Plastic
Waste Collection

We’re all guilty of producing large volumes of waste plastic in both our personal and professional lives. Most businesses create some level of plastic waste, from food packaging thrown away at lunchtime by employees to empty plastic bottles discarded by customers. However, plastic waste is produced in large quantities in the following industries:

• Retail – the retail industry produces large volumes of plastic waste, mainly in the form of product packaging. For example, most supermarkets store fruit, veg, and ready meals in plastic packaging.
• Construction – plastic is a key resource for the construction industry. Plastic products are used for storage, as well as to create products such as piping, tiles, and even carpets.
• Food service – takeaways, cafes, and restaurants generate high volumes of plastic waste through packaging. This includes single-use plastic bottles and their lids, disposable coffee cups, and food containers.
• Offices – offices in all industries produce large volumes of plastic waste. For example, this could include disposable coffee cups and bottles alongside product packaging and storage containers.

To understand the importance of recycling and reducing plastic waste we’ve pulled together a few incredible plastic waste statistics and facts. These plastic waste facts highlight the extent of our reliance on the material and why responsible storage, removal, and disposal are vital. A few fascinating statistics and facts about plastic waste are:

• In the UK we dispose of around 15 million single-use plastic bottles every day.
• Eight million tonnes of plastic wind up in the ocean each year, threatening marine life and polluting water sources.
• It’s estimated that around 380 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide each year.
• The UK is responsible for about 5 million tonnes of plastic waste – with the figure rising rapidly.
• It’s estimated that by 2050, around 12 billion tonnes of plastic will sit in landfill sites.

Reducing plastic waste is important for homes and businesses as it cuts the time, energy, and costs required for disposal and recycling. While recycling plastic is good it relies on energy and transportation, which can release emissions. Reducing and reusing plastic should be the first step before recycling, where possible.

For businesses, there are a few ways to reduce plastic waste by:

• Carrying out a waste audit – determine the exact volume of plastic waste produced daily by your business. This enables you to figure out where high volumes of waste plastic are generated and ways to reduce the amount.
• Sourcing sustainable materials – using sustainable products in your business helps reduce plastic waste. For example, retailers could offer customers paper bags or products made from recycled materials instead of plastic bags. Paper straws make a great alternative to plastic ones.
• Ensuring employees are aware of the recycling policy – ensuring all employees are aware of the importance of on-site plastic recycling and have access to the appropriate facilities and resources helps cut waste. For example, each employee should receive waste management training at the start of their contract.
• Encouraging refills – if you run a food service business try to encourage customers to bring refillable bottles, containers, or cups rather than using disposable plastic ones. Offer a discount for those that use refillable vessels to reduce the plastic containers, bottles, cups, and cutlery you use.
• Buying in bulk – purchasing stock in bulk should reduce the amount of plastic packaging used to store and transport goods. Receiving deliveries of big pallets can use less plastic wrap than lots of smaller ones. Look for items that aren’t individually packaged where possible too.