Did you know? About Ford Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)
Ever wondered what happens to your recycling once it's picked up from your kerbside?
At Arun District Council, we work in partnership with West Sussex County Council and Biffa to ensure your recyclables are processed efficiently and responsibly.
The journey from your recycling bin to becoming new products is fascinating - and it all happens at the Ford Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) near Arundel.
Each year West Sussex County Council treat and dispose of approximately 400,000 tonnes of waste. Recycling from households in West Sussex is delivered to Ford MRF via a network of transfer stations.
The process
Kerbside collection
Your recycling is collected by Biffa, our waste contractor - all items should be 'clean, dry and loose' and will include:
- paper and cardboard
- plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
- metal tins and cans
- glass bottles and jars
These materials are taken to a local transfer station before heading to Ford MRF.
For more information about what can go in your home recycling bin check out Recycling A-Z.
Arrival at Ford MRF
The mixed recycling is unloaded and begins its journey through a highly automated sorting process. The facility manages thousands of tonnes of recycling each year from across West Sussex
Sorting the materials
The sorting process is both mechanical and manual:
- pre-sorting - workers remove any non-recyclable items that could damage machinery or contaminate the recycling stream
- trommel drum, this is a large rotating drum that separates materials by size. Smaller items fall through holes while larger ones continue onward
- screens and air jets - these separate paper and cardboard from heavier items using rotating discs and blasts of air
- magnets and eddy currents - magnets pull out steel cans, while eddy currents (magnetic field) separate aluminium and other metals
- optical sorters - these use light sensors to identify and sort different types of plastics
Each material is then baled (compressed into cubes) and sent to specialist processors to be turned into new products like packaging, construction materials, and even car parts.
Reprocessing and reuse
Once sorted and baled, the materials are transported to various destinations across the UK and abroad. For example:
- aluminium is melted down and reused in manufacturing
- paper and cardboard are pulped and made into new paper products
- plastics are shredded and reformed into new containers or textiles
Why it matters
Correct recycling helps reduce general waste, saves energy, and supports planet.
It saves raw materials like timber, water, and minerals. For example, recycling paper reduces the need to cut down trees.
Manufacturing products from recycled materials typically uses less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases than producing them from new sourced materials.
It is vital to only include accepted items in your recycling bin. Contaminants like food waste, polystyrene, or plastic bags can disrupt the process and lead to entire loads being rejected.
Want to see it for yourself?
You can book a free visit to Ford MRF for a behind-the-scenes look at how your recycling is handled. It's a great opportunity to learn more and become a recycling champion in your community. That's the next school outing sorted - but there is a waiting list!
More details can be found here, including a video: About Ford Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) - West Sussex County Council