Beginning this May, Recycling Lives is implementing a new process that aims to increase our recycling rate from 92% to 99%. That means only a tiny fraction of the waste we collect – whether that be from families, businesses, charities or local authorities – ends up on a landfill site.
Recycling Lives has always had an environmentally sound ethos, and has endeavoured to recycle as much waste as possible. In the past, our waste transfer facility has consistently recycled over 90% of the materials we’ve received, whether it be commercial, industrial or domestic waste. But, always keen to meet the high-standard set by our CSR agenda, we are improving our recycling process so that the bare minimum is disposed of on a landfill site.
The remaining percentage of waste that isn’t directly recycled – which includes items such as dirty plastics, textiles, contaminated paper and domestic waste – will be taken to energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities based throughout the region. The waste will be treated and converted into electricity, which will then be supplied to the National Grid. The bottom ash, which is left over following the energy conversion process, will be transferred to a separate specialised plant to be recycled and used in road construction.
This means that Recycling Lives is reducing the amount of waste disposed of in many regional landfill sites, and is, as a consequence, reducing the carbon footprint of the North West. This development comes at no extra cost to our customers.
As a Queen’s Award-winning commercial recycler and charity, we pride ourselves in being both the environmental choice and the ethical choice. If you would like to reduce your carbon footprint and help those from difficult socio-economic backgrounds, please contact us and choose from one of our many recycling services.