What to Do with Commercial Packaging Waste: A Recycling Guide

Managing commercial packaging waste is a pressing concern for businesses today. From plastic wraps to cardboard boxes, packaging waste is an inevitable by-product of business operations. However, simply discarding this waste in general bins isn’t enough. Recycling commercial packaging is essential for staying compliant with regulations, reducing environmental impact, and boosting a company’s sustainability efforts.

This article explores how Scottish businesses can manage their commercial packaging waste, promote a circular economy, and meet legal requirements.

What is Commercial Waste Recycling?

Commercial waste recycling refers to the process of collecting, sorting, and processing materials produced by businesses. Like household recycling, it includes a variety of materials such as plastics, paper, metal, glass, and wood, each of which can be reused or repurposed in various ways. The goal of recycling commercial waste is to divert materials from landfill, reduce the consumption of new raw materials, and promote the reuse of resources, ultimately contributing to a circular economy.

By recycling commercial packaging, businesses can save money, enhance their reputation for sustainability, and comply with local waste disposal regulations. However, it’s crucial that businesses manage their waste properly, ensuring it’s sorted correctly and processed efficiently to maximise its environmental benefits.

How Are Each Type of Commercial Waste Recycled?

How commercial packaging is recycled depends largely on the material used, as each type requires its own specialised process. Here’s a breakdown of how different waste packaging is recycled.

Plastics

Plastics are one of the most common packaging materials used in commercial products, from food packaging to industrial goods. Recycling plastics involves sorting the different types (e.g., PET, HDPE, LDPE), cleaning them, and then shredding and melting them down. The melted plastic is reformed into pellets that can be used to create new plastic products, reducing the need for virgin plastic production.

At Highlander Security Shredding, we ensure plastics are sorted properly, preventing contamination and improving the quality of recycled plastic products. This process contributes to reducing plastic waste and lowering the carbon footprint of businesses.

Paper and Cardboard

Paper and cardboard are widely used for packaging, and they are among the easiest materials to recycle. The process involves breaking down the paper into fibres, removing contaminants like ink, and then reusing those fibres to make new paper or cardboard products.

Recycling paper and cardboard not only saves trees but also reduces the energy required to produce new paper products. By opting for recycled paper products in your packaging, businesses can further enhance their sustainability efforts and support a circular economy.

Metal

Metals such as aluminium and steel are commonly used in packaging, especially for food and beverages. Recycling metal involves melting it down and reforming it into new products, which conserves energy and reduces the need for raw materials.

Recycling metal packaging is incredibly efficient, as it uses less energy than producing new metal products. By recycling metals like aluminium cans and steel containers, businesses can significantly reduce their waste output and support the sustainable production of new metal goods.

Glass

Glass is a highly recyclable material and is often used in packaging for food and beverages. The process involves crushing the glass, melting it, and reforming it into new products. One of the major advantages of recycling glass is that it can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality.

Recycling glass helps conserve raw materials, reduces energy consumption, and prevents glass waste from ending up in landfills. For businesses using glass packaging, recycling these materials is an efficient way to contribute to environmental sustainability.

Food Waste

Food waste often accompanies commercial packaging, particularly in the foodservice industry. While it may not always be viewed as part of the packaging, food waste can be recycled too. Biodegradable packaging can be composted along with food scraps, or food waste can be used for anaerobic digestion, which produces biogas and organic fertiliser.

By recycling food waste, businesses reduce landfill waste and help create renewable energy. Supporting food waste recycling initiatives also demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and responsible waste management.

Wood

Wooden packaging, especially pallets, is commonly used across various industries. At Highlander Security Shredding, we prioritise the repurposing and reuse of wooden pallets wherever possible. When pallets are still in good condition, we aim to repair and return them to circulation, extending their life and reducing waste.

However, when pallets are damaged or redundant and can’t be repaired, we use a dedicated woodchipper machine to recycle the wood. This machine creates wood chips of varying sizes, which can be used for landscaping, erosion control, or even animal bedding.

Wood that cannot be repaired or reused is then chipped into new products like wooden boards, panelling for flooring and construction, and even biomass fuel for burners. This process ensures that wood waste doesn’t end up in landfills and contributes to the creation of sustainable products.

What Are the Regulations for Workplace Recycling in Scotland?

In Scotland, businesses must comply with The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, which set out requirements for recycling commercial waste. These regulations state that businesses must separate recyclables like paper, cardboard, glass, metals, and plastics from general waste, and store them securely to prevent contamination.

The law also mandates that businesses take all reasonable steps to reduce waste, reusing materials wherever possible, and recycling as much as they can. Additionally, waste transfer notes must be completed for each load of waste leaving a business, and businesses are required to check that their waste carriers are registered.

Compliance with these regulations is crucial to avoid fines and help Scotland meet its recycling and sustainability goals. At Highlander Security Shredding, we can assist businesses with ensuring they meet these legal obligations by providing secure, compliant recycling services for commercial packaging waste.

A Quick Rundown of Your Responsibilities as a Business Owner

As a business owner, you have legal and ethical responsibilities regarding the management of commercial packaging waste.

Here’s a brief overview of what you need to do:

1. Minimise waste: Prevent, reuse, recycle, or recover waste wherever possible. Work with services like Highlander Security Shredding to manage your packaging waste responsibly.

2. Sort and store waste securely: Ensure that waste, including commercial packaging, is sorted correctly and stored securely to avoid contamination.

3. Complete waste transfer notes: For every load of waste that leaves your premises, ensure a waste transfer note is completed.

4. Check if your waste carrier is registered: Always verify that the company disposing of your waste is registered to do so legally.

5. Report illegal waste disposal: If your waste carrier disposes of your waste illegally, report them to Crimestoppers.

   
   

By fulfilling these responsibilities, you can ensure your business complies with regulations and supports a more sustainable future.

How Highlander Can Help

Highlander Security Shredding offers comprehensive recycling services for businesses looking to manage their commercial packaging waste responsibly. From secure shredding to efficient packaging recycling, we provide businesses with the tools and services needed to ensure that waste is sorted, processed, and repurposed correctly.

Our dedicated woodchipper machine ensures that wooden pallets and packaging are recycled into useful products, while our expertise in plastic, metal, glass, and paper recycling ensures that all materials are processed in line with the highest environmental standards.

By working with Highlander, businesses can save costs, improve their sustainability credentials, and meet their legal obligations, all while contributing to a greener, more circular economy. Contact us today to get started!