From collection points to industrial raw material, the journey of recyclable materials is a complex chain of collecting, processing and refining waste. Waste is transported from the rubbish bins at individual houses or from municipal collection points to the appropriate processing plant. At the plant, the rubbish is processed by, for example, composting, de-inking, rolling, melting or baling it. The half-processed raw material is transported from the processing plant for further processing, where the various materials are turned into things such as coreboard, metal ingots, plastic sawhorses, glass wool for insulation, composted soil and newsprint.
The From rubbish to raw material exhibit shows the journey of
recycled cardboard, energy-containing waste, recycled paper,
hazardous waste, biowaste, recycled glass and scrap metal from
collection point to industrial raw material. The exhibit also shows
mixed household waste taken to a waste treatment centre, and the
life cycle of a drinks bottle or can that is returned to a reverse
vending machine and eventually ends up refilled and back on the
shop shelf.
Updated 28.8.2007/KT
