New state-of-the-art Recycling Centre

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 29th Apr 2006

Inside the "ball mill"

At the Bursom Recycling Centre, which now has been officially opened, household refuse is separated into metals for recycling, organic material for composting, and paper and plastics for fuel. The hi-tech process means that around 75% of the contents of the city's wheelie bins can be recycled.

A key feature of the recycling centre is the 'ball mill' - a giant drum filled with 40 tons of steel balls that grind the waste into small pieces. The crushed paper and plastics are ultimately reused as fuel, steel and aluminium are separated for recycling, and organic waste is converted into compost.

The recycling centre is a partnership between Lib Dem led Leicester City Council and Biffa Leicester.