be found. Any material that is found to be not recyclable is put in a single wheelybin at the MCR depot which is emptied weekly. At the reprocessors any remaining contamination is removed and disposed of safely as part of the recycling process (eg paper labels on bottles, ink on paper).

MCR MATERIALS DESTINATIONS 2008-09

1. PAPER (2017 tonnes)
   Newspaper, magazines, catalogues, junk mail, phone directories, office paper
   Recycled at Shotton Paper Mill, North Wales into reels of paper which are turned into newspapers and magazines at UK printers.
   www.upm-kymmene.com
   
   
2. MIXED GLASS (662 tonnes)
   Mixed colour jars and bottles
   This is mostly from pubs and hotels, where colour separation is not feasible. It is sent to Nationwide Recycling near Swansea, where it is crushed to the consistency of sand and sold on as a sand substitute (aggregate) for building materials.
   www.nationwiderecycling.co.uk
   
   
3. GREEN GLASS (788 tonnes)
   Recycled into bottles and jars at O-I Glass in Harlow, Essex
   http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk/6238105.stm See Barnet
   
   
4. CLEAR GLASS (298 tonnes)
   Same route as Green Glass
   
   
5. BROWN GLASS (54 tonnes)
   Same route as Green Glass
   
   
6. STEEL AND ALUMINIUM CANS (317 tonnes)
   Food and drinks cans and aerosols
   Sorted at AMG, Llanelli, South Wales, or Nationwide Recycling near Swansea, then sold on as steel (mostly for use in construction industry) and aluminium (for manufacture into cans, car parts etc).
   www.nationwiderecycling.co.uk
   
   
7. TEXTILES (53 tonnes)
   Clothes and shoes
   Sorted at Wilcox in West Midlands into reusable textiles for sale in UK charity shops and to African, Asian and European markets, and recycling into wiper clothes, roofing felt etc.
   www.jmpwilcox.co.uk
   
   
8. PLASTIC BOTTLES (53 tonnes)
   Plastic bottles and rigid food packaging
   Sorted and baled in South Wales, then sent to UK recyclers such as Eurokey in Leicestershire and J & A Young in Derbyshire, who clean and granulate the plastic for sale to manufacturers in the UK and abroad. Some is turned back into food and drink packaging, some into toys and household items, some is used in the construction industry.
   www.jayplas.com
   
   
9. POLYTHENE
   Plastic carrier bags
   Sorted and baled in South Wales, then sent to UK recyclers as with plastic bottles. Most of the granules produced are then sold on to UK manufacturers of pallet wrap.
   www.jayplas.com
   
   
10. ALUMINIUM FOIL (4 tonnes)
    Kitchen foil, pie cases, milk bottle tops, easter egg wrapping etc
    Sorted and baled at MCR depot, sent to Novelis in Warrington via local metal merchants, recycled into ingots, then used for manufacture of window frames, door handles, car engine components etc
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk/6238105.stm see Barnet
    
    
11. YELLOW PAGES(11 tonnes)
    Sent to Shotton Paper Mill, North Wales as with Newspaper and Magazines
    www.upm-kymmene.com
    
    
12. CARDBOARD DRINKS CARTONS (‘TETRAPAKS’)
    Mostly paper by weight, but with aluminium foil and polythene lining – sorted and baled at MCR depot, then exported to Europe via UK regional bulking facilities. Pulped and recycled into paper products, aluminium ingots and paraffin. Some of the mixed material is used in furniture manufacture.
    www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk
    
    
13. BATTERIES
    Household batteries from button batteries to D type
    
    Sent to G&P Batteries in Derbyshire, and recycled into chemicals, metals, and plastics – the chemicals are returned to battery manufacture, and ingots of lead, nickel and cadmium are used in new batteries or other industrial uses, and the plastic sent to plastic reprocessors.
    www.g-pbatt.co.uk
    
    
14. MOBILE PHONES
    Sent to Computer Aid International in London, who sort and send individual materials on to Reclaim IT in Berkshire, where all data is deleted, SIM cards removed and they are sent to the developing world where they are reused in areas where landlines are rare. Money raised is used to fund computer donations to the developing world.
    www.reclaim-it.com
    www.computeraid.org/rit.htm
    
    
15. PRINTER CARTRIDGES
    Laser and inkjet cartridges
    Same initial route as mobile phones, they are cleaned, repaired and refilled for UK resale. Money raised is used to fund computer donations to the developing world.
    
    
16. CARDBOARD(102 tonnes)
    Light and corrugated cardboard
    Sent to SCA in South Wales then to UK board mills for recycling into boxes and cartons
    www.scarecycling.co.uk

CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS

In addition this year CO2 emissions and savings have been calculated, comparing CO2 emissions avoided by recycling rather than sending to landfill. The total was 2322 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved.

MCR has also measured its fuel usage and associated carbon dioxide emissions. Over the full year across the ten vehicles used the total was 39.5 tonnes of CO2 emitted.

Although this is a very low level of CO2 compared to a lot of recycling vehicle fleets, MCR is committed to reducing its environmental impact in as many ways as possible and is purchasing carbon offsets which support projects such as solar energy development in India.