After the initial stages of the recycling process, paper is separated from containers such as cans and bottles.
The trommel
The trommel is a huge drum with holes in it, like a giant washing machine drum.
The trommel screen turns twelve times a minute, and separates paper from containers and cardboard.
The turning of the drum creates centrifugal force, which throws the mixed recycling material away from the centre.
The trommel
The trommel has holes of two sizes, which allow different materials to fall through:
- containers flow through the smaller holes into the ballistic separator.
- paper passes through the larger holes for further sorting.
- cardboard goes straight through the trommel to be recycled.
Ballistic separator
The ballistic separator removes small pieces of paper from containers such as cans, plastic bottles and glass jars and bottles .
Previous stage: transporting your recycling
Next stage: separating cans