No, we are not a waste courier. The Green Alchemist is a marketplace for buyers and sellers of recyclable waste where you can find thousands of waste couriers and reprocessors who can handle cardboard recycling, plastic recycling, glass recycling, paper recycling and other types of recyclable waste. If you are a dealer who buys waste, you can use the Green Alchemist to find all types of businesses that are looking to either sell their recyclable materials or have a waste courier collect them.

The Green Alchemist’s Waste Stock market provides information regarding the latest prices of recyclable materials, advice on how best to separate your recyclable materials (commingled recyclable materials are worth far less) and our marketplace allows you to connect with waste couriers and dealers in your area who are willing to either collect your recyclable materials free of charge or buy these from you. 

This varies but, if you don’t sort your waste, you could be paying too much. The cost also depends on how much waste your business creates, where you’re located and the types of materials you need collecting. 

Shop around. Find out who recycles waste in your area and get some quotes. Use your current costs as a benchmark and go from there. Once you start looking at how you can recycle your commercial waste yourself, you should be able to reduce the amount of waste that needs to be collected.

Separated waste is worth more than co-mingled waste. Every year, 30% of recyclable materials are sent to landfills because they have been contaminated. For example, paper sorted from collection points is often commingled with other materials such as cans or glass. If it was separated, this could all be recycled.

Paper reprocessors need paper that has been specifically separated and are prepared to pay to get this. The same goes for companies who reprocess glass and cans. If you sort your waste, you can reduce contamination and increase value.

A waste reprocessor helps companies to process and recycle their waste. Many packaging producers can’t physically recycle their own packaging waste but reprocessors or exporters can recycle this waste.

To comply with EU regulations, they also sell Electronic Packaging Recovery Notes (e-PRN) and Electronic Packaging and Export Recovery Notes (e-PERN) and reinvest this income into recycling. Packaging producers will obtain e-PRNS and e-PERNS to show they have complied with their recycling obligations.

You must do this as soon as possible. You can also buy recycling bags and bins that help you to recycle as you go. Element Green Recycling sells the Green Pod that can help your business to separate waste. It’s great for hotels and offices. Meanwhile, the Rubbermaid Recycling trolley is excellent for the collection and storage of waste in buildings with multiple offices. Home Recycling also has a wide range of recycling bins.

Educate and incentivise them to recycle more. For example, you could encourage recycling with a reward scheme and display posters around the office to remind staff to recycle. WRAP has developed some eye-catching posters that can be placed near bins reminding staff what they can and cannot recycle. Establish this as a clear company policy and reward those members of staff who comply.

Here are a few questions you should ask:

1. Do you have a waste carrier’s licence? All businesses that collect waste from other organisations are required to have a waste carrier licence.
2. What can and can’t be recycled? Make sure you know precisely which materials can be recycled and how. 
3. What are your collection times? Is it clear when waste will be collected? Some carriers offer a variety of options so you can choose the one that works for you.
4. How frequently will bins be emptied? Depending on how much waste you collect, it can be more cost-effective to have one large collection rather than several small collections.
5. Do you offer any incentives to maximise recycling? Some may offer incentives and deals to help you to improve your recycling.
6. Can you offer training for my staff? Some carriers will provide training sessions for your staff. 
7. Do you have any communications materials such as leaflets or bin signs? If they do have their own signs, this can help with staff education.
8. Can I subsequently amend the service? If your needs change, you might want to alter the deal or adjust the service at a later date.