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How we recycle your waste

After your waste is collected by your local district and borough councils or taken to one of our household waste recycling centres, what happens to it depends on what it is.

Find out more about how we process and recycle different materials in Kent.

In this section

  • Preparing and separating

    Almost all the recyclable waste we receive is processed and separated into individual materials for recycling. Find out how.

  • Food waste

    Around 36,000 tonnes of food waste is collected in Kent. Find out how we recycle it and what we do with the biogas it produces.

  • Plastics

    Discover how we recycle plastics, get tips for using less and find out what we do with plastic we can't recycle.

  • Paper and card

    We recycled nearly 30,000 tonnes of paper and card last year. Find out how we do it.

  • Glass

    Find out where the glass from your recycle bin goes and what happens to it.

  • Garden waste

    Learn what happens to garden waste to turn it into a nutrient-rich and peat-free compost that is used in farming and agriculture.

  • Cars and abandoned vehicles

    We recycle the parts from abandoned vehicles. Find out how to report one to your district council, or surrender your vehicle so we recycle the parts.

  • Waste that can't be recycled

    There are some materials that we can't recycle. Find out what happens to them.

  • Where your waste and recycling goes

    Find out what happens to your household waste and recycling, including the type of waste, how much was collected, where it was sent and how it was treated.

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