An apparatus to process used materials for input into a manufacturing process; the apparatus including: a housing having a top surface; a series of locations positioned under said top surface 15), each said location being provided for receipt of a predetermined used material and through which the used materials are to pass; a plurality of chambers extend from each said locations and define a descending path through the apparatus for the transfer of used material from the respective the locations successively along the path, said chambers including: a sensing chamber downstream of said locations and having sensing means operable to sense the composition of used material located within said sensing chamber; gripping means operable to hold used material within said sensing chamber or release said used material along said descending path; a processing chamber having a processing device operable to reduce the size of used material located within said processing chamber; and a storage chamber downstream of said processing chamber and having a series of storage units for receipt of different used material once processed by the apparatus, characterised in that said sensing means is operable to activate an alarm if the used material has been placed by a user in a location for receipt of a different material, and a washing and drying chamber positioned downstream of said locations and upstream of said processing chamber, said sensing chamber and washing and drying chamber located in the same chamber or said washing and drying chamber located downstream of the sensing chamber, said washing and drying chamber having means operable to wash and dry used material located within said washing and drying chamber. a housing having a top surface; a series of locations positioned under said top surface 15), each said location being provided for receipt of a predetermined used material and through which the used materials are to pass; a plurality of chambers extend from each said locations and define a descending path through the apparatus for the transfer of used material from the respective the locations successively along the path, said chambers including: a sensing chamber downstream of said locations and having sensing means operable to sense the composition of used material located within said sensing chamber; gripping means operable to hold used material within said sensing chamber or release said used material along said descending path; a processing chamber having a processing device operable to reduce the size of used material located within said processing chamber; and a storage chamber downstream of said processing chamber and having a series of storage units for receipt of different used material once processed by the apparatus, characterised in that said sensing means is operable to activate an alarm if the used material has been placed by a user in a location for receipt of a different material, and a washing and drying chamber positioned downstream of said locations and upstream of said processing chamber, said sensing chamber and washing and drying chamber located in the same chamber or said washing and drying chamber located downstream of the sensing chamber, said washing and drying chamber having means operable to wash and dry used material located within said washing and drying chamber. a sensing chamber downstream of said locations and having sensing means operable to sense the composition of used material located within said sensing chamber; gripping means operable to hold used material within said sensing chamber or release said used material along said descending path; a processing chamber having a processing device operable to reduce the size of used material located within said processing chamber; and a storage chamber downstream of said processing chamber and having a series of storage units for receipt of different used material once processed by the apparatus, characterised in that said sensing means is operable to activate an alarm if the used material has been placed by a user in a location for receipt of a different material, and a washing and drying chamber positioned downstream of said locations and upstream of said processing chamber, said sensing chamber and washing and drying chamber located in the same chamber or said washing and drying chamber located downstream of the sensing chamber, said washing and drying chamber having means operable to wash and dry used material located within said washing and drying chamber.