Recycle the 'Unrecyclable’ with Recorra’s Circular Box

The Circular Box is Recorra’s answer to recycling commonplace yet traditionally hard-to-recycle materials. Found in many a workplace, items like soft plastics, wrappers, and cork are normally classified as general waste and incinerated for energy or sent to landfill. Recorra couldn’t stand this state of affairs, so we launched our Circular Box service to keep the raw materials in these niche items in the circular economy.

What are Soft Plastics

‘Soft plastics’ or ‘flexible plastics’ are any plastic material that can be easily bent, stretched, or scrunched without breaking. If you’re unsure whether something counts as a soft or flexible plastic, a good test is to take it in your hand and see if you can scrunch it into a small ball. Examples include:

• Crisp packets
• Snack wrappers
• Clingfilm
• Plastic film sealing punnets of food
• Carrier bags
• Bread bags
• Bottle labels
• Tissue wrappers

Why are Soft Plastics Hard to Recycle

Soft plastics are very popular, representing more than 27% of all UK consumer plastic packaging. The reason for their popularity is because they are cost-effective, lightweight, and versatile, but these strengths also make them notoriously difficult to recycle. This is because flexible plastics are made up of multiple polymers and are also dyed different colours. Moreover, they can jam equipment when they get caught in sorting machinery, causing costly delays.

What Can Go in Recorra’s Circular Box?

• Aluminium coffee pods
• Beauty products & makeup
• Coffee cup lids
• Corks
• Personal protection equipment (PPE)
• Plastic coffee pods
• Plastic toiletries
• Small printer cartridges 
• Soft flexible plastics
• Stationery

What Happens to Circular Box Recycling

Recorra sends all plastics, apart from plastic coffee pods, to Refactory, where they are turned into Storm Board. This is a colourful plywood alternative made from hard and soft plastics that have been shredded and melted down. Storm Board is used to craft construction hoarding, waste sorting tables, planters, and more.

Aluminium coffee pods are melted down for reuse in new aluminium products, like cans. The residual coffee grounds are sent to anaerobic digestion, a natural process by which food waste is broken down and turned into biogas and nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Corks are sent to Recorked, where they are resold and repurposed in art projects. Someday soon, they may also be repurposed into cork flooring.

Why Choose Recorra’s Circular Box for Soft Plastic Recycling?

There are a few reasons why businesses should consider adding a Circular Box to their waste services. All workplaces will be legally required to recycle plastic film, which counts as flexible plastic, by March 2027. It also provides businesses a circular solution as you can buy Storm Board products back for use on your site from Recorra Workplace Supplies.

Another reason to choose Recorra’s Circular Box is Recorra’s commitment to transparency. We guarantee where our material goes and how it is processed, in contrast to other waste companies. This is especially the case with soft plastics, as companies rarely disclose or provide evidence of the end destination of such a hard-to-recycle material. Moreover, a lot of flexible plastic is of no or low value. When waste companies advertise cheap disposal services for flexible plastics, there is a high likelihood they are simply sending it to incineration, landfill, or export to other countries with fewer guardrails for responsible disposal.

If you’re ready to start recycling flexible plastics responsibly, a Circular Box is a simple way to go further. It not only helps you meet upcoming legislation, but also shows a clear commitment to doing things properly. By capturing niche materials that are often overlooked, you can prevent more waste from slipping through the cracks and ensure it is given a second life. Choosing a Circular Box means going the extra mile for the environment and making your recycling work harder for your business.