Commercial waste
Where does your
waste go?
The journey after collection
Right-sized collections- Collected business waste is sorted and sent to recycling, composting or anaerobic digestion (food), or energy-from-waste — landfill is now a last resort.
- Dry mixed recycling is separated at a materials recovery facility; food waste is treated by composting or anaerobic digestion.
- Separating your waste well means more is recycled and less goes to costly landfill or general treatment.
- Contamination reduces what can be recycled, so keeping your streams clean matters.
It's easy to think of waste as gone the moment the bin is emptied. In reality, your business waste goes on a journey — and where it ends up depends a lot on how well you separated it.
Recycling
Your dry mixed recycling goes to a materials recovery facility, where paper, card, plastics and metals are separated and sent on to be made into new products. Clean, well-sorted recycling is worth more and is more likely to actually be recycled.
Food waste
Separated food waste is treated by composting or anaerobic digestion — the latter captures gas to generate energy and produces fertiliser. This is why food waste can no longer go to landfill under Simpler Recycling.
General waste
What's left after recycling and food is removed increasingly goes to energy-from-waste facilities, which burn it to generate electricity, rather than to landfill. Landfill is now the last resort — and the most expensive option, which is why reducing general waste cuts your costs.
Why separation matters
The better you separate your waste, the more is recycled or recovered and the less goes to costly treatment. Contamination — food or liquids in the recycling — can spoil a load and send it to general waste instead. Good sorting is better for the planet and your bill.
Want your waste set up to recycle more and cost less? We compare commercial waste and recycling across licensed UK carriers. Call 0845 862 1947 or get in touch.
Your waste has a destination, and you influence it every time you sort a bin. Separate well, keep it clean, and more of your waste is recycled or turned into energy — with less heading to landfill.