Peek Inside NYC’s Strangely Beautiful Glass and Plastic Recycling Facility

Each day, the 11-acre Sims Municipal Recycling in Sunset Park processes about 450 tons of recycled materials unloaded onto their dock by the NYC Department of Sanitation.

Before processing, the mountains of recyclables dwarf the backhoes and trucks that have ferried them around. Then, afterwards, ​parcels of compacted plastic look like hay bales or building blocks. They’re hoisted back onto barges—or rail cars—and hauled away.

There is a strange beauty to be found in the massive collection of pre and post-processed recyclables, with bright colors and uniform shapes and sizes.

Enjoy this collection of Instagram photos taken at and around the facility.

Glass gravel @simsmuni #Instameet #shotsfromSIMS
Glass gravel @simsmuni #Instameet #shotsfromSIMS
Photo: nyczerowaste
#HDPE #plastic #bales ready to be shipped to factories to be turned into new bottles, pipes, bags, etc. Bales like these each weigh around 1,200 lbs!
#HDPE #plastic #bales ready to be shipped to factories to be turned into new bottles, pipes, bags, etc. Bales like these each weigh around 1,200 lbs!
Photo: simsmuni
Can you guess what this is? It looks like a collapsed set of building blocks, but it's actually a huge pile of recyclable materials. At the @simsmuni facility in Sunset Park, machines separate New York City's metal, glass, and plastic, and then pack them into giant bales like you see in this photo from Instagram Ambassador @roofaccess. The bales then make their way to recycling facilities who complete the process by turning the materials into something new! To learn more about the @NYCRecycles process - and to see more of these great photos - tap the link in our bio.
Can you guess what this is? It looks like a collapsed set of building blocks, but it's actually a huge pile of recyclable materials. At the @simsmuni facility in Sunset Park, machines separate New York City's metal, glass, and plastic, and then pack them into giant bales like you see in this photo from Instagram Ambassador @roofaccess. The bales then make their way to recycling facilities who complete the process by turning the materials into something new! To learn more about the @NYCRecycles process - and to see more of these great photos - tap the link in our bio.
Photo: nycgov
Thanks to @dramzy I got to visit NYC's largest recycling plant. Fantastic! #fromabove #birdseyeview #sweeper #worker #industrial #xperiaz2
Thanks to @dramzy I got to visit NYC's largest recycling plant. Fantastic! #fromabove #birdseyeview #sweeper #worker #industrial #xperiaz2
Shattered glass beauty #instameet #shotsfromSIMS @nycrecycles @simsmuni
Shattered glass beauty #instameet #shotsfromSIMS @nycrecycles @simsmuni
Photo: robbieszelei
NYC recyclables being sorted @simsmuni #Instameet #shotsfromSIMS
NYC recyclables being sorted @simsmuni #Instameet #shotsfromSIMS
Photo: nyczerowaste
Touring the state of the art Recyclotron 5000 aka MRF @simsmuni with @nycrecycles #recycling #shotsfromsims #instameet
Touring the state of the art Recyclotron 5000 aka MRF @simsmuni with @nycrecycles #recycling #shotsfromsims #instameet
Photo: bigreuse
Took a field trip today with @nycbigapps to the Sims #Recycling Facility. So cool!
Took a field trip today with @nycbigapps to the Sims #Recycling Facility. So cool!
Photo: a_albright8
Thanks to everyone who joined us for our #Instameet @simsmuni #shotsfromSIMS. The photos are amazing! https://instagram.com/explore/tags/shotsfromsims/
Thanks to everyone who joined us for our #Instameet @simsmuni #shotsfromSIMS. The photos are amazing! https://instagram.com/explore/tags/shotsfromsims/
Photo: nyczerowaste
Morning, recyclers ☀️
Morning, recyclers ☀️
Photo: simsmuni

via Citylab

Sims Municipal Recycling
Matt Coneybeare

Matt Coneybeare

Editor in Chief

Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.

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