Biffa launches new range of bins containing 80% recycled plastic

Biffa is breathing new life into its old commercial bins – by recycling them into brand new ones, as part of ongoing ambitions to reduce waste and enable a circular economy.

Biffa has already re-introduced almost 1,500 recycled bins and is aiming for all its new commercial bins to be made from its own bins which are no longer usable, creating a fully closed loop solution. 

Already renowned for recycling billions of plastic bottles every year, Biffa is now applying the same circular solution to the very containers the waste goes in.

The recycled bins contain 80% recycled HDPE and are as robust and reliable as the virgin plastic originals. Recycling produces fewer carbon emissions than disposing of items and then using virgin material to make new goods from scratch. 

Biffa’s business customers across the UK can use the bins for a variety of waste streams, including residual, dry mixed recycling, food and glass. 

The containers come in all shapes and sizes and are manufactured by Contenur UK, a leading manufacturer of container systems for mechanised commercial waste collection, at its factory in Liverpool.  

The recycling process sees the old containers shredded into flakes before being turned into pellets which are then melted and injected into special bin-shaped moulds.  

To pass strict quality and safety standards, the recycled bins are tested in the same way as the old ones, including being dropped and exposed to heat and cold. Customers can also be reassured that the bins remain the famous Biffa red, just an eco-friendlier version.