A new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) has been officially opened at the Western Riverside Waste Authority site near Wandsworth Bridge by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

This modern new facility will process materials for recycling faster, more efficiently and more cost effectively than was previously possible. It is expected to handle around 84,000 tonnes of recyclables each year.

The MRF uses the latest automated technology to separate out plastic, metal cans, paper, cardboard and glass that are collected in Orange sacks from people's doorsteps and also from communal recycling bins.

These items are separated using 100 fast moving conveyor belts and an array of hi-tech devices so that they can be bundled together and then fed back to industry to be used again.

The MRF has been built and will be operated by Cory Environmental Ltd, which deals with household waste and recycling on behalf of Western Riverside Waste Authority.

Western Riverside is one of four statutory waste disposal authorities in London and is responsible for the management of waste collected by the boroughs of Wandsworth, Lambeth, Hammersmith & Fulham and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

To find out more about the Western Riverside Waste Authority and to see how an MRF works visit www.wrwa.gov.uk