Services
General Waste
General Waste is any non-recyclable waste.
It might be a product made of a material not yet recyclable or from a mix of different materials that can't be separated for recycling - or simply heavily contaminated waste.
One reason why our commercial general waste service is a top 3 hit for our customers is that we collect it in carbon-neutral vehicles. Another is that any business waste that can't be recycled it’s safely incinerated to produce green heat and electricity.
In other words, even general waste can help your business leaving a green footprint because nothing ends up in the landfill.
✔︎ Chuck it in
✘ Please keep it out
Expanded polystyrene
Tissues
Contaminated packaging
Wood
Napkins
Plastic and metal coat hangers (but you can also recycle them!)
Food (although it’s cheaper to recycle this - and the right thing to do!)
How we process your General Waste
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STEP 1
Collection
Commercial general waste sacks and bins are collected from outside your business.
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STEP 2
Sorted
All general waste materials are taken to our depot where they are sorted from other streams at our award-winning sack-sorting facility, the Sacktory®.
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STEP 3
Transported
Any non-recyclable waste that's left is then taken to an Energy from Waste facility.
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STEP 4
Processed
Non-recyclable waste is safely incinerated, and electricity and heat are captured from this process. Electricity is sent to the National Grid, while heat is used to provide heating and hot water to over 100,000 UK homes.
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STEP 5
Re-used
The bottom ash by-products from this process is reused as aggregate for construction.
Benefits
We work to encourage businesses to recycle as much as possible - that's why we offer over 20 options of recycling services! However, we understand that some general waste will always be produced.
Also known as residual waste, this includes anything that can't be recycled, for different reasons.
For example, products made of non-recyclable materials (such as expanded polystyrene) or several different materials that can't be separated (such as crips packets), but also any waste that's been heavily contaminated. Hence the importance of keeping separated bins for recycling and general waste!
But just because it can't be recycled, it doesn't mean that your commercial waste should go to a landfill. First Mile's general waste collection is reliable, safe and environmentally friendly.
After sorting, your business waste is transported to an Energy from Waste facility, where it's safely incinerated. The process generates electricity and heat that power homes in the UK, and by-products residues are used in the construction industry. Green, safe and reliable - everything you need for your commercial waste!
Could we be saving you time, money and effort?
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The average person in the UK throws away their own body weight in rubbish every 7 weeks, up to 60% of which could be recycled.
Easy. Smart.
Green.
You're two steps away from a cheaper, greener recycling service.