What iff waste wasn’t wasted?
Biffa has been collecting waste for over 100 years. You might know us from our red bins and trucks, but Biffa does more than collect and manage waste. We’ve been driving change by asking the right questions, like What iff...?
What iff a waste company wanted to reduce waste?
At Biffa, we have ways to reduce waste that might surprise you. We repackage biscuits for redistribution, we help create fashion accessories from old wetsuits, we collect expired PPE to be transformed into dog beds, and we recycle over 10 billion plastic items every year. We help businesses, organisations and communities to reduce, reuse, recycle and repurpose materials that are no longer needed. We even consult on how products and packaging can be designed to be as circular as possible. This means that your business can waste less, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint.
What iff a lesson could lessen waste?
We want to inspire the next generation to take care of the world. That’s why we’ve partnered with hundreds of schools across the UK, teaching kids how to reduce waste and recycle more. It’s all part of our mission to change the way people think about waste.
What iff business challenges became dinner solutions?
We help businesses in a bind with surplus and even damaged stock, by repackaging it at our warehouse and moving it to one of our Company and Community Shops. Our scale means we’re helping more businesses, up and down the country, get value out of surplus: wasting less, giving back and doing our bit to look after the planet.
What iff manufacturing waste was given a new life?
That's the vision we're working towards. When it comes to complex mixed materials, we find new ways to process them safely and sustainably, turning them into something brand-new. We work with customers and innovative partners to give hard-to-recycle materials new life.
What iff a waste management company wanted to reduce waste?
At Biffa, that's exactly what we've been working on. We help our customers recycle, redistribute and reuse waste. It's all part of Biffa driving the circular economy. Connecting like-minded organisations. Creating opportunities. championing communities. It's how we help businesses and organisations grow more sustainably.
Expert advice and guidance
What iff waste legislation didn’t weigh on your mind?
When it comes to running a small business, there’s never enough hours in the day - let alone staying on top of changing waste legislation. We help businesses with expert guidance and practical solutions, saving money and headaches, so they can focus on doing what they do best.
What iff expert advice was baked into your business?
For businesses with sustainability goals, a seemingly small change can make the world of difference. Our packaging experts identified that one of our customers was going through tonnes of non-recyclable greaseproof paper every year. We found a lighter, recyclable alternative; reducing costs, driving up recycling rates and moving them closer to their green pledge.
What iff en route was on camera?
At Biffa, safety is the top priority. It’s why we launched the Control Centre as part of our service for local authorities. We remotely monitor each truck, continually streaming and reviewing footage to find opportunities to reduce risks while the collection crews are out on the road. By being aware of operations at every single point, we can help local authorities stay on the front foot and proactively suggest any improvements for health and safety before they become issues.
What iff recycling was the talk of the town?
Three of our local authority partners have been in the top five of the Recycling League Table for over a decade. And there’s a reason for that. We work with local authorities within the community to drive up recycling rates: taking our iconic Wasteater trucks into schools for hands-on learning, engaging with local groups on recycling best practice and creating clear guides for local households on how, what and where to recycle. From kerbside to depot, we support our local authority customers at every point.
10 reasons to choose Biffa
What iff washed up got fixed up?
We’re helping businesses with hard-to-recycle materials they can’t use, by moving them to innovative businesses who can. Like Flotsam Flo, who salvages materials like old inflatables, transforming them into something new and wonderful.
What iff binned bottles were born again?
We processed and recycled 10 billion items of packaging last year, transforming them into high-quality polymer. Not only does this help our partners reduce their plastic waste and save money, it reduces the need for new plastic, helping us all leave a smaller carbon footprint.
Related topics
What iff surplus was saved?
We can create value out of surplus through our redistribution arm Company Shop Group. Businesses can either donate items or sell them to us. In the past 10 years, this has equated to £200m paid back to our industry partners.