What You Need To Know About Soft Plastics Recycling In The UK 

Plastics are a huge cause for concern for the environment, with five million tonnes used in the UK every year. Nearly half of this plastic is used in packaging. People in the UK throw away 290,000 tonnes of plastic bags and wrapping each year, and while local authorities are clamping down on plastic waste with stricter recycling rules for households, there is a lot that still needs to be done to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced each year.  

Soft plastics cause a particular problem when it comes to recycling. They can’t be recycled in the same way as hard plastics, which means different processes need to be in place to help recycle soft plastic effectively. Businesses can take it upon themselves to change the way they handle soft plastic recycling, as well as help their customers play their part too. 

Here’s what you need to know about soft plastics recycling in the UK. 

Soft plastics are abundant in the products we use every day. Soft plastics include plastic bags, packaging film and wrapping, packing envelopes and more. These types of plastics are harder to recycle than others, and due to the current capabilities of many local authorities, most soft plastic ends up with general waste, filling landfills by the tonne. They take a long time to decompose, a problem that can also increase greenhouse gas emissions. 

But while soft plastic poses a challenge for recycling, it isn’t impossible to recycle it. Thanks to initiatives like the UK Plastics Pact, it’s becoming easier for households across the UK to recycle their soft plastics at the supermarket. However, more can be done to ensure that soft plastic is recycled properly, and businesses have a big part to play in this.   

There are a lot of benefits that come with recycling soft plastics, including: 

Businesses in the UK are subject to various taxes to help improve recycling rates and cut down on waste. By recycling more of your soft plastic, you could reduce the amount of Landfill Tax you need to pay saving your business a lot of money each year. Reducing the amount of plastic packaging you use could also save you from paying Plastic Packaging Tax, bringing significant savings at a time when costs are continuing to rise for both businesses and households. 

Waste collection can be a huge cost for businesses, especially for non-recyclable waste. Better waste management could help you recycle more and dispose of less, bringing further savings to your business. 

In addition to saving money, it is possible to actually make money through your waste collection. Some companies will pay for your soft plastic waste, which can then be reused by other companies to make products and packaging – helping to create a circular economy. The money you make can be used to cover the cost of your waste management procedures or reinvested in your business to boost your sustainability efforts. 

Consumers care about sustainability, with many shoppers preferring to choose sustainable products over branded ones. By championing greener policies and taking a strong stand against plastic waste, you can help to improve the way that people view your company, and perhaps even encourage better practices amongst your competition too. 

Some forms of soft plastic packaging are inevitable, especially in areas like food packaging and hygiene. But where possible, you should seek to use alternative types of packaging and give your customers guidance on how to recycle your products correctly. 

Alternatively, you could provide methods to recycle your customers’ plastic bags and wrapping, giving them options to help dispose of their soft packaging. With only 6% of plastic packaging being recycled at the moment, this could make a big difference in plastic recycling rates.  

If you’re looking for ways to make it easier to recycle soft plastic in your workplace, then consider using plastic balers to help you. Plastic balers can help you condense your plastic waste into manageable bales that will make it easier and cheaper for waste collection companies to collect them. They can help you save space and manage your waste easily, for a more organised workplace. 

phs Wastekit is one of the leading suppliers of waste balers in the UK. We have cardboard and plastic balers that can help make waste management much simpler, and they are available to either buy or rent depending on your preferences. As part of our services, we can provide you with a free Wastesaving Audit that can help advise you on ways to improve your waste management, as well as help you save money. 

Take a hard stance against soft plastics today and get in touch with phs Wastekit to discuss your individual needs.