Most materials, such as glass, metals and paper are normally reprocessed back into their original incarnation. Exceptions include plastic cups which are converted into all manner of things such as pencils, key fobs, garden furniture and, topically enough, ice scrapers. Also, some crushed glass is used as an aggregates substitute.

Fluorescent tubes are broken down into constituent materials for recycling or distillation. Composting of organic wastes closes the loop neatly as much of the produce that we harvest, rots down to make a good quality soil conditioner.

It is at this stage that the effects of contamination are most damaging as maintaining high quality standards is essential to the process.