Enterprise business

Shops Waste and Recycling Services

Simple, reliable waste and recycling collections built for independent shops and small retail businesses, with no long contracts.

Achieve sustainability excellence at your sites

Count on reliable collections that fit around your opening hours
Keep costs down with a service that scales to the size of your shop
Recycle the everyday materials your shop produces, from soft plastics, packaging to cardboard
Order collections online in minutes, no phone calls or paperwork
Get clear reporting so you can see what you’re recycling and what it’s saving
Speak to a real person whenever you need support

What makes First Mile different?

Running a shop means you don’t have time to manage a complicated waste contract, or the volumes to justify one. You need a service that’s simple to set up, easy to use day to day, and doesn’t tie you into anything you don’t need.

We work with independent shops, retail parks and small chains across the UK, offering pay-as-you-go collections with no long-term contract and no hidden fees. Whether you need one bin a week or several collections, we’ll set up a service that matches your shop.

Find out how we can help you recycle more, cut waste and keep costs under control.

First Mile zero carbon options for shop waste services

What we do for shops

Flexible, reliable waste and recycling collections

Our service is built to be simple, whatever the size of your shop:

  • Sack, wheelie bin or commercial bin collections on a schedule that suits you 
  • Zero-to-landfill guarantee, with as much waste as possible recovered for recycling 
  • Recycle the materials common in retail, including cardboard, packaging and dry mixed recycling, alongside general waste 
  • Pay-as-you-go pricing with no contract and no admin fees
Simple online management

Book, manage and track your services online in minutes.

  • Order collections, view schedules and manage your account from one place
  • Access free monthly reporting on your recycling stats
  • Get support from our team 24/7 through the portal, phone or live chat
Recycling made easy for your business

We make it straightforward for you and your staff to recycle correctly, whatever else is going on in a busy shop.

  • Clear signage and bin labelling to help staff use the right bin, every time
  • Guidance on what can and can’t be recycled in your area
  • Quick support if you’re ever unsure about a specific material
Industry-leading carbon data tools

Our Recycling Data Studio and RecycleID make it easy to see what your shop is recycling and the carbon it is saving.

  • Clear recycling rates and carbon savings, with no spreadsheets to manage
  • See where your waste ends up, all in one place
  • Simple reporting you can pull whenever you need it

Talk to an expert

Our Impact

-45%
Lower carbon impact than the industry average
30,000
Happy customers with 200 joining every week
30,000
97,000
Tonnes of CO2e avoided in 2025 (so far!)
99.96%
Collection success rate
99.96%
50+
Waste and recycling streams
20,000
Collections on zero-emission electric cargo bike
20,000
Shops waste & recycling FAQs
Do I need to sign a long contract?

No. We offer pay-as-you-go collections with no long-term contract and no admin fees, so you’re never tied into a service you don’t need.

What can First Mile recycle from my shop?

We collect and recycle common retail materials including cardboard, packaging, dry mixed recycling and general waste, alongside more specialist streams if you need them.

How quickly can I set up a collection?

Getting started is quick. Request a tailored quote for your shop, book online in minutes, and we can collect as soon as the next day in most areas.

Is the service really zero to landfill?

Yes. Any waste that can’t be recycled is processed for energy recovery instead of going to landfill.

Can First Mile support more than one shop?

Yes. If you run more than one site, we can set up consistent collections and reporting across all of them, under one simple account.

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