Our knowledge-base on collections and sorting includes information on the collection of dry recyclables, organics and residual waste from households and commercial properties.
Here we detail where local authorities and other organisations can create economic and environmental benefits through more efficient and consistent collection arrangements, and provide good quality feedstock into the reprocessing sector.
WRAP’s resources are categorised to help guide you through different collection systems:
Through a mixture of investment and ingenuity, kerbside collections of dry recyclables and food waste have increased dramatically since 2000 and are now commonplace.
During this time WRAP has worked alongside recycling organisations, reprocessors and local authorities to developed extensive resources designed to improve kerbside collections.
View WRAP's evidence base on kerbside collection:
Collecting from high density housing and flats presents a unique set of challenges for local authorities.
WRAP has undertaken extensive independent research with a number of local authorities to address these challenges and increase the volume and value of collections from flats and high density housing.
View WRAP's evidence base on high density collections:
HWRCs provide a vital service for residents wanting to dispose of bulky household items and garden waste.
With more than a third of all items deposited at HWRCs being suitable for re-use they offer a great opportunity for local authorities and re-use organisations to repair and refurbish products.
Although on the decline, bring banks provide an opportunity for materials not targeted at the kerbside to be collected for recycling.
View WRAP's evidence base on HWRCs and bring banks:
Providing facilities and motivating businesses to reduce their resource output and join local recycling schemes is key to drastically cutting the amount of waste reaching landfill.
With the Federation of Small Businesses reporting that 95% of small businesses would recycle more if they had access to better facilities, there are a number of opportunities for waste managers and local authorities to benefit from increased commercial recycling collections.
View WRAP's evidence base on commercial waste:
Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) play a crucial role in providing quality raw materials to the reprocessing sector.
To assist MRFs and local authorities working with MRFs, WRAP provides practical guidance and templates to assist with the implementation of Quality, Environmental and Health & Safety management systems within a MRF and tools for reporting quality and volume output.
View WRAP's evidence base on re-use and recycling:
Improving facilities and communications to encourage greater re-use can provide extensive environmental and economic benefits in comparison to creating brand new products.
WRAP has worked with local authorities and re-use organisations to develop a suite of materials showing how to unlock the economic and environmental opportunities that exist in the re-use sector.
View WRAP's evidence base on collecting for re-use:
Communicating details of your recycling scheme or local campaign is essential to encourage communities, businesses, and local residents to recycle more and in-turn increase the collection of recyclable materials.
To encourage best practice in communications, WRAP has developed a number of resources on successfully communicated campaigns, communicating new collection services and how to communicate collection of varying dry and organic materials.
View WRAP's evidence base on re-use and recycling:
WRAP provides information and support for local authorities, materials facilities and reprocessors on recycling and reprocessing techniques for particular materials, including: textiles, electricals, metals, plastics, glass, paper, wood, and bulky household items.
Read moreWRAP’s expert work on organics explores how organisations working in agriculture and food production can produce energy and create high quality compost through processes like anaerobic digestion and in vessel composting.
Read moreWRAP provides comprehensive business support and market information for organisations buying or selling reprocessed materials (such as manufacturers, materials facilities, and reprocessors), seeking to find out the latest gate fees for waste treatment or wanting general information about market trends.
Read moreEffective communications are essential in encouraging communities, employees and residents to recycle more things, more often.
WRAP’s resources will help you to motivate people to use your collections service and engage with your local recycling and re-use campaign.
Read moreFind out how you can benefit from WRAP's work on creating greater consistency in household recycling across England.
WRAP's Consistency ProjectView all of WRAP's evidence base for Collections and Sorting: