CUSTOMER
Waste Management Services For Catering Businesses
Running a catering business means juggling countless tasks at once. Waste piles up fast. From food prep offcuts and packaging waste to compostable disposables and kitchen clutter, it all adds up. And with the need to stay hygienic, sustainable and compliant with UK food waste regulations, it’s no wonder waste management can feel like a headache.
At First Mile, we’re here to make it simple. We help caterers, commercial kitchens and event venues across the UK manage waste sustainably. That means zero-to-landfill, carbon reporting and tailored services that work around your schedule. Whether you run a large food service operation or a small catering team, we’ll keep your kitchen clean, compliant and eco-friendly.
Food Recycling
General Waste
Compostable Packaging
Dry Mixed Recycling
Cooking Oil
WEEE Recycling
OUR BENEFITS
Food waste is one of the biggest challenges in catering, but it’s also one of the biggest opportunities to make a positive impact. At First Mile, we ensure that none of your food waste ends up in landfill. Instead, all collected food waste is recycled through anaerobic digestion.
This is a method that breaks down organic matter to produce renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser. This both reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps power homes and farms across the UK. These are five ways we make it work for you:
- Zero-to-landfill – Every bit of food waste is diverted to sustainable processing.
- Energy and compost – Your waste becomes something useful, not a problem.
- Cleaner kitchens – Frequent collections reduce smells, pests, and contamination.
- Full traceability – You’ll know exactly where your food waste goes.
- Regulation-ready – We’ll help you meet the latest UK food waste legislation, including Simpler Recycling rules and sector-specific compliance needs.
By separating food waste, you improve hygiene, boost recycling rates, and reduce the environmental impact of your operation, all while staying ahead of changing regulations.
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword in catering, it’s now a business priority. At First Mile, we help caterers turn waste into sustainability wins with:
- Carbon reporting – We’ll track your waste impact, COâ‚‚ savings and recycling rates to support ESG reporting and public tenders.
- Improved recycling rates – Our better segregation means more materials recycled, less going to landfill and a lighter carbon footprint overall.
- Compostable packaging collection – We’ll make sure your compostable disposables are processed properly, not sent to landfill.
- Closed-loop solutions – Where possible, we help return compostable waste as new packaging, helping to support a circular economy.
- Less stress, more impact – We’ll handle the logistics so you can pay more attention to your customers.
We’ll be on hand to help you make sustainability part of your service. Eco-friendly operations really can go hand-in-hand with great catering.
Hundreds of catering businesses across the UK trust First Mile to handle their waste. From contract caterers to event venues and food producers, our customers use us because of our:
✓ UK-wide coverage
✓ Zero-to-landfill guarantee
✓ Thousands of tonnes of catering waste recycled annually
✓ Carbon reporting and full compliance
With flexible collections and sustainability built in, we make waste simple, so you can focus on your food.
Get a quote for catering waste services
Getting started with First Mile is quick and easy. We’ll help you build a waste solution that keeps your kitchen running smoothly and sustainably. Get a quote online in minutes, or call us on 03301 738 798.
How is food waste handled for large-scale catering?
We collect food waste daily or as needed and process it via anaerobic digestion. This turns your waste into renewable energy and nutrient-rich compost, helping you reduce your carbon footprint and meet sustainability goals.
Can compostable packaging be recycled?
We collect compostable disposables such as plates, cups, and cutlery and ensure they’re processed correctly through certified composting facilities – keeping them out of landfill.
Do you provide services for events or festivals?
We work with event caterers and festival vendors to provide timed, flexible waste collections before, during, and after your event.
What types of catering waste do you collect?
We collect food waste, compostables, packaging, cardboard, dry recycling, general waste, and even cooking oil and WEEE. We’ll help you set up the right bins and collections for your kitchen or event.
Get in touch
We'd love to hear from you to discuss your recycling needs and provide a tailor-fit quote for your business.
