Distribution and warehouse waste management

The distribution sector generates various types of waste such as:

• Packaging waste - Distribution and warehouses generate a significant amount of packaging waste including cardboard boxes, plastic bags and wrapping.
• Food waste - Distribution and warehouses that store and transport packaged and fresh food may generate waste from expired or spoiled goods that will need to be disposed of correctly.
• Electronic waste - Products such as computers and mobile phones create electronic waste when they become obsolete or damaged during storage and transit and are not suitable for sale.
• Hazardous waste - Warehouses that store chemicals or items that contain dangerous materials such as batteries or cleaning products generate hazardous waste.

The distribution and warehouse industry are required to uphold waste disposal regulations including The Packaging Waste Regulations 2023, The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and The Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. By partnering with Hills Waste, we can ensure that your distribution or warehouse business is compliant with all waste laws and regulations.

The UK generated 222.2 million tonnes of waste in 2018 (source) with as much as 20% generated commercially.  According to a report from WRAP (source) plastic packaging in the UK accounts for nearly 70% of our plastic waste.

Handling glass can be dangerous for those collecting, handling and segregating your waste. As such, glass cannot be placed within Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR) bins and should instead be disposed of in specialist glass recycling bins, which can be found here: https://www.hills-waste.co.uk/waste-services/glass-waste 

Once your Dry Mixed Recycling has been collected, it is taken to a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) and emptied onto a converter belt, through a bag-splitter, where it is moved for pre-sort inspection. At this stage, our team looks through the waste to ensure no non-recyclable materials have been added in error, which may slow the process or even damage our machinery. 

The waste is then passed through a series of screens and filters to sort smaller and lighter materials, such as paper and cardboard. The remaining waste is filtered through various machines, which use light and sensors to analyse and separate materials passing through. Metal is additionally passed through a magnetic belt to separate steel and aluminium from non-magnetic metals.

Once reviewed by staff to ensure no material has been sorted into the wrong area, the now separated waste is then baled and sent to relevant specialists for recycling.