Our sorting materials guide provides end-to-end guidance on Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) compliance, regulation, material sources, quality output, and the key aspects of running a successful sorting and reprocessing operation.
Overview
There are a number of strict regulations MRFs operators must abide by whilst also developing technological and testing processes and best practices to ensure both compliance and efficiency. This includes the value, volume and quality of material as well as the testing processes involved in the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2014. The following resources have been developed by WRAP to assist MRFs in meeting these regulations and include real-life examples detailing good practice.
WRAP’s Resources
WRAP has developed a number of case studies, flow diagrams, sampling information sheets, and sample contracts for your organisation to use in developing a culture of best practice and ensuring you adhere to the raft of regulations governing MRFs.
On sampling:
Sampling flow diagram (powerpoint presentation) >>
Sampling and Testing Guidance for Material Facilities >>
On value and quality:
Recovering value from MRFs >>
MRF quality assessment study >>
MRF output material quality thresholds >>
On regulations:
Information sheet on The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2014 >>
WRAP plastics compositional analysis at MRFs >>
Government regulations and resources
The Regulations require MF operators to report the average (or arithmetic mean) percentage composition for target material, non-target material and non-recyclable material to the Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales every quarter.
Materials facilities: how to report on mixed waste sampling (opens on Defra website) >>
Defra’s waste and recycling policy website >>
The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2014 >>
MRF Case studies
WRAP’s MRF case studies focus on MRF operators who have added value to their operations, using new and innovative processes or technologies to increase their efficiency or the quality and volume of reprocessed materials:
- A pioneering MRF in Milton Keynes now recovers added value from its residuals.
- Exeter City Council MRF invests in hi-tech kit to maintain paper quality.
- Bywaters (Leyton) Ltd MRF in East London takes on all-comers.
- Re-Gen Ltd MRF in Northern Ireland reaps the benefits of its management systems.
- Greenstar Environmental Ltd MRF sees a substantial investment pay off at a pioneering recycling facility in the West Midlands.
- Reading's new MRF reaps outstanding results from a fully automated plastics sort.
Download files
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These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
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WRAP-pb14150-mrf-guide.pdf
PDF, 54.91 KB
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WRAP-WRAP Plastics Compositional Analysis FINAL v2b_May 1 2015_0.pdf
PDF, 1.38 MB
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WRAP-Materials facilities regulations information sheet.pdf
PDF, 321.79 KB
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WRAP-MRF Output Material Quality Thresholds Report.pdf
PDF, 346.87 KB
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WRAP-MRF Quality Assessment Study.pdf
PDF, 342.94 KB
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WRAP-RecoveringValueMRFs.3644.pdf
PDF, 754.52 KB
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WRAP-MF Sampling Guidance April 2014.pdf
PDF, 2.54 MB
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Sampling procedure flow chart and sampling requirements 7 0 FINAL.pptx
PPTX, 244.15 KB
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WRAP case study - Bywaters (Leyton) Ltd MRF.pdf
PDF, 3.08 MB
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WRAP case study - Milton Keynes MRF.pdf
PDF, 319.89 KB