Commercial Plastic Recycling for UK Businesses
National Recycling provides commercial plastic recycling for businesses across the UK, collecting production offcuts, rigid plastics, sheet, packaging and end-of-life items from factories, warehouses, retailers and building sites.
Commercial plastic collections
Plastic Types We Recycle
We collect and recycle various plastic waste types for businesses across the UK. This includes bulk loads of waste materials either baled or palletised for collection. We can also supply plastic waste balers and compactors to help you store and manage your waste.
Handled with care.
- ABS recycling: tough moulded plastic (resin code 7) from electrical casings, automotive trim, 3D printing and manufacturing scrap.
- Acrylic (PMMA) and Perspex recycling: clear and coloured sheet (resin code 7), offcuts, screens and retail displays.
- Correx recycling: corrugated polypropylene sheet used for signage, site floor protection and packaging dividers.
- HDPE recycling: rigid polyethylene (resin code 2) such as drums, containers, wheelie bins, pallets and pipe.
- LDPE film recycling: shrink wrap, pallet wrap, stretch film and polythene (resin code 4).
- Nylon recycling: engineering nylon parts, rope, netting, strapping, yarn and textile offcuts (resin code 7).
- PET recycling: bottles, trays, clear food packaging and film (resin code 1).
- Polycarbonate recycling: glazing, roofing sheet, safety screens, lighting covers and machine guards (resin code 7).
- Polypropylene (PP) recycling: crates, boxes, tonne bags, strapping and moulded parts (resin code 5).
- PVC and uPVC recycling: uPVC windows and doors, guttering, downpipe and PVC offcuts (resin code 3).
From your site to a fresh start
How Business Plastic Recycling Works
- 01
Tell us what you have.
Use the quote form to give the plastic type, rough quantity, how it is stored and your collection postcode. A photo of the load helps. - 02
Get your quote.
Our team replies with a quote providing clear pricing details. - 03
We collect.
A verified waste carrier from our haulage network collects from your site on an agreed date. Plastic can travel with your cardboard or paper bales on the same vehicle. - 04
Recycling.
The plastic goes to a licensed recycling facility, where it is sorted, shredded or ground, washed where needed and turned into flake or pellets for manufacturers. - 05
Paperwork.
You receive a waste transfer note for every collection to show you met your duty of care.
Let’s get it sorted
Get a Commercial Plastic Recycling Quote
Tell us which plastics you have, roughly how much and where they are, and our team will reply with a quote. Call 0845 366 9306 or request a quote online.
Commercial plastic collections
Preparing Your Plastic for Collection
How you store plastic on site affects what it is worth to a reprocessor and how easily it can be moved.
- 01
Keep polymers apart
A single-type load is far easier to recycle than mixed plastic. If you are unsure what a material is, look for the resin code moulded into it or send us a photo. - 02
Bale where you can
Loose plastic is mostly air, so most plastic should be baled before collection. Large rigid items such as pipe and wheelie bins can go loose. We can supply balers. - 03
Keep it clean and dry
Remove food, soil and general waste where practical. Containers that held chemicals need extra care (see below).
Peace of mind
Plastic Recycling Regulations
Under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, every business has a duty of care for its waste. You must store plastic waste safely, pass it only to authorised carriers and keep waste transfer notes for at least 2 years.
Plastic containers that held hazardous substances, such as solvents or oils, may be classed as hazardous waste. Tell us what a container held so it goes through the right route, or see our IBC container disposal service.
A partner you can depend on
Why Choose National Recycling for Commercial Plastic Recycling
UK-wide collections.
Our network of haulage partners collects from businesses across the country, so multi-site companies deal with one supplier.Recycling first.
We recycle wherever it is possible and safe, and arrange compliant disposal only for material that cannot be recycled.Fully compliant.
We use verified waste carriers and licensed recycling facilities, in line with UK regulations.One supplier for more waste streams.
Combine plastic with cardboard, paper, metal or electrical waste, and add balers if you need them.Fast quotes.
Our team replies quickly to every enquiry, providing a fast turnaround for collections.One-off or regular.
Book a single clearance or a scheduled collection, with one supplier for every location.
Find the right service
Related Services
Which plastics can businesses recycle?
Most rigid and sheet plastics can be recycled when they are sorted by type. We collect ABS, acrylic (PMMA), Correx, HDPE, nylon, PET, polycarbonate and polypropylene, plus LDPE film, PVC and PC-ABS. Heavily contaminated or mixed composite items are harder to recycle, so send us a photo and we will tell you what is possible.
Do you offer plastic waste collection for businesses?
Yes. We collect plastic waste from businesses across the UK, including manufacturers, warehouses, retailers, construction sites and distribution centres. Collections can be one-off clearances or regular pick-ups, and plastic can go on the same vehicle as your baled cardboard or paper. We do not collect from households.
Does plastic need to be baled before collection?
Do you pay for scrap plastic?
What do the numbers on plastic mean?
The number inside the recycling triangle is the resin identification code. It tells you the polymer: 1 is PET, 2 is HDPE, 3 is PVC, 4 is LDPE, 5 is polypropylene and 6 is polystyrene. Code 7 means "other" and covers plastics such as ABS, acrylic, nylon and polycarbonate.
What happens to plastic after it is recycled?
At a licensed recycling facility, plastic is sorted by polymer, shredded or ground, washed where needed and turned into flake or pellets. Manufacturers then use that material to make new products such as packaging, pipe, sheet and moulded components, reducing the need for new raw plastic.
Do I get paperwork for my plastic waste?
Yes. You receive a waste transfer note for each collection, which you must keep for at least 2 years under your duty of care. If any of your plastic is classed as hazardous, for example containers that held certain chemicals, it travels under a hazardous waste consignment note instead.