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Beyond the Recycle Bin
Where Recycling Goes
Placing items in a recycling bin is just the first step. From there, materials begin a journey through collection, sorting, and processing before being transformed into new products. This process conserves natural resources, reduces waste, and supports jobs in the recycling industry.
Recycling Benefits for Community and Environment
- Resource Conservation: Reduces the need for raw materials like timber, oil, and minerals.
- Energy Savings: Uses less energy than manufacturing goods from new materials.
- Pollution Reduction: Lowers greenhouse gas emissions and limits landfill waste.
- Economic Impact: Creates and supports regional jobs in collection, processing, and manufacturing.
By recycling correctly and choosing recycled products, residents help build a cleaner, healthier environment for today and tomorrow. Together, we can make sure what goes beyond the bin makes a positive difference.
Learn More About Recycling and Its Impacts
From Collection to New Products
Once recyclables are picked up at convenience sites or the Transfer Station, they are loaded into trucks and transported to a regional Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). These facilities are designed to handle large volumes of mixed recyclables quickly and efficiently. North Carolina is also home to two of the nation’s largest and most innovative plastics processing facilities.
On-Site Sorting and Processing
- Initial Screening: Large items and contaminants are removed to protect equipment.
- Mechanical Sorting: Conveyor belts, screens, magnets, and air jets separate recyclables into categories such as paper, plastics, metals, and glass.
- Quality Control: Workers perform final checks to ensure materials are properly sorted and contaminants are minimized.
Baled and Ready for Market
After sorting, recyclables are compacted into large bales. These bales are sold to manufacturers that use recycled materials to create new products. For example, aluminum cans can be recycled into new cans in as little as 60 days, while plastic bottles may be turned into clothing, carpet fiber, or packaging.
Closing the Loop
Recycling works best when residents choose products made with recycled content. Supporting these items strengthens the market for recyclables and keeps the cycle moving. Everyday purchases, from office paper to outdoor furniture, may have started in a local recycling bin.