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Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)
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Environment & planning
Rubbish and recycling
Learn about recycling
Sorting mixed dry recycling
Materials Recycling Facility
Your recycling material goes straight from the trucks into a large reception area at the MRF. We often receive material that piles up to form a 20-foot high mountain.
Separating and sorting
An operator drives a loading shovel and loads the mixed material into a bag splitter. This rips open the bags and sends the mixed recycling material off to the other machines.
Bag splitter – full-size image
Each piece of equipment removes (separates) a particular type of material for recycling. Follow these links to find out about the machines and what happens at each stage:
Separating paper and containers
Separating cans
Separating glass
Further sorting of paper
Further sorting of plastic
Baling
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Environment & planning
Materials Recycling Facility
Separating paper and containers
Separating cans
Separating glass
Further sorting of paper
Further sorting of plastic
Baling
How it works
About Greenwich
Contact the recycling team
email
020 8921 4661
Useful links
Recycle London
Recycle Now
Environment Agency
Envirowise