Transform waste & recycling across your stores
What makes First Mile different?
We make it easy to manage your recycling and waste services, across hundreds of locations, with different local regulations, and site constraints.
Our goal is to provide you with the most flexible and reliable service whilst delivering innovative solutions that drive real impact.
Find out how we can support your business with tailored recycling solutions that drive efficiencies, cut waste at the source and improve engagement.
What we do for national retailers
Flexible, reliable commercial waste & recycling collections
Focus on running your business while we handle your waste and recycling. Our high-end, reliable service takes the hassle out of waste management across multiple stores and geographies:
- Multiple collections per day at times that best suit your stores or distribution hubs, including overnight
- Zero-to-landfill guarantee and high recycling rates with as much waste as possible recovered for recycling at our materials sorting facility before being sent on to trusted waste partners for processing
- Easily recycle the materials commonly disposed of in your sector such as polybags, coat hangers, packaging or pallets alongside core commercial waste services
- Book ad hoc services at the click of the button and get same day clearances with our same zero-to-landfill promise and high recycling rates
Efficiency projects that deliver lasting results
We take a data-driven approach to understanding your needs to deliver on strategic initiatives that focus on reducing complexity, controlling spend and increasing recycling rates. Example projects include:
- Identifying opportunities for driving recycling rates e.g implementing additional streams such as polybags. Higher recycling rates can have significant cost reductions as recycling services are more cost effective
- Auditing your waste output to identify areas of suboptimal waste management and look for opportunities to save money through streamlined services and optimised schedules
- Engagement programmes that empower your teams to recycle. We provide on-site or multi-media training programmes that deliver higher engagement and understanding, leading to better recycling rates and reduced contamination.
Recycling solutions for your products and packaging
With changing legislation and the increase in producer responsibility in the waste chain, we're working with national retailers to implement solutions to recycle their products and packaging.
- In-store takeback or post-back schemes ; we work with retailers such as SpaceNK to implement solutions that enable customers to return end-of-life products to be recycled, and provide closed-loop recycling outcomes
- Technical solutions ; we can make recycling a part of your customer journey by embedding recycling options within your website or portal to make it even easier for your customers to recycle
- Product and packaging design ; we offer consultation on new products and packaging to ensure designs and materials fit with changing legislation and build in sustainability from the start of the supply chain
Smarter back-hauling with full waste tracking
Track and manage the backhauling of unused stock or materials from store to depot with RecycleID™, our innovative waste tracking solution.
- Track waste volumes and materials by store, gaining visibility into which sites are returning stock or materials
- Report on materials that are sent on to be recycled or turned into new products
- Get easy access to reporting and details per store in an easy to use online reporting suite
Store-level control, simplified
Empower each location with access to a portal locked to their specific site. Stores can easily manage services, order collections, and get support - all from one central system.
- Give multiple-site or single-site access to store managers
- Limit visibility on reporting and recycling to specific sites
- Empower sites to report issues at site level with support available 24/7
- Set order limits at site level to support cost controls across your estate
Dedicated account management
Our dedicated account managers will provide regular updates and insights, and work with you from day one to deliver on strategic initiatives that will provide the results you're looking for.
From a hands-on mobilisation plan to optimised schedules that reduce costs, or a tailored engagement programme to train and empower your staff - our people will be the driving force behind it all.
Our Impact
What is retail waste management?
Retail waste management covers how retail businesses handle, collect and recycle their waste, from packaging and food waste to general waste and plastics. It focuses on keeping every store compliant with UK regulations, cutting costs, and improving recycling performance.
Can First Mile manage waste for multiple retail locations?
Yes. We specialise in multi-site retail waste management, providing one consistent service across all your stores. That means one supplier, one contract, and one simple reporting system, no matter how many sites you operate.
What types of retail waste can First Mile recycle?
We collect and recycle over 50 different waste streams, including cardboard, plastics, food waste, packaging, coffee cups, textiles and general waste. Our zero-to-landfill approach ensures anything that can’t be recycled is processed for energy recovery instead.
How does First Mile help retailers stay compliant?
We provide full transparency through digital waste transfer notes and an online reporting portal. This gives you a complete audit trail for every site, helping you meet UK waste regulations and internal sustainability reporting requirements.
Is First Mile’s retail waste collection service available nationwide?
Yes. We operate across the UK, supporting retailers of every size, from single high-street shops to national chains and retail parks. Wherever your stores are located, we deliver the same reliable, sustainable service.








