Business Waste
No. 1 for Marketing Materials Waste Disposal

Marketing Materials Waste

Marketing is important to promote any business and get the name out there. There are many different methods, from traditional strategies like handing out flyers and hosting events to modern techniques such as podcasting and digital PR. However, physical marketing strategies that use materials to shout about your company can create waste.

It could be clearing up after an event, dealing with leftover materials excess from unused promotional items, or pulling down old posters advertising your services. All such marketing materials are a type of commercial waste that you must manage and dispose of properly. This involves reducing and recycling such waste where possible.

Discover how to manage your marketing materials waste efficiently and cost-effectively with Business Waste. Get a free quote for marketing waste collection anywhere in the UK – contact us online or call 0800 211 8390.

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What is marketing waste?

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
passing a marketing leaflet between two people.

How to dispose of 
marketing waste

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:

At Business Waste we provide free bins for all types of marketing materials waste – you only pay for collection. All sorts of bin sizes are available to suit the kind and amount of rubbish you generate. Use the range of recycling bins you need to dispose of all your old marketing materials responsibly.

Another sustainable way to get rid of your leftover marketing materials is to donate them to a local charity or organisation. Many charity shops will accept items such as clothing, mugs, pens, and tote bags. These can be sold to support their cause or sent to those in need for use.

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How are waste marketing 
materials recycled?

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.

Learn more about recycling
posters on a wall.

Who needs to recycle 
promotional items?

Any business that produces any type of promotional items to run and support a marketing campaign can create waste. The company responsible for the promotional items is responsible for arranging its disposal and recycling. This could be an events management firm if it produces banners as part of a conference, or a takeaway if it gets leaflets printed to advertise a new offer.

Some of the main companies that need to recycle promotional items include:

What is sustainable marketing?

Sustainable marketing is promoting environmentally and socially responsible products and services. This includes items that are made from 100% recycled materials or services that use local people and resources. Sustainable marketing also involves ensuring your marketing activities have as little impact on the environment as possible.

Creating new products made from recycled materials and/or that reduce a company’s carbon footprint and shouting about it are all sustainable marketing examples. Other sustainable marketing examples include partnering with local charities and providing donations, receiving third-party certifications and verifications, and sharing sustainability info about your business on social media platforms.

How to achieve 
zero waste marketing

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.
  • Have informative packaging that simply explains how it can be reused, recycled, or if it will biodegrade.
  • Switch to paper-free and digital marketing strategies to save paper, cardboard, the associated costs, and environmental impact.
three women on a stall at a trade show.

Arrange marketing materials 
waste collection

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.

Contact us online or call 0800 211 8390 today for a free no obligation quote. Speak to one of our friendly experts who can answer your questions and advise on anything you need help with about your marketing materials waste.

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Marketing waste FAQs

  • What is advertising waste?

    Advertising waste – or ad waste – is when an advertising campaign doesn’t meet its targets. This can result in a waste of money on a campaign that didn’t fully work, as well as a waste of time and resources. Advertising waste can include physical waste such as any posters, billboards, leaflets, and other advertising items left over from a campaign.

  • What should I consider when planning promotional items?

    When deciding on any promotional items to use as part of a marketing campaign you should ensure they’re as eco-friendly as possible. Consider:

    • Using promotional items made from 100% recycled materials.
    • Ensuring all promotional items are fully recyclable.
    • Having clean information about how to recycle the packaging.
    • Ordering the exact amount you intend to give out to avoid waste.
    • Deciding on useful promotional items that will be reused.
  • How can you encourage recycling of marketing materials?

    The easiest way to encourage recycling of marketing materials is to have separate bins across your business for materials like paper, cardboard, plastics, and glass. Clear signs make it easy for employees to recycle marketing waste rather than throwing it all away in a general waste bin.

    Ensure there’s information on any packaging and materials like leaflets explaining how to recycle them. This should help anyone who receives them to dispose of them responsibly as well.

  • Why is sustainable marketing important?

    Sustainable marketing is important to reduce the environmental impact of any campaign. There are millions of companies across the UK that run regular marketing activities using flyers, posters, and other items. These can take up valuable landfill space and contribute to carbon emissions if disposed of improperly when they should be recycled.

  • What is sustainable digital marketing?

    Sustainable digital marketing is the ethical way to promote an environmentally friendly and eco-conscious business online. It ensures marketing campaigns and activities align with a brand’s values about the environment and sustainability. This means a business that presents itself as aiming to reduce its carbon footprint should do so through its marketing activities as well.

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Get a fast and free quote

Get a fast FREE quote for your marketing waste collection

  • Free quote within 1 hr
  • Any type of waste materials
  • FREE bins and delivery
  • We cover all of the UK