What really happens to our recycling? Inside the CAWRA facility tour

On Monday 23 June, we hosted a tour of the CAWRA recycling facility in Kilburn, with 20 Hills residents joining us to learn what happens behind the scenes.

We started the morning with a warm welcome from Council staff and an informative presentation from our host at CAWRA (Central Adelaide Waste Recycling Authority).

We then stepped into the bustling heart of the facility, where East Waste’s deliveries of mixed recycling are sorted by huge machinery and attentive staff.

As we walked along the raised platform overlooking the sorting area, we watched the process unfold: hand-picking teams removed bulky or unsuitable items, glass bottles were separated, and optical sorters used air jets to identify and sort plastics, cans, and other materials.

CAWRA currently handles around 40,000 tonnes of recycling each year from ten different councils, including Adelaide Hills Council. The facility has the capacity to process over 60,000 tonnes annually, showing the scale of operations needed to reduce landfill.

Everything from paper and cardboard to steel cans and 10c deposit containers is sorted, baled, and sent to be recycled into new products, both in South Australia and interstate.

After the tour, we gathered in CAWRA’s education room for a relaxed morning tea. We had the chance to ask questions about recycling and waste management, and learnt what items don’t belong in the yellow bin, and how contamination or hazardous items like lithium batteries can cause serious safety risks, including fires, at the facility.

We left with a deeper understanding of the recycling process, a clearer idea of what can and can’t go in our bins, and a sense of connection to other local residents doing their part.

Future recycling facility tours are planned, so keep an eye on Council channels for upcoming opportunities to take part.