Recycling specific types of commercial plastic waste

If your business uses, produces, or regularly needs to dispose of large volumes of specific types of plastic, you may be wondering what the best solution is for disposing of it.

Plastic waste is a significant issue not only in the UK, but also worldwide. However, the government and manufacturers are making efforts to reduce plastic waste and encourage plastic recycling. For example, the UK government introduced a plastic packaging tax in 2022 to encourage businesses to use recycled plastic in their packaging. It also banned certain single-use plastic items, firstly in 2020 to cover plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, and then further items in 2023. In 2027, a new deposit return scheme will be introduced across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, aiming to boost recycling for drinks bottles and cans. While these are much-needed measures, there is more that can be done in the private sector, particularly among businesses that handle large volumes of plastic.

If your business handles large amounts of plastic, you’re likely not putting this in your dry mixed recycling bin. So, what is the best way to recycle specific types of plastic waste and reduce your environmental impacts?

Plastic recycling in the UK

There are countless different types of plastic. Some common types include PET, HDPE, LDPE, PVC, polypropylene, polystyrene, ABS, and acrylic, but there are thousands more. Because plastic is so varied, recycling processes can vary. To ensure your plastic stands the best possible chance of recycling, it’s important to separate it by plastic type. If you aren’t sure on the type, we recommend checking with the manufacturer or looking for a resin identification code on the plastic itself. These codes, summarise below, let you know the plastic category:

1 – PET – Polyethylene terephthalate. E.g. found in drinks bottles and textiles.

2 – HDPE – High-density polyethylene. E.g. shampoo bottles and outdoor furniture.

3 – PVC – Polyvinyl chloride. E.g. drainage pipes, window frames, blood bags.

4 – LDPE – Low-density polyethylene. E.g. cling film and plastic bags.

5 – PP – Polypropylene. E.g. ready meal containers and bottle caps.

6 – PS – Polystyrene. E.g. protective packaging and insulation.

7 – OTHER – Any other type of plastic. E.g. acrylic, nylon, fibreglass, polycarbonate.

Once you have identified the type of plastic you have for disposal, recycling becomes much easier. As mentioned, the process for recycling plastic varies slightly based on which type of plastic you have. At Shred Station, we will granulate your separated plastic using our industrial plastic granulator, as pictured in the image below. This process breaks up your plastic into tiny fragments, ready to be melted down and reused in new plastic products.

Above – (Left to right) waste 3D printer filament, an ABS plastic / Shred Station’s plastic granulator / 3D printer plastic granulated for re-extrusion and reuse.

What about plastic that requires shredding?

We understand that some plastic waste requires secure destruction before recycling. For example, you might have injection moulded or 3D printed product prototypes that you don’t want falling into the wrong hands. Shred Station has a dedicated, secure plastic recycling facility with a granulator and trained team of plastic waste experts. Our standard plastic recycling process includes granulation, which is very similar to shredding but results in much smaller fragments. This means, when you recycle your plastic with us, any materials or designs are protected through destruction. Our plastic granulation and recycling process, like any of our secure destruction services, conforms to EN 15713 security shredding standards and will be performed by security-vetted personnel.

What happens to plastic that cannot be recycled?

Most plastic is recyclable. However, on the rare occasion we cannot recycle your plastic, we would use Energy from Waste facilities, in line with our Zero to Landfill policy. There, your granulated plastic would be incinerated under strict controls to generate energy for the National Grid, avoiding the risk of any harmful plastics leaching into soil or ecosystems.

To get a quote for fully compliant, sustainable plastic waste recycling, get in touch with our experts.

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