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UK Dry Mixed Recycling

Dry Mixed Recycling Collections

Dry mixed recycling (DMR) is a simple way for businesses to recycle clean, dry materials in one bin. It includes paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and containers, and metal cans or tins.

Business Waste Ltd provides free DMR bins, scheduled collections, and Duty of Care paperwork for UK businesses. We’ll help you check what can go in your DMR bin, what needs a separate stream, and which bin size is right for your site.

We collect a bin every 20 seconds
16,835
DRY MIXED RECYCLING ICON Collections in the last 7 days
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Get a fast FREE quote for your DMR waste

  • Free quote within 1 hour
  • Paper, card, plastic, and metal
  • FREE bins and delivery
  • We cover all of the UK
FREE DMR bins
Get 1 month’s free collections
Free Duty Of Care
Trusted by 30,000 UK businesses
DMR compliance support
Nationwide UK coverage
Free quote in 1 hour

How DMR collections work

  1. Tell us about your DMR

    Tell us what type of business you run, how your recycling is set up now, and how much DMR you produce. We’ll send a quote within one hour.

  2. Receive your free DMR bins

    We deliver the right number and size of DMR bins with no delivery or rental fees. You only pay for collections.

  3. Keep materials clean and dry

    Use your DMR bins for accepted paper, cardboard, plastics, and metals. Don’t include food, liquids, general waste, or anything your collector has not approved.

  4. We collect on schedule

    Licensed carriers collect your DMR on the agreed schedule and take it to authorised sorting or recycling facilities. Duty of Care paperwork is provided.

Get a quote

DMR collections with
Business Waste Ltd

DMR works well if your business produces clean recyclables but doesn’t have space for lots of separate bins. It gives your team one simple recycling stream for everyday paper, card, plastics, and metals.

Business Waste Ltd helps you choose the right bin size, set the collection schedule, and keep contamination low.

When you work with Business Waste Ltd, you get:

  • Free DMR bins with no delivery or rental charges
  • 240L, 260L, 660L, and 1100L bin options
  • Clear guidance on what can and can’t go in your DMR bin
  • Daily, weekly, or fortnightly collections to suit your schedule
  • One contact for bins, collections, and paperwork
  • Duty of Care paperwork and waste transfer records
  • DMR sent to authorised recycling facilities
  • Support with Simpler Recycling requirements in your area

Our approach is built around clarity, compliance and cost efficiency.

DMR setups for 
different sites

Your DMR setup should match your site, not make recycling harder. An office may only need one small mixed recycling bin. A school, restaurant, or retail unit may need larger bins and more frequent collections.

How we set up your DMR collections:

  • Check your current bins
  • Reduce general waste where possible
  • Introduce additional streams where DMR is not enough
  • Support staff to avoid avoidable contamination
  • Monitor performance and review collections if your volume changes

Sectors we work with include:

  • Offices – paper, documents, drinks cans, plastic bottles, and light packaging
  • Retailers – cardboard, packaging, paper, cans, and clean plastic containers
  • Schools and colleges – paper, plastic bottles, cartons where accepted, and canteen packaging
  • Restaurants and cafés – drinks cans, clean containers, packaging, and separate food waste collections
  • Warehouses – packaging, card, plastic containers, and larger recycling bins where separate cardboard is not needed

We also support multi-site businesses with unified reporting and central oversight. This helps you track recycling, manage paperwork, and keep costs under control.

What bins are used for 
DMR waste?

We supply free, clearly labelled bins for dry mixed recycling. You only pay for collection.

All bins are wheeled and can be moved to your agreed collection point.

If paper, cardboard, glass, or plastic builds up quickly, we may recommend a separate bin for that waste instead of putting everything into DMR.

View all DMR bins
recycling logo on bin.

Get a fast and free DMR waste disposal quote

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Case study: Dry mixed recycling support 
for Littleton Steel

Littleton Steel generates a consistent volume of recyclable packaging waste through its daily operations, including cardboard, paper, plastic, and cans. For manufacturers handling regular deliveries and dispatches, an effective dry mixed recycling service helps keep valuable recyclable materials separate from general waste.

Alongside its general waste collections, the business required a dedicated dry mixed recycling solution that would fit seamlessly into its existing waste management process.

We supplied an 1100-litre dry mixed recycling bin together with an 1100-litre general waste bin, both collected on a fortnightly schedule. This provides ample capacity for recyclable packaging while keeping the site’s waste streams clearly separated.

The result is a dependable dry mixed recycling system that supports better segregation, improves recycling rates, and helps the business manage waste efficiently as part of its day-to-day operations.

Read Our Customer Reviews

Business Waste Ltd

4.6 Star Rated (218 Google reviews)

5 Star Rating

Efficient communication

We have worked alongside Business Waste for quite a few months now, and their efficiency with communication and resolving queries is great. Allie especially is a pleasure to liaise with. Great company from a B2B perspective

Flo Bolton-Smith

5 Star Rating

The real definition of service

The service received was simply outstanding. Business Waste gave good advice and a demonstration of a willingness to help and get me a solution.

Jide Banwo

5 Star Rating

Exceptional service

I’ve been using Business Waste for our weekly rubbish collection, and I can’t recommend them highly enough! They are an exceptional, well-run, and organised company that truly understands the needs of their clients.

Gregory Harrand

5 Star Rating

Excellent service set up process

I was impressed by the speed of setting up the service. I made a single phone call to Business Waste and all the necessary paperwork was done efficiently.

Yahya Saeed

Trusted by 30,000+ UK Businesses

DMR compliance and paperwork

Businesses have a Duty of Care to store, transfer, and dispose of waste correctly. For DMR, that means keeping recycling clean and dry, using licensed carriers, and keeping the right collection records.

In England, Simpler Recycling rules (England) dictate that workplaces with 10 or more full-time staff have had to keep dry recyclables away from food waste and general waste since 31 March 2025. Micro-firms have until 31 March 2027.

Depending on your collection setup, paper and cardboard may also need their own bin. We’ll help you choose the right arrangement for your site.

What you’ll receive with Business Waste Ltd:

  • Licensed waste carriers
  • Duty of Care documentation
  • Waste transfer records where required
  • Clear guidance on accepted DMR materials
  • Support with Simpler Recycling requirements in England
  • Separate streams where DMR is not suitable, such as food, glass, or large volumes of cardboard
  • bins
    Free bins
  • DRY MIXED RECYCLING ICON
    Mixed recycling
  • COMMERCIAL WASTE
    Tailored quote
  • BIO DEGRADABLE WASTE
    Free duty of care
  • business waste icon
    1 month’s free collections
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Get a fast and free quote

Get a fast FREE quote for dry mixed recycling collection

  • Free quote within 1 hour
  • Any type of DMR
  • FREE bins and delivery
  • We cover all of the UK

Dry Mixed Recycling FAQs

  • bin shapes icon What is dry mixed recycling (DMR)?

    DMR is a single waste stream for clean, dry and uncontaminated paper, cardboard, plastics and metals. These items are collected together before being sorted and recycled.

    Learn more about DMR waste by visiting our ultimate guide.

  • bin shapes icon What goes in dry mixed recycling (DMR)?

    Common DMR items include:

    • Metal – cans, food trays, and foil
    • Paper – magazines, newspapers, documents, and receipts
    • Cardboard – boxes, cereal boxes, and food packaging
    • Plastic – bottles, containers, and yoghurt pots

    Everything must be clean and dry.

  • bin shapes icon What cannot go in dry mixed recycling (DMR)?

    The wrong items can contaminate your DMR bin and stop materials from being recycled. Keep these out of dry mixed recycling:

    • Food waste – use a separate food waste bin where required
    • Sanitary waste – nappies, used tissues, and sanitary products
    • Potentially hazardous waste – batteries, bleach bottles, and paint tins
    • Liquids – drinks, lubricants, and other fluids
    • Glass and ceramics – bottles, jars, and pots
    • Certain packaging – crisp packets, coffee cups, cling film, and plastic bags
    • Polystyrene, wood offcuts, and textiles – clothes and polystyrene packaging

  • bin shapes icon Why is contamination in DMR a problem?

    Contamination happens when food, liquids, general waste, nappies, tissues, hazardous items, or non-accepted materials go into a DMR bin. These items can spoil clean paper, card, plastics, and metals, which may lead to rejected loads or extra sorting costs.

  • bin shapes icon Do I need separate bins for paper and plastics?

    Not always. DMR lets you put accepted paper, card, plastics, and metals in one bin where your collection setup allows it. Some sites still need separate bins for paper, cardboard, glass, food, or plastic, depending on waste volumes, contamination risk, and Simpler Recycling rules.

Dry mixed recycling (DMR) collection in the UK

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And arrange your free bin and your collection

Published 4th April 2022 by Mark Hall. Last modified 3rd July 2026