How Window & Door Recycling Works: From Removal to Rebirth

Jun 3, 2025

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Learn the full window and door recycling journey—collection, crushing, remoulding—and discover how it can earn you up to £2,500 off replacements.

Introduction

More than one million PVC‑U window frames are recycled in the UK every year, keeping some 25,000 tonnes of plastic out of landfill. Yet many homeowners still wonder where their old frames actually go. This guide demystifies the process and shows how recycling can directly reduce the cost of your next upgrade.

Step 1 – Collection & Sorting

Installers remove your tired windows and doors and load them onto dedicated pallets. Frames are sorted by material: PVC‑U, aluminium or timber. Contaminants like rubber gaskets and fixings are earmarked for later separation.

Step 2 – De‑glazing & Metal Removal

Automated saws strip out the insulated‑glass units (IGUs) while magnetic belts capture steel or aluminium reinforcement sections. This precision keeps the core PVC‑U stream clean.

Step 3 – Shredding & Granulation

Clean frames pass through industrial granulators that chop them into 8‑12 mm chips, perfect for downstream purification.

Step 4 – Purification & Pelletising

State‑of‑the‑art lines achieve 99 % material purity, using cyclone separators and density baths to expel dust and rogue particles. The chips are then melted and extruded into uniform pellets.

Step 5 – Re‑manufacture

Pellets are blended with virgin resin (if required) and fed into extruders that create brand‑new window profiles—closing the loop. Projects like Cambridge’s closed‑loop retrofit prove the model works at scale.

Environmental Win

Because PVC‑U can be recycled up to seven times—and each window lasts ~40 years—today’s frames could realistically serve UK homes for centuries.

How You Benefit Financially

By diverting your old frames from landfill, you qualify for our Recycling Scheme, worth up to £2,500 off an order of replacement windows and doors.

Ready to turn yesterday’s frames into tomorrow’s savings? Request a free quote today and see how much our closed‑loop approach can knock off your bill.