Single-Use Plastics Recycling

Over the last decade, the world has produced more plastic than during the whole of the last century. But can single-use plastic be recycled? Thankfully, the answer is yes!

After First Mile carries out the commercial waste collection, plastic waste is sorted by colour and type - the number you see inside the recycling triangle on all your plastic products. Materials are then transported to a specialist facility and, from there, each type of plastic goes through a slightly different process.

PET plastic bottles will be used as our example to answer the question “How to recycle single-use plastic?”, PET plastic bottles, for example, are prewashed and sent through a laser sorting machine to separate clear plastic and green plastic. Bottles are then washed in a hot and soapy process that heats them just enough to get rid of caps and labels.

The PET plastic is then shredded, washed and heated one more time. Recycled plastic bottles flakes are sent to be turned into products such as polyester fabric and carpets, or melted and shaped as pellets to be reprocessed again into new plastic bottles, food containers and other 3D plastic products.

Setting up a commercial waste collection for single-use plastics is easy using one of First Mile's commercial bins.

Business Recycling works in the same way as Business Waste; order sacks or bins, we deliver the next day and collect on a schedule to suit.

First Mile offers business waste recycling as well as business recycling collection across London and the UK. By law, companies need to demonstrate they are recycling waste where it is economical and practical.

First Mile helps businesses do that, by providing over 30 low-cost business waste and business recycling services that will save money and the planet.

As one of the leading waste management companies in London, Birmingham and the UK, First Mile has already helped over 30,000 businesses to reduce their carbon impact with our range of recycling services - with over 200 new businesses signing up each week.

By choosing First Mile, you’ll benefit from a low cost, reliable service, a 24/7 helpdesk, and free monthly reporting. You can view our accreditations above and our certificates and insurances here.

At First Mile, we don’t just manage your waste professionally and securely - we're also committed to a zero-to-landfill approach. That means that we will recycle and reuse as much of your waste as possible.

Anything that can’t be recycled or reused will then be taken to a waste-to-energy facility, where it will be incinerated in a process that generates electricity and heat which is used to power homes. Any remains that can't be burnt are salvaged to become building materials, so it's all put to good use rather than going to landfill.