Resource recovery, also known as materials recovery, is a key part of achieving sustainability and the avoidance of further environmental harm through the re-use of materials found in waste for productive purposes. Find out how you Cumbria Waste Middlesbrough maximises resource recovery in the recycling process. Contact our knowledgeable and experienced team today to find out more.

What is resource recovery?

With the intention of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill, resource recovery is the process of sifting through materials that have been discarded as waste to find salvageable components. This approach differs from recycling, which involves pre-sorting materials into recyclable and non-recyclable groups. The goal of resource recovery is to select recyclable materials from waste and use them to create new goods, as well as generate electricity without relying on fossil fuels. It’s a step towards the overarching objective of eliminating waste and making the planet a more sustainable place.

What kinds of materials can be recovered?

Recoverable waste is rubbish that can be recycled or recovered in whole or in part and used to make something else.

Paper and cardboard, glass, lightweight plastic, wood, metal, residential and commercial electronic components like computers, and biological waste or biowaste are all examples of materials that come under this category.

How our waste management processes increase resource recovery

During the process of recovery, waste is mechanically sorted by machine and by hand in order to remove all of the recyclable and reusable components that may be salvaged from it. The materials are sorted and then processed so that they may be used again. Soil is screened, brickwork is broken, timbers and plants are mulched, and the metals, glass, plastics, and cardboard are shipped out to be recycled.

Wherever it is from, the majority of the waste is re-purposed. The remaining residue of non-recyclable material is usually sent to an energy recovery facility, where material is combusted to generate steam and electricity. 

If you want to improve the sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of your business, contact Cumbria Waste in Middlesbrough, with the confidence that our resource recovery process is second to none.