Collecting and processing plastic waste to return recycled plastics to market
Recycling Lives plastic recycling services ensure all materials that can be recycled, are recycled. We work with clients to understand the value of techniques to improve plastic waste recycling, from implementing separation techniques to understanding legislation.
Our tailored services for plastic disposal and recycling include assessing your waste streams, installing equipment for improved operational efficiencies and achieving high recycle rates to return recyclable plastic to market.
We recycle all common polymers, including PVC, PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP and PS. We are also able to recycle complex plastics, such as PA, PC, ABS, PC-ABS, POM and more. Following processing through our fragmentiser, to separate composite materials, all types of recyclable plastics are melted down and transformed into plastic pellets by a trusted partner company. These pellets can then be used to create new plastic products.
With a nationwide network of sites, skips and containers of all sizes, and a large fleet of skip wagons, ROROs and artics, we can manage the plastic recycling process across the UK. We can arrange full- and part-load collections - where appropriate, combining these with collections from other clients to minimise emissions - ready to be recycled at our Recycling Park ahead of reprocessing.
All our plastic recycling processes contribute to the creation of significant social value - so your plastic disposal becomes a charitable process.
As well as supporting our charitable programmes through plastic recycling, we are creating skilled jobs in waste management. The team at our Recycling Park, where plastics are separated and shredded ready for export or reuse, are highly skilled recycling operatives - many started with us after undertaking one of our social programmes. Working with Recycling Lives means your business supports and sustains these life-changing charitable programmes.
Plastics ready for recycling are processed any of our nationwide recycling sites; creating meaningful and skilled jobs. Eight of our nine HMP Academies are recycling academies, where men and women process WEEE to extract valuable waste materials, including plastics for recycling, while men in our fabrication academy build and repair skips to be used for plastic waste collection.
All our commercial activities support and sustain our charitable programmes; reducing reoffending, supporting homeless men and redistributing food. These create opportunities through:
Our work is doing more than just changing lives for individuals, families and communities - between 2015 and 2017 it has created huge savings for society by reducing costs to the taxpayer and creating social value worth millions of pounds.
The proper disposal of plastic waste falls under the Duty of Care Regulations 1991, which applies to all businesses that produce or import, keep or store, transport, treat or dispose of waste. If your business intends to dispose of plastic, you are obligated to:
There is no mandatory need to mark plastics, however, as an aid for recyclers the following labelling system is recommended:
Moulded plastics items should be marked in accordance with ISO 11469 where practicable.
Find the answers to all your questions about Plastic Recycling below.
As listed above, we are able to recycle a wide range of common and complex polymers. However, while some plastics can be re-heated and re-shaped many times, others can’t. This means there are certain plastics that will never be recycled. As a result, recyclers must find other solutions like waste-to-energy to prevent plastic waste going to landfill. We recycle all plastics that can be recycled.
Recycling Lives offers plastic waste recycling services for both commercial and domestic clients. This includes plastic collection services nationwide. With a nationwide network of sites, and skips and containers of all sizes, we can manage the plastic recycling process across the UK, arranging full- and part-load collections.
Martin Chown Supply Chain Director Sellafield Limited
We are committed to ensuring our local communities derive maximum economic benefit from the money we spend at Sellafield, by insisting companies that win work with us to invest to support local growth. Read moreRead less
Josh Steiner Social Value & Sustainability Manager Wates Group
Recycling Lives has reaped the rewards of strong commercial and social credentials to secure large-scale contracts. Read moreRead less
Steve Giblin Group HSSEQ Director Speedy
Critical to the appointment of Recycling Lives was its enlightened approach to social value. Read moreRead less
Jeremy Hartley Managing Director Eric Wright Group
The Eric Wright Group has always recognised the importance of supporting the local community and using our business activities to improve people’s lives. Read moreRead less
Our bespoke customer portal can be tailored to your business needs. After we’ve assessed your waste streams, we’ll ensure the portal is responsive to making collection requests, viewing the recycling process and tracking recycle rates.
We’ve operated in the recycling sector for 40 years - learn more about our history and impact to date
We’d love to hear from you - contact us about recycling waste, working together or joining our team
We service all sectors - see how we can manage your waste for environmental and social benefit
