Polypropylene Recycling
Business Waste arranges commercial polypropylene (PP) recycling for businesses across the UK. We can collect suitable PP packaging, tubs, trays, bottle caps, crates, manufacturing offcuts, and other clean polypropylene waste that is marked with plastic code 5.
Tell us what polypropylene waste you produce, how much you have and how often it needs collecting. Our team will confirm the most suitable setup, including containers, collection schedule and relevant paperwork.
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Get a fast FREE quote for polypropylene recycling
- Free quote within 1 hour
- PP packaging, containers and offcuts
- FREE bins and delivery
- Nationwide UK coverage
What polypropylene waste can we collect?
We can arrange collections for suitable PP such as:
- Yoghurt pots and food tubs
- Microwavable food trays
- Bottle caps and closures
- Plastic crates and boxes
- Suitable carrier bags and packaging
- Pallets
- Pipes, valves and fittings
- Automotive components
- Manufacturing offcuts and moulded parts
- Plastic furniture
- Clean PP containers marked with plastic code 5
Polypropylene should normally be empty, clean and free from food, liquids, chemicals and other contamination. Some products made from several materials or containing hazardous residues may need a separate collection route.
How commercial polypropylene recycling works
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Tell us what PP waste you produce
Let us know the type, volume, collection location and how often PP builds up in your business.
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Receive suitable bins
We provide containers for your polypropylene waste and available storage space, with no rental or delivery fees on standard collection bins.
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Keep polypropylene clean
Empty containers and keep PP separate from food, liquids, chemicals, general waste and other contaminants.
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Arrange collection
Licensed waste carriers collect the material on the agreed schedule.
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Recycling and treatment
Accepted polypropylene is transferred to a suitable recycling facility, where it is sorted and processed for reuse.
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Receive your paperwork
Business Waste Ltd provides the relevant Duty of Care and collection records.
What is polypropylene?
Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer. It has a high melting point and is resistant to many bases, acids, and chemical solvents. It’s one of the most popular plastic types, and around 30% of all PP is used by the packaging industry.
Polypropylene is used to make all sorts of goods and products, such as:
- Food packaging – bottle caps, yoghurt pots, and microwavable containers
- Packaging materials – shampoo bottles, drinks bottles, carrier bags, and pallets
- Automotive materials – car bumpers, instrument panels, and door trims
- Garden furniture – outdoor plastic moulded chairs and tables
- Industrial items – piping, valves, fittings, and gears
- Medical equipment – disposable syringes, pill bottles, and disposable cubicle curtains
Can you recycle polypropylene?
Polypropylene can be recycled, and PP is identified by resin code 5. Suitable polypropylene can be separated, cleaned and reprocessed into plastic pellets for use in new products.
However, the number 5 symbol does not mean every PP product will be accepted through every recycling service. Acceptance depends on the item, contamination and the available treatment route.
We’ll confirm whether your polypropylene is suitable for collection and which bin or recycling route is required.
How is polypropylene recycled?
At the recycling facility, polypropylene is separated from other materials and contamination. It is cleaned, shredded and processed using heat before being formed into recycled plastic pellets. These pellets can then be used by manufacturers to make new plastic products.
- Separating – all polypropylene is separated from other plastic and contaminants.
- Cleaning – the PP and any containers (such as bins and buckets) are then cleaned to remove contaminants.
- Melting – separated polypropylene is heated to reach its melting point. This is fed into an extruder and continuously heated until it turns into a liquid.
- Cooling – the melted polypropylene is then cooled and formed into pellets, which are used by manufacturers in their production processes to create new products.
Why is polypropylene
recycling important?
Recycling polypropylene keeps a useful plastic material in circulation and reduces the need for new production where recycled PP can be used instead. Reprocessed polypropylene can be used for packaging, containers, automotive components and other manufactured goods.
For businesses, separating PP can also reduce the amount of recyclable plastic entering general waste and make collections easier to manage. Organisations producing regular volumes of clean polypropylene may also be able to explore a plastic recycling rebate.
How to dispose
of polypropylene
Businesses can dispose of polypropylene by placing it in a plastic recycling bin and arranging removal by licensed waste carriers. At Business Waste, we provide recycling services for polypropylene products. Dispose of PP by following these steps:
- Get a free no obligation quote for plastic waste collections – whether you need a one-off removal, daily, weekly, or fortnightly collections. The price will be based on the number and size of bins you need, where you are in the UK and the frequency of collections.
- Arrange free delivery of plastic bins to store your used polypropylene materials and products, alongside any other plastic waste. We’ll deliver the bins at an agreed time and date – you just cover the costs of collection.
- Fill your plastic waste bins with polypropylene and any other recyclable plastic waste, then place them at the agreed pickup point ahead of the collection time.
- Our licensed waste carriers will come and remove your plastic bins, replacing them if you’ve arranged regular plastic waste collections.
- Your plastic waste will be transported to a nearby waste management facility. Here the polypropylene is separated from other plastics, sorted, cleaned, and recycled to create new plastic products.
- Finally, you’ll receive a free duty of care certificate as proof that your polypropylene plastics were disposed of safely, legally, and in an environmentally friendly way.
To dispose of polypropylene at home, check if your local authority accepts it in your domestic recycling bins (PP 5). If not, see whether you can take it to your nearest household waste recycling centre (HWRC) for recycling. Alternatively, arrange collection of plastic recycling by Business Waste.
Which businesses produce
PP waste?
Any business or organisation that has any amount of polypropylene waste needs to recycle it, rather than dispose of it with general waste. Some of the main industries that create high volumes of polypropylene waste for recycling are:
- Healthcare – disposable cubicle curtains/slide sheets, medication bottles, and disposable syringes
- Automotive – damaged plastic bumpers, gears, and other car parts
- Retailers – carrier bags, old plastic stock such as garden furniture
- Catering – food packaging (such as plastic wrapping, bottles, and containers)
- Manufacturing – moulded parts, production offcuts, crates and components
Arrange polypropylene waste collection
Business Waste arranges PP waste collections across the UK, with free standard bins, scheduled or suitable one-off collections and Duty of Care paperwork included.
Tell us the polypropylene products your business produces, your approximate volume and how often you need them collected. We’ll confirm the appropriate recycling setup.
Polypropylene recycling FAQs
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Why is polypropylene difficult to recycle?
Recycling polypropylene can be difficult as it must be separated from other plastics made from different polymer types because they melt at different temperatures. This can add time and costs to the recycling process. If PP products aren’t properly sorted and separated then contaminants can make the recycling process a failure.
Another difficulty with recycling PP is that it loses strength and flexibility when recycled successively, weakening bonds between hydrogen and carbon. This means polypropylene can’t be endlessly recycled. However, some facilities mix recycled PP with new polypropylene as a somewhat sustainable solution.
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Is polypropylene biodegradable or compostable?
Polypropylene is not biodegradable or compostable. However, it takes much less time to break down and decompose compared to many other plastics. PP can degrade in 20 to 30 years, while the likes of polyethene and polystyrene may take more than 500 years to fully decompose.
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What happens to polypropylene in landfill?
Polypropylene in landfill can take 20 to 30 years to completely break down and decompose. During this time any additives from the manufacturing process (toxins like cadmium and lead) may leach into the landfill. This can pollute local land, water, and air supplies, which is why recycling polypropylene and diverting it away from landfill is essential.
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Does bleach dissolve polypropylene?
Bleach does not dissolve polypropylene. However, exposure to bleach causes a strong oxidising effect that can lead to PP degrading. You can dissolve PP in nonpolar solvents such as xylene, tetralin, and decalin at an elevated temperature. Polypropylene is resistant to many chemicals and solvents with a high melting point, which makes it popular for a wide range of purposes.
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What is the lifespan of polypropylene?
Most polypropylene products have a lifespan of around 20 years, which is relatively short for plastic goods. PP items are highly durable, and some may last for longer, depending on their care, usage, and storage conditions. When polypropylene reaches the end of its life it can take between 20 and 30 years to fully degrade.
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What is the recycle code for polypropylene?
Polypropylene has the plastic code number 5. Check any plastic products for the recycling symbol with 5 inside it (and sometimes PP below the recycling triangle) to see if it’s polypropylene. Find out more in our guide to recycling symbols.
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Published 17th May 2023 by Mark Hall. Last modified 12th August 2026