Where does our recycling go?
Orkney’s Recycling Destinations
Do you wonder where your recycling goes? The following table shows what Orkney Islands Council does with your recycling materials. In 2022 householders recycled just 23.3% of their rubbish. Please do your bit for Orkney, for our environment, to save money, to save energy and so we can be proud of our efforts as a County. Please Recycle for Orkney!
| Material Type | OIC processes | Destination | Examples of Final Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper and Thin Card. | Baled and shipped. | Sold to Market (Kilsyth). | Manufacture of paper. |
| Cardboard. | Baled and shipped. | Sold to Market (Kilsyth). | Manufacture of card. |
| Cans. | Separated into Alu and steel, then baled and shipped. | Steel sold to Market (Orkney Aggregates), Aluminium sold direct to Novelis (Cheshire). | Manufacture of products: cars, planes, mobile phones, kettles or new cans! etc. |
| Glass. | Crushed and sold (EG to form sand or shotblast like product). | Cursiter, Orkney. | Formerly used in barrier blocks. Crushed and sold for shot blast cleaning media. Sold for recycling into new glass. |
| Household Plastic Bottles. | Baled and shipped. | Sold to Market (Kilsyth). | Manufacture of products: fleeces, toys, jeans, benches or more plastic bottles etc. |
| Electrical goods. | Packaged and shipped. | Ayrshire (Irvine) in line with WEEE directive requirements. | Manufacture of products: computers, toasters, kettles, cars etc. |
| Engine Oil/Cooking Oil. | Packaged and shipped. | Sold to Market (Aberdeen). | Refined into lubricant or heating fuel. |
| Textiles. | Packaged and shipped. | Salvation army. | Re-use or recycled (UK and abroad). |
| Household batteries. Vehicle batteries. | Collected to Bossack. Sent to Orkney aggregates. | Recycling plant for example Manchester | Batteries are dismantled in a controlled environment capturing and separating components which are recycled into new batteries and component chemicals for reuse. |
| Green Waste. | Windrow Composting at Bossack. | Local parks and gardens. | Soil conditioner – provided free locally at some recycling centres. |