1. Collection
Cleanaway trucks collect recyclables from yellow-lidded wheelie bins on kerbsides.

2. Transport to a MRF
Contents collected from recycling bins are transported to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for processing. The truck empties the recyclables onto a conveyor belt.

3. Spinning cylinder
The contents travel along a feeder belt and enter a large spinning cylindrical sieve (a trommel).

4. Paper and cardboard separation
Paper and cardboard flow through the trommel and onto a conveyor belt. Small non-paper items including glass fines, fall through holes and land in a waste bin. Large non-paper items fall through holes and land on a bouncing conveyor.

5. First sorting station
Cleanaway staff remove cardboard and waste from the belt. Cardboard is sent via a chute to a baler. Waste is sent via a chute to a waste bin. Paper, now the only product left on the belt, is conveyed to be fluffed and baled.

6. Steel conveyor
Larger items that roll down the bouncing conveyor are transferred to a steel conveyor. A giant magnet positioned above the conveyor attracts the steel cans off the belt and directs them into a product holding cage. The remaining items are transferred to the second sorting station.

7. Glass sorting
Glass is removed and sent via a chute to a glass collection bin.

8. Sorting plastics
Remaining plastics are removed and thrown into cages according to plastic type.

9. Aluminium sorting
Aluminium cans and waste are the only materials left on the belt. Cans are repelled off the belt into a cage by a magnetic field (eddy current). Waste travels to the end of the belt and drops into a waste bin.

10. Baled materials
Paper, cardboard, plastics, steel and aluminium are all baled and prepared for transport. Glass collection bins are placed on a trailer ready for transport.

11. New products
Each of the five commodities (paper, plastic, steel, aluminium and glass) are sent to manufacturers to be made into new products which we can purchase and use.