Paper Waste Recycling & Disposal Services

Shredded paper can be recycled in the UK, but it depends on the recycling facility. Normally, shredded paper can’t be recycled with regular paper waste, as shredding weakens it. The fibres become too short to create good quality recycled paper. Shredded paper must be recycled separately.

Some local authorities and recycling plants collect and recycle shredded paper separately. If the paper is still of a good enough quality it can be recycled into low-grade paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper. Businesses can arrange commercial waste collection of shredded paper separately from other paper recycling to ensure it’s reused.

Learn more about what to do with shredded paper your business produces and how to recycle confidential waste with Business Waste.

Paper for recycling can be transformed into a variety of new paper and card products sold to consumers and businesses. Some of these paper products can be recycled time and again, though others may come to the end of their life. Paper can be recycled into:

• Cardboard
• Brown parcel paper
• Kitchen and toilet roll
• Greetings cards and wrapping paper
• Printer and photocopier paper
• Paper bags

Yes. It’s helpful to remove staples before putting paper in a recycling bin, but at the recycling facility any contaminants will be removed anyway. This includes staples, as metal can get caught in the recycling machinery and cause problems, as well as affect the quality of recycled paper.

No, unfortunately you can’t recycle wallpaper with your business’ paper or cardboard recycling. Coatings on wallpaper stripped from walls or due to be applied often include dyes, inks, and glues, which are almost impossible to separate from the paper. Such contaminants mean wallpaper can’t go through the regular paper recycling process.

You may be able to recycle new, unused wallpaper if it’s completely paper based and has no coating of any other materials. Sometimes unused wallpaper rolls might class as bulky waste and have to be disposed of alongside other bulky items. There are also eco-friendly wallpapers available made from recycled paper and you can donate leftover wallpaper to charities and other businesses to stay green.

Greaseproof or baking paper isn’t recyclable even if it’s unused. This is because it’s made with a silicone coating containing various chemicals, which you can’t separate from the paper. It can also sometimes retain waste oil from the baking process. After being used it will be covered in food, liquid, and other contaminants that are hard to remove without damaging the paper quality and its fibres.

Where possible, search for alternative products to use, like a glass baking tray. It’s a common household item but is also used frequently across the hospitality industry in restaurants and bakeries.

In the UK alone, we use over 12.5 million tonnes of paper annually. This is because it’s used across various businesses, from factories to offices. While studies estimate that around 80% of this waste is recycled, there’s still room for improvement. Approximately seven million tonnes of paper are sent to landfill each year.

Three types of paper can be recycled. This includes:

• Mill broke paper – the scraps or trimmings that break away when the paper is first manufactured. This is often recycled internally.
• Pre-consumer waste – paper that has been thrown away or discarded before being used by the consumer. This could include magazines or newspapers that were printed but never sold.
• Post-consumer waste – paper that’s thrown away after being used.

The vast majority of paper is recyclable. The only exceptions to this rule are paper products that have been covered in other materials such as wax, plastic, or foil. It could also include paper items that have been contaminated by food. Examples of non-recyclable paper include paper plates or metallic wrapping paper.

Shredded paper can be recycled, but it’s a little trickier than disposing of the paper outright. This is because the small pieces can sometimes get stuck in the machinery, making it harder for the pulp to be created. You can put shredded paper in a recycling bin, but it’s helpful to first separate it from the rest of your paper waste – whether you use a separate container or a waste bag.

Composting is a great way to reuse paper instead of disposing of it outright. This is because the addition of paper to a compost heap can help the soil retain water or increase its volume. It’s also a great source of carbon, which helps speed up the breakdown of organic matter. Find out more about the values of composting within your business.

Keep paper clean and separate from general waste. Place into approved recycling containers and arrange licensed commercial collection.

Paper is sorted, cleaned, pulped, and rolled into recycled fibres that become new paper and cardboard products.

Introduce waste-light printing policies, switch to digital documentation, and separate paper at the source to prevent contamination.