Mixed Recycling Collection in Glasgow
One bin for paper, card, plastics and cans, collected on a regular schedule to help your Glasgow business meet Scotland’s recycling rules.
- Licensed local partners across Skip Hire Glasgow
- Waste paperwork provided with every job
- Free, no-obligation quotes
Most of what a Glasgow office, shop or bar throws away is recyclable – paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and tubs, drinks cans and food tins. A mixed recycling bin lets staff put all of it in one place, keeping it out of general waste.
Skips Glasgow arranges mixed dry recycling collections through Waste Cloud’s network of licensed local partners, with bins from 240 to 1,100 litres and a collection frequency to suit your premises.
Glass is handled separately, so if you produce bottles and jars you will normally need a glass collection as well.
Mixed recycling is part of our wider commercial bin hire service, so you can set up general waste, recycling, glass and food bins together with one enquiry and keep your paperwork in one place.
Meeting the Waste (Scotland) Regulations
Since the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 came in, businesses have been required to present paper, card, plastics, metals and glass for recycling. Mixed recycling covers four of those in a single bin; glass is kept apart because broken glass contaminates other materials and is recycled through a different process.
Having a recycling bin in place, and using it properly, is the simplest way to show you are meeting your obligations.
A waste transfer note covering your recycling collections is provided by the partner, and should be kept with your other waste records for at least two years.
Keeping your recycling clean
Contamination is the main reason a recycling load gets rejected. A few simple habits make a big difference:
- Empty and rinse bottles, tubs and cans
- Keep food, nappies and general rubbish out
- Flatten cardboard so it doesn’t fill the bin
- Label bins clearly so staff and contractors know which is which
If you generate large volumes of boxes, a dedicated cardboard collection can be more efficient.
A short briefing for new staff goes a long way.
Fitting recycling into small spaces
Plenty of Glasgow businesses work out of tight spaces – basement units, tenement ground floors and shared back courts in the West End and Southside. Swapping one large general waste bin for a smaller general bin plus a recycling bin often takes no extra room. The partner can advise on bin sizes and collection frequency once they know your premises.
Where several businesses share a back court or bin store, clear labels help stop neighbours’ rubbish ending up in your recycling.
What can go in a mixed recycling bin
- Office paper and envelopes
- Newspapers and magazines
- Flattened cardboard
- Plastic bottles, tubs and trays
- Drinks cans
- Food tins
- Clean aluminium foil
What can’t go in
- Glass bottles and jars
- Food waste
- Nappies and hygiene waste
- Polystyrene
- Electrical items
- Batteries
- Greasy or food-soiled packaging
Not sure? See what can go in a skip or ask us when you book.
Ideal for
- Offices
- Shops
- Cafés and bars
- Schools and nurseries
- Gyms
- Warehouses
Mixed Recycling Bins – your questions answered
Can’t see your question? Call 0333 121 1056 or send us a message.
Why can’t glass go in my mixed recycling?
Scottish rules require glass to be collected separately from other dry recyclables. Broken glass contaminates paper and card and is difficult to remove at sorting facilities. Bottles and jars should go in a dedicated glass bin.
Do small offices need a recycling bin?
Yes. The requirement to separate dry recyclables applies to businesses of all sizes in Scotland. For a small office, a single 240-litre recycling bin collected on a regular schedule is often enough.
What happens if my recycling is contaminated?
A heavily contaminated bin may not be accepted as recycling and could be treated as general waste. Keeping food and non-recyclables out, and labelling bins clearly, helps avoid problems. The partner can advise if problems persist.
Can I have recycling collected on the same day as general waste?
Collection days depend on partner routes in your part of Glasgow, so they can’t be guaranteed in advance. Mention your preferences when you request a quote and the partner will try to fit around them.
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Tell us what you need, where and when. Photos, data sheets or site plans help us price accurately – our licensed local partners do the rest.
Skips Glasgow provides skip hire, waste collection, recycling and construction support across Glasgow through Waste Cloud’s network of licensed local partners.