Managing Plastic Film and Soft Plastics: Unlocking Recovery Opportunities for Commercial Sites

Plastic film and soft plastics are some of the most overlooked waste streams in commercial settings—yet they represent one of the greatest opportunities for landfill diversion and recycling innovation.

From pallet wrap and courier bags to bread bags, shrink wrap, and carrier bags, soft plastics are generated daily across retail, logistics, hospitality, and office environments. Because these materials are lightweight, flexible, and hard to recycle through traditional systems, they often slip through the cracks of commercial waste strategies.

At Benji Waste, we help businesses put practical systems in place to collect, manage, and recover soft plastics—reducing general waste volumes, improving sustainability metrics, and supporting compliance with packaging regulations.

Why Soft Plastics Matter in Commercial Waste Streams

1. High Volume, Low Weight

Soft plastics are low-density but high-volume, meaning they fill bins quickly without adding much weight. This leads to more frequent general waste collections, increased costs, and avoidable carbon emissions from unnecessary pickups.

2. Contamination Risk

When soft plastics are incorrectly placed in dry mixed recycling bins, they can contaminate recycling loads, causing materials to be rejected or downgraded at recycling facilities.

3. Limited Local Recycling Options

Most UK curbside recycling programs do not accept soft plastics, leaving businesses responsible for finding alternative collection and recovery routes—especially in high-throughput areas like stockrooms, food courts, and receiving bays.

4. Rising Supply Chain Accountability

Under the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) reforms, businesses are being asked to track and report packaging waste more transparently. Managing soft plastics more efficiently supports packaging compliance and improves visibility across the supply chain.

Commercial Solutions for Soft Plastic Recovery

1. Back-of-House Segregation Systems

Set up dedicated soft plastic bins in:

• Delivery zones and loading bays

• Storerooms and back-of-house areas

• Packing stations and warehouse floors

Train staff to remove pallet wrap and packaging film at the point of unpacking. Use colour-coded bins and clear signage to minimise confusion and prevent contamination.

2. Centralised Collection and Baling

For larger facilities or multi-tenant sites, install central soft plastic bins or balers in shared service areas. Once enough material is aggregated, schedule volume-based collections from a specialist recycler. This creates cost-efficiency and maximises the value of recovered material.

3. Supplier Take-Back Programs

Engage with suppliers, wholesalers, or logistics partners that offer take-back schemes for soft plastics, including stretch wrap and outer packaging. Some manufacturers now offer reverse logistics as part of their sustainable packaging commitments.

4. Specialist Recyclers and Recovery Partners

Work with licensed recyclers that accept soft plastics for conversion into:

• Plastic granules (used in manufacturing)

• Solid recovered fuel (SRF) or refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for industrial use

• New packaging or plastic products (closed-loop recycling systems)

Benji Waste can help connect clients to soft plastic recovery partners across the UK.

5. Closed-Loop Circular Systems

For larger commercial operations or high-waste sites, consider investing in circular solutions that turn soft plastics into reusable items, such as plastic crates, furniture, or new product packaging.

Implementation Tips for Commercial Clients

• Use visual signage with icons and examples (e.g., pallet wrap, mailing bags, bread bags) to clarify what’s accepted.

• Include soft plastic handling procedures in staff onboarding and contractor training.

• Monitor collection volumes monthly to track performance and assess ROI.

• Run a pilot program at one location to test bin placement, logistics, and contamination levels before rolling out site-wide.

Benji Waste: Supporting Soft Plastic Recycling Across Commercial Estates

At Benji Waste, we help clients implement bin systems that support specialist material recovery, including plastic film and soft packaging.

Our team provides:

• Segregated bin solutions for soft plastics

• Colour-coded signage and training materials

• Scheduled pickups or baling guidance for high-volume sites

• Connections to approved soft plastic recyclers in your area

• Waste stream reviews to help you identify recovery opportunities

Ready to Start Recovering Soft Plastics?

If soft plastics are piling up in your waste stream, we can help you turn them into a recovery success story. Let Benji Waste assist you with a tailored bin setup and recovery plan that reduces general waste and supports your ESG goals.

📍 Get started at: www.benjiwaste.co.uk