How does a clean materials recovery facility differ from a dirty materials recovery facility?

A materials recovery facility (MRF) is a plant that processes recyclables for use as raw materials. The primary difference between "clean" and "dirty" facilities lies in the state of the waste stream they receive.1

Clean Materials Recovery Facilities

A clean MRF processes recyclable materials that have already been separated from municipal solid waste by residents or businesses before collection. Because the input is pre-sorted, these facilities primarily focus on organizing these materials for market. Nonrecyclable or contaminated items typically account for less than 10 percent of the total intake.1

Dirty Materials Recovery Facilities

A dirty MRF receives a mixed stream of general solid waste. The facility must perform the labor-intensive task of separating recyclables from the rest of the trash using manual and mechanical sorting. Because these facilities process the entire waste stream, the recovered recyclables are often of lower quality due to contamination from moist garbage and broken glass. Typically, these facilities recover less than 30 percent of the total waste as recyclable material, and they represent only about 5 percent of MRFs in the United States.1