WHAT IS A MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY? A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is a depot where the recyclable materials (co-mingled recyclables) that are collected from households and businesses are taken to be sorted into different types or ‘streams’ including glass, aluminium, paper, steel and plastic. In the Campaspe Shire, everything that is put into the yellow-lid recycling bin is transported to the MRF located in Echuca. Most of the sorting is done by machines however some is done by hand. After the materials have been separated into streams, they are bailed up (except glass) and transported to manufacturers, either in Australia or overseas, where they are reprocessed into recycled products. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO RECYCLE? One of the most important benefits of recycling is that we recover the raw materials used to make products. It takes a lot of energy and water to extract and refine virgin materials from the earth. The recovery of some of this energy also helps us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Not only are resources and energy saved by recycling materials, but the air and water pollution that is generated through the extraction, refinement and processing of raw materials is reduced. Sending recyclable items to landfill is both economically unviable and detrimental to the environment. Despite the benefits of recycling and keeping items out of landfill, it is more important to try and avoid generating waste in the first place. INSIDE OUR MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY ECHUCA MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY CLOSING THE LOOP: WHAT HAPPENS TO MATERIALS AFTER THE MRF? At the reprocessing facilities, each recyclable product undergoes a different process to be turned back into products and packaging ready for use. The destination of each ‘stream’ varies and depends on the market, as does the value received for the product. Cardboard and Paper Paper mill Melbourne Cardboard boxes, paper backing for plaster board etc. Steel Cans, Tin plate Various scrap metal recyclers, Australia Steel products including new cans, steel, beams etc. Glass (brown, clear and green) OI Australia Inc., Melbourne New glass containers Commons (paper recycled through kerb- side service) Paper mill, Melbourne New paper packaging Local manufacturers, (Greenpipe Moama. RPM Plastics, Kyabram) and other plastic brokers. Irrigation pipes Food grade pellets Mixed Plastic Plastic broker (on shore & off shore) Bollards, benches, decking & walkways Plastic broker (on shore 20% and off shore 80%) Packaging, film, toys, irrigation pipes, general commodity items PET On shore (NSW) New plastic bottles Aluminium Exported to China and India Aluminium cans, pots and pans For more information on recycling, visit www.getitrightbinnight.vic.gov.au Lifestyle & Opportunity What Happens To Our Recycling? MATERIAL DESTINATION RECYCLED PRODUCT