What Happens to Wirral Waste Today ?
Point 13 continued
If you are a Wirral resident this is the what happens to your "Waste"
If you are a Wirral resident this is the what happens to your "Waste"
Overall waste recycled in Wirral dropped from 40% to 36%. by 2015 and recycling continued its downward trend, in March 2019 was 32.5% In 2022 the rate is still 32%. Wirral is 285th out of 338 English Councils for recycling.
Overall waste recycled in Wirral dropped from 40% to 36%. by 2015 and recycling continued its downward trend, in March 2019 was 32.5% In 2022 the rate is still 32%. Wirral is 285th out of 338 English Councils for recycling.
A Council report suggests this is due to the cost of the Garden Waste scheme and also the increased quality requirements of Re-processors. Just because you put something in the recycling bin does not mean it can actually be recycled. It could also be that it contaminates the rest of the items so they cannot be recycled.
In the EU Municipal waste accounts for only about 10 % of total waste generated when compared with the data reported according to the Waste Statistics Regulation. However, it has a very high political profile because of its complex character, due to its composition, its distribution among many sources of waste, and its link to consumption patterns.
In the EU Municipal waste accounts for only about 10 % of total waste generated when compared with the data reported according to the Waste Statistics Regulation. However, it has a very high political profile because of its complex character, due to its composition, its distribution among many sources of waste, and its link to consumption patterns.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Municipal_waste_statistics
If you live else where try to find out what happens to your waste. It can be quite difficult to find out where your non-recyclable rubbish ends up.
If you live else where try to find out what happens to your waste. It can be quite difficult to find out where your non-recyclable rubbish ends up.
East Devon Council is very clear where the contents of this bin is going
East Devon Council is very clear where the contents of this bin is going
Danni Millar Journey of Waste.mp3Wirral's journey of waste
Most residents across Merseyside and Halton have the same journey of waste.
Most residents across Merseyside and Halton have the same journey of waste.
The journey our waste takes depends on three things;
The journey our waste takes depends on three things;
Where it is put,
Where it is put,
The materials it’s made from and
The materials it’s made from and
The markets for recyclable materials.
The markets for recyclable materials.
Each journey begins when a resident puts items they no longer need in their recycling or residual waste bin.
Each journey begins when a resident puts items they no longer need in their recycling or residual waste bin.
On the Wirral, residents will put their mixed recycling in their grey bins, which are picked up by waste collection vehicles and driven to the Materials Recovery Facility, also known as the MRF.
On the Wirral, residents will put their mixed recycling in their grey bins, which are picked up by waste collection vehicles and driven to the Materials Recovery Facility, also known as the MRF.
First, the rubbish is sorted through by hand to remove anything dangerous that could damage the machinery. Cardboard is separated out using a screen and is fed along a conveyer belt where it is sorted and bailed to be recycled.
First, the rubbish is sorted through by hand to remove anything dangerous that could damage the machinery. Cardboard is separated out using a screen and is fed along a conveyer belt where it is sorted and bailed to be recycled.
Everything else drops below to a ‘glass breaker’, which breaks glass into smaller pieces, this is known as cullet. The glass from our facilities is recycled to create things like loft insulation.
Everything else drops below to a ‘glass breaker’, which breaks glass into smaller pieces, this is known as cullet. The glass from our facilities is recycled to create things like loft insulation.
Any materials that aren’t broken are shifted through what is known as a V-Screen. This separates rounded items from flat. Flat materials, like paper, are dropped to a conveyer belt below, and the rounded items continue across the belt.
Any materials that aren’t broken are shifted through what is known as a V-Screen. This separates rounded items from flat. Flat materials, like paper, are dropped to a conveyer belt below, and the rounded items continue across the belt.
A magnet then moves across the rounded materials to pull out items such as food tins, and an eddy current pushes aluminium materials onto another stream. These are sorted and again bailed to be shipped to companies to reuse the metals.
A magnet then moves across the rounded materials to pull out items such as food tins, and an eddy current pushes aluminium materials onto another stream. These are sorted and again bailed to be shipped to companies to reuse the metals.
The flat items are sent through an optical sensor which shines beams of light through each piece of rubbish, anything that is detected as being non-paper is pushed off the belt by a stream of air. All of the remaining paper items are sorted and baled.
The flat items are sent through an optical sensor which shines beams of light through each piece of rubbish, anything that is detected as being non-paper is pushed off the belt by a stream of air. All of the remaining paper items are sorted and baled.
Once all of the recyclates are sorted and baled, they’re loaded onto vehicles and sent to manufactures to be turned into new products.
Once all of the recyclates are sorted and baled, they’re loaded onto vehicles and sent to manufactures to be turned into new products.
Anything in the Materials Recovery Facility that can’t be recycled is left over, this includes non-recyclable items like plastic tubs, or loads of recycling that are ‘contaminated’. Contamination is when the wrong things are being put in the recycling bin – where possible the non-recyclable items will be sifted out, but if there is a large quantity mixed with recyclable materials, then the whole load may be rejected. In these instances, the leftover materials are sent on the same journey as the residual waste from our households.
Anything in the Materials Recovery Facility that can’t be recycled is left over, this includes non-recyclable items like plastic tubs, or loads of recycling that are ‘contaminated’. Contamination is when the wrong things are being put in the recycling bin – where possible the non-recyclable items will be sifted out, but if there is a large quantity mixed with recyclable materials, then the whole load may be rejected. In these instances, the leftover materials are sent on the same journey as the residual waste from our households.
Residual waste is the black bin bag rubbish which contains everything that currently can’t be recycled, for Wirral this is what is put into the green bins. The rubbish is collected from the kerbside with waste collection vehicles and brought to the Rail Transfer Loading Station, also known as the RTLS, in Kirkby. Around 16,000 wheelie bins of rubbish are taken to the RTLS each day.
Residual waste is the black bin bag rubbish which contains everything that currently can’t be recycled, for Wirral this is what is put into the green bins. The rubbish is collected from the kerbside with waste collection vehicles and brought to the Rail Transfer Loading Station, also known as the RTLS, in Kirkby. Around 16,000 wheelie bins of rubbish are taken to the RTLS each day.
Upon arrival the waste is emptied into two large bunkers and a crane is used to drop and tightly pack the waste into containers. These are then loaded onto a train. By using trains we have avoided putting more Heavy Goods Vehicles on the roads to transport waste, and we have managed to divert 21,000 HGVs from using the M62 to move waste to landfills. That’s about 5,900,000 HGV miles saved!
Upon arrival the waste is emptied into two large bunkers and a crane is used to drop and tightly pack the waste into containers. These are then loaded onto a train. By using trains we have avoided putting more Heavy Goods Vehicles on the roads to transport waste, and we have managed to divert 21,000 HGVs from using the M62 to move waste to landfills. That’s about 5,900,000 HGV miles saved!
When the train arrives at our Energy from Waste Facility at Wilton, the containers of rubbish are emptied into a large waste storage bunker, where a grab crane picks up and mixes the waste together. This creates a homogenous mixture of waste to ensure everything burns evenly.
When the train arrives at our Energy from Waste Facility at Wilton, the containers of rubbish are emptied into a large waste storage bunker, where a grab crane picks up and mixes the waste together. This creates a homogenous mixture of waste to ensure everything burns evenly.
The waste is then dropped into a furnace which burns at very high temperatures, around 1200 degrees Celsius, for about 4 hours.
The waste is then dropped into a furnace which burns at very high temperatures, around 1200 degrees Celsius, for about 4 hours.
This heating process generates steam. Half of the steam produced is sold onto local industries, and the rest is pushed through the turbine to produce electricity.
This heating process generates steam. Half of the steam produced is sold onto local industries, and the rest is pushed through the turbine to produce electricity.
Any materials remaining drop to the bottom of the furnace. A large magnet removes metals, which are sent for recycling.
Any materials remaining drop to the bottom of the furnace. A large magnet removes metals, which are sent for recycling.
The ash moves across site on a conveyer belt and is sorted. It’s then sold on to the construction industry to make our roads and buildings.
The ash moves across site on a conveyer belt and is sorted. It’s then sold on to the construction industry to make our roads and buildings.
Finally, any gases left over are sent through a rigorous cleaning process, and the chimneys release what is in effect pure steam.
Finally, any gases left over are sent through a rigorous cleaning process, and the chimneys release what is in effect pure steam.
This process ensures the recycled materials we collect remain of high quality and can be turned into new products, while also allowing us to use any items that cannot currently be recycled as a resource. By avoiding landfill we take another step forward to address the climate crisis and integrate a zero waste circular economy across the Liverpool City Region.
This process ensures the recycled materials we collect remain of high quality and can be turned into new products, while also allowing us to use any items that cannot currently be recycled as a resource. By avoiding landfill we take another step forward to address the climate crisis and integrate a zero waste circular economy across the Liverpool City Region.
For more information or to arrange a visit to our RTLS or MRF please contact Education and Campaigns Officer: danni.millar@merseysidewda.gov.uk
For more information or to arrange a visit to our RTLS or MRF please contact Education and Campaigns Officer: danni.millar@merseysidewda.gov.uk
Directions to next point
Directions to next point
Go to the Heritage Centre for more information.
Go to the Heritage Centre for more information.