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With many businesses now beginning to return to some kind of normality after the 3rd National lockdown, there’s no better time to ensure you have the appropriate commercial waste disposal and recycling measures in place.

In this article, we are going to help you to understand how to implement a successful waste disposal strategy, share effective ways to educate your employees on recycling, whilst also providing guidance on how Commercial Recycling can help you.

Establish your waste types

Depending on the type of organisation you are managing, you may find that you produce certain types of waste in larger volumes than others.

If a successful waste management strategy is to be achieved, it is vital you consider all the types of waste your business is generating.

For example, offices may need to consider general recycling and mixed black bag waste, restaurants will be producing a lot of food waste, packaging and glass waste, whereas the construction industry will be challenged with the disposal of inert wastes.

Once you are aware of the waste types and approximate volumes that you are producing, you can look into how to manage this waste. This may involve:

• Different bin types and sizes
• The use of skips or roros (check out our friends at AMS for more information)
• Tipping at a local recycling centre
• Regular, scheduled waste collections
• One off waste collections or disposals

At Commercial Recycling, we’d be happy to help you decide on the best disposal solutions for the waste types that are specifically relevant for your business. Call our experts on 01202 331560.

Make it easy for your team

The majority of employees are likely to support recycling initiatives. However, the adoption and success of any schemes will often be determined by how easy they are made. Proven ways to increase recycling within the workplace include;

• Use signage as reminders, especially when it comes to signalling the different types of bins you want them to use. If you don’t fancy making your own, you can buy affordable recycling stickers or signs online or from office supplies catalogues.
• Place waste and recycling bins around the whole workplace, not just in the kitchen or lobby. The shorter the distance your employees have to travel to correctly dispose of their waste, the more likely they are to do so.
• If possible, provide incentives or rewards to encourage recycling behaviour. Even some healthy competition between your team members could help.

Reuse where possible

Not all waste needs to be thrown away (at least not the first time it is used!). Two small ways that you can implement a reusable initiative are:

• Suggest employees bring reusable bottles rather than disposal cans / plastic bottles. Even better, why not invest in some branded drinks bottles and distribute these to team members. Not only does this encourage sustainable consumption, but it’s free publicity for your brand if they use the bottles outside of work.
• We’re all guilty of printing more than we need to, so the paper should be reused where possible. Start a scrap paper pile next to your printer which can be used for note taking.

Don’t let your bins overflow

You may have heard of the Broken Windows Theory – signs of disarray in a neighbourhood (such as a broken window) encourages more broken windows…

…Well the same goes for a messy working environment.

If you’re creating more rubbish than you either have the space for, or have provided waste containers for, you need to review your strategy. Not only will your employees respect the work space less, but it creates an unhealthy and potentially unsafe environment.

One solution that may be helpful is the new commercial wheelie bin and refuse bag service provided by our friends at Avon Material Supplies. They can provide a variety of bin types (or bags if you lack space) in a range of sizes. They will then collect the waste on a schedule that suits you, whether that be daily, weekly or fortnightly.

For medium – large scale one off clearances, we can provide a man and van waste collection. Our operatives will be with you in no time, and will clear up to 1 tonne of waste from your premises.

Trust recycling experts

Establishing contact with a licenced, reliable local recycling centre (such as us at Commercial Recycling) can help you take the stress out of waste management.

It’s our job to know everything there is to know about commercial waste disposals, so we would be more than happy to discuss your requirements with you.

As a fully licenced recycling centre, we are able to accept and process almost any waste type, including hazardous wastes. As such, we have a wide range of waste disposal and collection services on offer. We are confident that we will have the ideal recycling solution for you.

We also operate under a policy that ensures we divert as much waste as possible from landfill. This means that if you work with us, you can be assured that your waste is taken care of in the most efficient, sustainable ways possible.

To learn more, please feel free to call us on 01202 331560 or fill in our contact form.

Commercial Recycling are operators of large waste disposal facilities which are ideally suited to many sectors, including the construction industry. As such, we typically accept and process over 250,000 tonnes of inert waste each year!

But what actually is inert waste? Read on for the answer, plus more useful information regarding inert waste recycling.

What is inert waste?

Inert wastes are types of waste that are unreactive (biologically and chemically). This means that when inert waste is disposed of, it either takes an extremely long time to decompose or doesn’t decompose at all.

What are some examples of inert waste?

Inert wastes are typically produced during construction activities. The most common types include:

• Concrete
• Rubble
• Sands
• Clay
• Soil
• Chalk

Do you have waste materials that you’re unsure are inert? Call our helpful team on 01202 331560.

Is inert waste dangerous?

This type of waste does not pose a threat to the environment, animals or human health and will not affect the quality of water sources it may be in contact with.

The main issue inert waste poses to individuals and businesses is what to do with. Because it does not decompose (or takes many years to do so), it can become problematic as it takes up a lot of space.

Can inert waste be recycled?

Yes, inert waste can be recycled. At Commercial Recycling, we actually recycle over 90% of the inert waste that is tipped with us.

One of the primary ways that we do this is by recycling the materials back into quality construction aggregates. For example, we produce recycled 6F5 Crushed Concrete for trench fills and Type 1 Recycled for road and path construction.

Where can you dispose of inert waste?

Currently, we have a site in Dorset and another in Somerset, which are able to accept inert waste.

Our inert waste disposal facilities are:

• Southwood Recycling Centre, Evercreech, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6LX – 01749 830889
• Canford Recycling Centre, Arena Way, Off Magna Rd, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3BW – 01202 331560

Pro Tip – Save time by picking up aggregates from us when you’re already onsite tipping inert waste at Canford Recycling Centre.

Transporting inert materials to our sites

All of our sites benefit from easy access, hard-surfaces, automated weighbridges and wide turning spaces making them ideal for various vehicle types including vans, cars with trailers, tipper trucks and grab lorries.

If you or your contractor cannot travel to one of our sites, then through our friends at Avon Material Supplies we can arrange for tipper trucks or grab lorries to collect the inert waste from your site.

Contact Commercial Recycling today

If you have any queries about disposing of inert waste with Commercial Recycling, don’t hesitate to contact us on 01202 331560.

At CRL, we work hard to support national recycling efforts by helping businesses achieve cost effective, long-term recycling solutions. Although Dorset’s recycling rates are among the top 10 in the country, there is still lots for us to learn and improve on. As such, we wanted to let you know 10 surprising facts about recycling, and how our recycling centres can help.

1. Around 80% of items sent to landfill could have been recycled

Yes you read that right, only 20% of the items in landfill should be there.

At Commercial Recycling, we aim to divert as much of the waste we receive from landfill as possible. In fact, in 2020 we successfully diverted over 90% of waste from landfill.

This means that if your business tips with us, you can feel proud to be doing your bit to reduce the 80% of waste that unnecessarily ends up in landfill.

2. About 70% of the waste that is created by commercial offices consists of mixed paper products

So when you’re next thinking about printing a document off, just take a second to think whether you really need to. If it’s necessary to have a paper copy, make sure you recycle it afterwards.

Don’t forget – this also includes card products. Cardboard waste is almost impossible to avoid nowadays, with the rising propensity to order online leading to excess packaging inevitably going to waste.

As business owners, you can facilitate paper and card recycling by providing waste paper bins around the office that then get emptied into your larger recycling bin for tipping with us at Commercial Recycling. We offer great mixed dry waste recycling rates.

3. It wasn’t until 2012 that the stricter commercial recycling legislations that we are now used to came into place.

It seems hard to believe that it was less than 10 years ago that the Controlled Waste Regulations that businesses must now operate by came into effect. These regulations ensure that business operators must:

• Use a registered waste disposal facility / waste carrier
• Where reasonable do their bit to prevent, reuse or recycle waste
• Complete waste transfer notes
• Follow strict, separate hazardous waste disposal legislation

If you would like to learn more about your responsibilities as a business operator, visit gov.uk or feel free to call us on 01202 331560. We want to make the process of commercial recycling as easy as possible so would be happy to help.

4. Recycling = Energy

Did you know that recycling a single can provides enough energy to power a TV for 3 whole hours?! Of course, waste that ends up in landfill offers no such benefits.

At Commercial Recycling we regularly invest in new technologies to help waste recovery, one such being ‘EfW’ (or ‘Energy from Waste’). This means that a proportion of the waste we recycle is used to create power for the National Grid, providing energy for our local homes and businesses.

5. Construction, demolition and excavation activities generate 61% of the UK’s waste.

This may be surprising to some, however at Commercial Recycling a large portion of our client-base is from the construction industry. As such, we offer a wide range of disposal services suitable for this type of waste.

As part of our Zero Waste To Landfill initiative, where possible we also recycle construction waste back into materials used in the very same industry. For example, we create Recycled Type 1 aggregates that are used for road and pathway construction.

6. The first bottle bank was opened in 1977

Recycling glass is second nature to most people nowadays, but it wasn’t until the late 70s that bottle banks were introduced. This is shocking, as it takes A MILLION YEARS for a glass bottle to naturally decompose.

Don’t forget, for commercial glass waste such as uPVC windows, we offer a low-cost window waste disposal service.

7. Employees of small businesses say recycling boosts company culture

Recycling being a part of work culture has been reported to boost staff morale, making them feel as though they’re a part of something positive. Especially as most individuals are accustomed to recycling at home, following this through into the workplace is a natural progression that fosters a positive work culture.

8. Most laptops are never recycled

Did you know that laptops and other electronic devices can be recycled? This is known as WEEE (Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment) recycling. Recycling this type of waste can have incredible benefits when it comes to EfW, with statistics showing that 1 million recycled laptops can power 3600 homes!

If your business is refreshing its technology, talk to us today about affordable WEEE recycling. For smaller amounts of WEEE waste we also offer waste disposal boxes. We’ll deliver an empty box to you, fill it with your WEEE, and we’ll collect it when it’s full!

9. It takes just 25 large plastic bottles to make a recycled jacket

If your employees drink bottled water, let that sink in! How many jackets could be made per week? If you want to make sure that the plastic waste your business produces goes towards initiatives like this rather than landfill, take a look at our mixed plastic recycling service.

10. In total, Commercial Recycling recycled 79,581.04 tonnes of waste in 2020

This is all thanks to local businesses using our waste disposal and collection services.

Contact our team for help with recycling

If all this talk of recycling has got you inspired to improve your business’ waste management, we’d be happy to help. Commercial Recycling is a leading waste disposal company covering Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset. We have 2 recycling centres, one near Wimborne and one near Shepton Mallet.

With convenient opening hours, we cater for businesses large and small that need to dispose of almost any waste type. To help you even more, we can offer complete waste management solutions. Contact us today to discuss your recycling needs.

The Fire Service attended Canford Recycling Centre on Christmas morning and revisited the site again in the evening. The visits were a precautionary measure in response to a request from our on-site security team. On both occasions, members of our management team were also in attendance and no fire was detected.

As previously published, Canford Recycling Centre will reopen to provide waste disposal and recycling services to trade businesses on Tuesday 29th December at 8 am.

If you require any further information, please contact our team on 01202 331560 or enquiries@commercialrecycling.co.uk.

While we may all be more aware of the effect that our waste has on the environment, it doesn’t stop thousands of tonnes of waste being produced (and often improperly disposed of) over the festive season.

So whilst it probably won’t come as a surprise to learn that the Christmas and New Year period produces more waste than any other time of year, it might amaze you to learn just how much!

How much waste is produced at Christmas?

According to High Speed Training, an extra 30% of waste is produced at Christmas in Britain, compared to the rest of the year. That may not sound too bad, but it adds up to a whopping 3 million tonnes of waste – plenty of which ends up in landfill!

To put this in perspective, a single tonne that ends up in landfill costs taxpayers £94.00. If even half of the extra waste produced at Christmas in 2020 ended up in landfill, that’s £141mil!

What’s worse; a study found that 60% of Brits don’t feel bad about the extra waste that they produce over Christmas. With only 10% of Brits encouraging their families to be a bit more environmentally-conscious during this time. With this in mind, it appears we still have a long way to go before this situation is improved.

Plastic waste at Christmas

Plastic is one of the most problematic types of Christmas waste produced, due to the fact that not all plastic is easily recycled.

The main cause of plastic waste at Christmas is packaging. This includes the packaging of toys, bubble wrap used to ensure the safe delivery of gifts, food packaging and many more examples.

In fact, it’s estimated that each British household throws away 3.5 black bags worth of packaging from toys and gifts over Christmas!

Other reasons excess plastic waste is created as a result of Christmas include:

• 14% of people with fake Christmas trees bin them at the end of the year.
• Around 40 million rolls of sellotape are used each Christmas.
• 3000 tonnes of plastic waste is from turkey packaging alone!

Whilst Christmas is a great excuse to spoil our friends and family with gifts, and to overindulge in food and drink, why not put a little extra thought to the plastic waste that you’re producing in 2021?

If you’ve found yourself with large volumes of plastic waste that you’d like to recycle, we offer low-cost mixed plastic disposal at our local recycling centres.

Card and paper waste at Christmas

This one shouldn’t come as a surprise – as a nation we produce an astounding amount of card and paper waste over the festive season.

In total, we bin approximately 108 million rolls of wrapping paper (that’s 227,000 miles worth!), and 1 billion Christmas cards. Don’t forget about all of the cardboard boxes that Christmas food and gifts come in too!

The good news is that 98% of paper and cardboard waste is recyclable. As a recycling centre with purpose-built facilities and specialist processes, we are able to provide very low cost disposals for paper and card. To learn more and see our current rates, please visit our ‘Tipping Prices’ page. To help out, we’re currently running a special offer on cardboard recycling.

Top tip for 2021 – Wrapping paper and cards that have glitter on them are not accepted by most recyclers. In fact, many UK councils will now deem a whole bin’s worth of waste ‘contaminated’ if it contains glitter! Next year, why not skip the glitter to avoid this.

Other commonly produced Christmas waste types

WEEE

It’s not all just paper and plastic – each Christmas we also throw away approximately 500 tonnes of fairy lights. Also, new toys, decorations and lights all demand batteries, 189 million in fact!

WEEE waste can’t always be disposed of with normal waste, but can be recycled at specialist facilities such as Canford Recycling Centre. Learn more about WEEE recycling.

Green

There’s not many households and businesses that don’t put up a Christmas tree come 1st December, with 8 million of us opting for real ones over plastic. That’s a lot of trees that then get binned once the festivities are over!

Many councils offer specific Christmas tree collections, or there’s the option to get a green household bin and chop the tree up to fit inside. If these options don’t work for you, or perhaps you have multiple trees at your place of work, you can bring your tree(s) to us at Commercial Recycling for low cost green waste disposal.

Let us help with your Christmas & New Year waste

If you run a business that could use a little extra help disposing of its Christmas or New Year waste, we operate fully licenced recycling centres in Dorset and Somerset that are here to help.

You can contact us for help with tipping a wide variety of waste types, or to arrange a waste collection directly from your premises. We’d also be happy to help you plan your waste management for 2021.