Packaging Waste
Packaging waste is a huge area for the commercial world, as almost every business uses and buys packaged goods in one form or another. Organisations that produce, use, or sell packaging and packaged goods may be obligated packaging producers and must follow government regulations too. Even if you don’t, recycling packaging benefits the environment and can save your business thousands.
Arrange packaging waste disposal with Business Waste and we can help get rid of anything from food wrappers to metal containers, cardboard boxes and more in a legal and environmentally friendly way. Save money and resources for your business while protecting the planet. Call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online for a free and fast quote to remove your packaging waste from anywhere in the UK.
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Get a free quote
Get a fast FREE quote for your packaging waste removal
- Free quote within 1 hr
- Any type of packaging waste
- FREE bins and delivery
- We cover all of the UK
Packaging waste
collection
Arrange packaging waste collection for your business anywhere in the UK. Let us know the type and size of waste bins you need to get rid of your packaging waste – such as paper and card bins, metal waste bins, or for any other material. We’ll deliver these for free, so you can fill them up and only pay for collection.
Ensure you remain within the weight limits of the bins you use to avoid any overweight charges. Tell us how many of each bin size you want and how often you need them collecting, whether it’s a one-off removal or you require daily, weekly, or fortnightly collection.
We’ll work to provide a bespoke solution that meets your needs. Simply separate your waste packaging by type into each relevant bin and leave in an agreed, accessible place ahead of pickup. Then our team will collect your full bins and transport to a recycling plant nearby for disposal.
If you want to discuss your packaging waste requirements, contact our advisers today for more information. We aim for best-in-class service, can answer any questions you may have and offer you a free quote. Call us today on 0800 211 8390 or fill in an online contact form and we’ll get back to you.
Packaging waste
recycling bins
Sizes of packaging waste bins vary depending on the waste material you need to get rid of. From small bins for businesses that produce minimal packaging waste or want regular collections, to large ones for those generating a lot of waste or that prefer less frequent collections, there are options to suit all needs.
Whether you need food packaging waste, metal, paper and card, or any other type removing, check out some common bins used to store and recycle old packaging.
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240L packaging waste bin
Suitable for up to 10L of cardboard and paper packaging
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660L packaging waste bin
Four-wheel bin for large amounts of packaging waste
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1100L packaging waste bin
Can hold up to 35kg of paper and card packaging
Who needs
packaging waste disposal?
Almost every business deals with packaging waste on some level. It could be food wrappers in the office canteen, cardboard boxes that contained furniture or wrapping and pallets for transporting factory equipment. For manufacturers of packaging materials, warehouses that use it to pack and protect items, and retailers selling packaged goods, it’s a priority.
Some of the main industries and businesses that can produce a lot of waste packaging include:
- Catering – food packaging waste from products produced and delivered.
- Factory – manufacturers of packaging materials can produce waste and offcuts.
- Kitchens – lots of food packaging waste from ingredients used.
- Offices – stationery, IT equipment, and other types of product packaging.
- Retail – selling all sorts of products generates a wide variety of waste packaging.
Packaging waste
regulations
All UK employers have a legal duty to manage the amount of packaging waste they produce. Producers must follow the European Commission (EC) Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste. This states that businesses must minimise the amount of packaging when possible and use recyclable materials where appropriate.
The UK also launched its own packaging regulations in 1997 (adopted in 1999 in Northern Ireland). These became the Producer Responsibilities Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations in 2007. Under these regulations, any business classed as an obligated packaging producer must reduce the amount of packaging they produce, how much goes to landfill, and increase their packaging waste recycling and recovery rate.
To count as an obligated packaging producer, your business must:
- Have handled at least 50 tonnes of packaging or packaging materials in the last calendar year
- Have a turnover greater than £2 million a year (from the last financial year’s accounts)
- Manufacture, convert, sell, or fill packaging
If you simply buy goods and have packaging waste leftover for disposal, these packaging waste regulations should not apply to your business. Contact our expert team and they can advise on whether you may class as an obligated packaging producer. If you do, then every year you must:
- Register as a packaging producer by 7 April
- Meet the recovery and recycling obligation
- Demonstrate evidence of compliance
- Submit a certificate of compliance (CoC) by 31 January the following year
How does packaging waste
collection work?
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Select your free dumpsters
It’s quick and easy to organise commercial waste collection for your business.
Simply start by telling us the:
- Type of trash you need removing
- Size of dumpsters you require
- Number of dumpsters you want
We’ll provide you with a free quote.
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Arrange delivery
When you’re happy with the type, number, and size of free dumpsters, tell us when you need your dumpsters delivering.
Let us know about any access issues where you want the dumpsters delivering – such as locked gates, access codes and times. We’ll get you up and running in no time.
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Fill up your dumpster
After the free dumpsters arrive at your chosen location, fill them up with the agreed trash type.
Make sure you remain within any weight limits for the specific waste type and bin size.
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Get your business waste collected
We’ll arrange waste collection at a time and frequency to suit you and the amount of waste you have.
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What is
packaging waste?
Any materials used to contain, protect, handle, deliver, and present goods on the way from the producer to consumer – whether an individual or a business – classes as packaging. When the goods contained are removed and the packaging is no longer needed, it’s now packaging waste. This could be a pallet, box, bag, wrapping, and many other types of material.
The main types of packaging waste material include:
How to dispose of
packaging waste
We offer every business a unique assessment to provide the best waste management options for your packaging rubbish – personally tailored to your company. Disposal of packaging waste essentially depends on the material it’s made from and whether it’s recyclable. We’ll provide you with free bins you simply fill with your old packaging.
The rubbish should be separated into waste streams – whether it’s packaging waste made from metal, glass, paper and card, or any other material. Depending on your requirements, we can provide your business with the best size, type, and number of bins, as well as a collection frequency based on the amount of packaging waste you produce.
How is packaging
waste recycled?
Wherever possible, we aim to recycle your packaging waste. Waste is transported to a specialist recycling plant after it leaves your business. Here it is separated, treated, and reprocessed – turned into new materials and products. If your packaging waste is formed from a material that cannot be recycled, we will dispose of it in the appropriate manner, avoiding landfill wherever possible.
How packaging waste is recycled depends on the type of material, such as:
- Metal packaging waste – waste metal packaging is sorted, shredded, melted down, purified, and solidified to form new metal products.
- Paper and card packaging waste – rubbish paper packaging is separated into grades, pulped with water and chemicals, pressed to remove water, then rolled and heated to create new paper and card.
- Plastic packaging waste – plastic packaging waste follows a similar process to metal recycling. It’s sorted by type, shredded, washed, melted, pelletised, and reformed into new products.
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Packaging waste
FAQs
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How does packaging waste affect the environment?
When waste packaging is not recycled it can harm the environment by ending up in landfill or being incinerated. If the likes of plastic and metal packaging go to landfill it can take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing toxic substances into the soil and nearby water. These pollutants may have long-term negative effects on the ecosystem.
Should packaging waste be incinerated rather than recycled and turned into new products, it requires a lot more energy to destroy. Plus, the process can release harmful gases into the air, such as vinyl chloride and hexane. This can cause air pollution, harming human, animal, and other wildlife health.
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What is plastic packaging waste?
Plastic packaging waste covers a wide area – from food and drinks cartons to storage containers and more. Any type of packaging made completely or mostly from plastic will likely class as plastic packaging waste once it’s been used. Single-use plastic food packaging is a major issue, such as trays and cups, which aren’t always easy to recycle.
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What is food packaging waste?
Food packaging waste is any kind of container used to store food. This could be the likes of plastic trays for refrigerated meat in a supermarket, cardboard boxes to store dry food, and aluminium drinks cans. It’s a wide area and includes packaging materials mostly made from plastic, paper, card, and metal.
A lot of food packaging waste is recyclable, just it requires cleaning before it can be reused. This is to avoid contaminants preventing recycling. There are also some types of food packaging that are hard or impossible to recycle as they consist of a combination of materials such as ceramics, wax, glass, and more.
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How can we reduce food packaging waste?
Thinking about how you buy food for your business and making a few small changes can help reduce food packaging waste. If you offer free fruit, try to use a supplier that provides it all in one box rather than individual bags. Or even better, grow your own fruit and veg if you have the facilities.
Using refill services for tea, coffee, and other foodstuffs also avoids using extra plastic packaging. Getting milk and juice delivered in glass bottles means they’re easier to recycle compared to plastic, while providing reusable water bottles and coffee cups can significantly cut down on food packaging waste from supermarkets and coffee houses.
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How can we reuse packaging waste?
There are a few ways you can reuse packaging waste aside from recycling depending on the material and type. Some ideas include to:
- Reuse cardboard boxes to store office supplies such as stationery, wires, and dry food.
- Turn old jars into plant pots and add some greenery to your workplace.
- Transform cans into pen or cutlery holders – just remove any sharp edges.
- Use any paper packaging waste as wrapping paper.
- Shred old paper packaging then use to fill and protect any parcels.
Get your free packaging waste disposal quote
Get a fast FREE quote for packaging waste disposal
- Free quote within 1 hr
- Any type of packaging waste
- FREE bins and delivery
- We cover all of the UK