Where do our recyclables go?

All of East Longmeadow's recyclables are brought to the MRF, the Massachusetts Recycling Facility in Springfield a facility that separates the material. The material recycling facility (MRF, pronounced merf) uses a combination of sorting equipment and people to separate the paper, glass, cans, and plastic. Once each material is separated it is baled. The glass is crushed. After this process, they are hauled to a variety of companies that use the material as feedstock for new products.

Show All Answers

1. Where can I bring tires?
2. What do I do with styrofoam?
3. What time will my trash and recycling be picked up?
4. What do I do with wire hangers?
5. Where can I dispose of latex paint?
6. Where do our recyclables go?
7. What happens to the materials that aren’t recyclable? Don’t they just get recycled anyway?
8. What effects do waste prevention and recycling have on global warming?
9. How does recycling save energy?
10. Where does my trash go?
11. Are pizza boxes recyclable?
12. Do I need to clean my containers?
13. Why can't I put my recyclables in a plastic bag to be put out on the curb?
14. What can I do with bubble wrap?
15. What can I do with plastic bags?
16. Dual Stream versus Single Stream recycling?
17. Where can I recycle boat wrap?