How Does a Recycling Plant Work?

Collection

Recyclates, or materials that can be recycled, are collected in one of three locations. At drop-off centers, the consumer deposits recyclates in a central, public location. Buy-back centers offer small monetary incentives for recyclates. Curbside collection means that the recyclates are separated from the waste by the consumer and taken in recycling trucks to the recycling plant.

Materials Recovery Facility

After being collected, the recyclates are taken to the plant, also known as the materials recovery facility. If the MRF is "clean," recyclates have been separated from the garbage before coming into the plant. A "dirty" MRF means that the garbage and recyclates are mixed. Workers or machines will pick out recyclable materials from the waste.

Sorting

In the plant, recyclates are sorted according to type. Heavy materials, such as glass and metal, are removed from the lighter papers and plastics. Magnets are used to separate out the metal. Some materials are sorted out by hand, such as cardboard and common plastics, but certain plants have machines that replace manual sorting.

Recycling

After everything is sorted, the recyclates are prepared for their new uses. Paper is usually shredded and mixed with water, creating a pulp that can be used for cardboard or newspaper. Glass is crushed according to color, and is used to make new glass products, or "glasphalt," an asphalt comprised of 10 to 20 percent crushed glass. Plastic can be melted down or ground up for various uses. Metal, especially aluminum, is melted and used for fresh metal products.

Shipment

Once the recyclates have been melted, ground, crushed or shredded according to their specifications, they are shipped off to be turned into their new products. Plastics, for example, are often shipped to China to be turned into clothes or toys. Glass is often sent to road builders.

Resources

• Earth 911: find recycling centers