Where does my recycling and waste go?

Recycling in West Devon is collected using the kerbside sort method. This means that the recycling is sorted into different compartments of the collection vehicle depending on the material. This method helps us maintain a good quality of recyclables which makes them easier to recycle.

When the collection vehicles are full they tip the recycling at Hayedown depot, near Tavistock. From there the recyclables are bulked by type and sent to be recycled.

The metals and plastics are sent to Coastal Recycling, Torrington, Devon for further sorting before being sent for recycling.

The below table details final re-processors for recycling collected at the kerbside and in our recycling banks.

Material Final Re-processors End Product
PET plastic bottles

J&A Young

(Leicester) Ltd

Corby, UK

PFR Nord GmbH

Germany

PET bottles

Natural HDPE plastic bottles

Biffa UK Polymers,

Redcar,

Cleveland UK

J&A Young

(Leicester) Ltd

Loughborough UK

J&A Young

(Leicester) Ltd

Alfreton UK

HDPE bottles

Coloured HDPE plastic bottles

Roydon Group PLC

Manchester UK

Trans Sabater

Valencia, Spain

Plastic Pipes

Plastic Pots, Tubs and Trays

RE Plano GmbH

Germany

Plastic pellets, ready to be made into a variety of plastic products

Aluminium cans

City Metals Recycling Ltd

Barking, UK

ZAPDECO,

Romania

Aluminium Cans

Steel cans

EPS

Swansea, UK

Morris and Co.

Port Talbot, UK

GLJ Recycling

Barry, UK

Rebar (reinforcing rods in concrete)

Paper

Palm Recycling, Norfolk, UK

Newsprint

Cardboard

Smurfitt Cappa, Kent

Corrugated card

Glass

Recresco, Cwmbran, UK

Glass containers

Textiles (from kerbside)

Wilcox

Sent for reuse in Developing Nations

Batteries

Wastecare, Halifax

Steel for the automotive industry, nickel for coins, iron for construction, manganese for paint and lead for batteries and roofing

Drinks cartons (from banks)

Ace UK, West Yorkshire

Coreboard (tubes)

Textiles (from banks)

Salvation Army

Sent for reuse in Developing Nations

Recyclables are a commodity that can generate an income for the Council which is used to subsidise collections and other services. We work closely with our contractor, FCC Environment, to ensure that our recyclables, where possible, are kept within the UK.

However, there is not enough infrastructure in the UK to process all its recycling, which means some export is necessary. Where recyclables from West Devon are exported outside the UK we work with our partners to ensure they are sent to legitimate and compliant re-processors.


Food and Garden Waste

The contents of the food caddies is tipped by the collection vehicles at Hayedown depot, near Tavistock. Here it is bulked before being delivered to Andigestion's Anaerobic Digestion Facility in Holsworthy. The material is broken down in a series of sealed, oxygen free tanks to produce methane, a gas used to generate electricity and digestate, a nutrient rich fertiliser used by local farmers.

Garden waste collected from subscribing households is tipped directly at Artiscombe Farm, near Tavistock. Here the garden waste is composted in large heaps which are turned every few weeks to improve breakdown of the waste. The resulting compost is used by local farmers.


Residual Waste

The black sacks are tipped by the collection vehicles at Crowndale Transfer Station where it is bulked before being delivered to MVV's Energy from Waste (EfW) and Combined Heat & Power (CHP) facility in Plymouth. The waste is used as a fuel to heat water into superpower steam which turns a turbine to create electricity.