Now that all of Kettleburgh has bins for recycling, you may be interested to see what happens to the materials you put in your blue lidded recycling bin. Some time ago, two representatives from the Parish Council went to Great Blakenham to visit the Materials Recycling Facility (or MRF).  It was an educative, if somewhat smelly and noisy experience. 

The site at Great Blakenham is large and also has a landfill area where trucks are constantly tipping waste from domestic, medical and commercial sources.  The MRF is housed in a large building and can best be described as a series of multi-directional conveyor belts.

	There is a large open area where recycling lorries back in and empty their contents.
This unsorted material is manoeuvred towards the first elevator and conveyor belt.
	As the building is noisy, visitors wear ear defenders. We were given a radio commentary from our guide around the MRF.
As the process of sorting begins, different materials are sent along a series of belts.  You can see paper in this image being transferred to a dedicated area.
	Different methods are used for sorting, depending on the material. Here, plastics are photographed as they pass along the belt and are blown in different directions, depending on their type.
This view shows two of the many conveyor belts,taking sorted materials to different areas within the MRF. Cans are sorted with using magnets and by weight. In the background the group of visitors is standing outside the control room.
	Inside the Control room, monitor screens are used to check on the progress of the recycling.  Some processes are automatic, whilst others use people for sorting.
This is where sorted materials remain until they are compressed  into bales.
	At the base of this conveyor belt materials are ready to be bound with strong metal ties. You can see some cube shaped bales behind the yellow vehicle.
Another view, between two conveyors, of some baled recycled materials.  These are waiting for collection.
	This man has the task of checking the appearance of a paper bale.  Paper for recycling is graded and sold according to quality.  Bales are inspected before purchase, and if, for instance, 'Yellow Pages' are found in a bale, the bale will be downgraded and have to be sold for less money.

Our recycled rubbish is then sent for reprocessing. The MRF at Great Blakenham does not sort glass.  That is why you cannot put bottles into your blue lidded bin.