Marketing Materials Waste

• What is marketing waste?
• How to dispose of marketing waste
• How are waste marketing materials recycled?
• Who needs to recycle promotional items?

Marketing waste is any leftover materials or items used in your promotional activities that you no longer need. This could be a box of flyers left over after an event that has no purpose or broken branded items handed out at a trade show like keyrings and mugs.

Examples of marketing waste include:

• Leaflets and flyers
• Brochures
• Posters
• Banners
• Business cards
• Promotional items (pens, badges, tote bags etc.)
• Branded clothing

Leftover marketing materials and promotional items are commercial waste. Therefore, businesses must arrange commercial waste collection by licensed waste carriers of any marketing waste they produce. These should be separated and stored in bins based on their type and then sent for recycling and recovery where possible.

Different bins to dispose of your marketing waste include:

• Paper recycling – leaflets, flyers, posters, and business cards
• Textile recycling – tote bags, branded clothing, and flags
• Plastic recycling – pens, keyrings, and badges
• General waste – broken branded mugs
• Cardboard recycling – cardboard stands and boxes

Leftover marketing items are recycled with other materials of the same type. Businesses should separate any marketing waste and dispose of it in the relevant recycling bins where possible. The waste is then recycled following the same processes to recycle paper, cardboard, plastics, and textiles.

For example, business cards can be disposed of in a paper or dry mixed recycling bin. They’re recycled alongside other paper waste, which is pulped and turned into new recycled paper sheets and products. At Business Waste we ensure as much waste as possible is recycled and kept away from landfill to protect the environment.

Zero waste marketing is all about running marketing campaigns that leave no waste behind. You should think about what resources you need and the kind of activities you’ll be doing and then figure out the best ways to make these sustainable. It helps the environment, may save you money, and enhances your eco-credentials.

Effective ways to work towards zero waste marketing include to:

• Update your mailing list to ensure leaflets and marketing materials are only sent to people of interest – avoiding them going straight into the bin.
• Estimate how many people will be at an event or that you’re likely to offer promotional items/leaflets to, so you can plan effectively.
• Recycle all leftover marketing materials such as flyers and posters.
• Use 100% recycled materials for your promotional products like free pens, badges, and keyrings.
• Review and track your marketing materials to avoid buying more than you need, which is a waste of materials, resources, and money.
• Invest in reusable merchandise rather than disposable and novelty items. Think of promotional items people will use again.

At Business Waste we can help with recycling any of your leftover marketing materials. We provide free bins anywhere in the UK to separate and store all sorts of waste before it’s collected and recycled. This includes paper, cardboard, dry mixed recycling, and glass bins. You only pay for collection with no hire costs.

Waste collections are available as a one-off or on a regular daily, weekly, or fortnightly basis if you often produce lots of material waste. You receive a free duty of care certificate confirming all waste was disposed of responsibly and legally. We aim to recycle as much rubbish as possible to keep it out of landfill.