LAST REVIEWED: JUNE 2026
Biffa recycling services score 63/100 on the KT Score. Biffa operates a network of material recovery facilities (MRFs) that sort mixed recycling collected from business and local authority customers into separate material streams for onward processing. Biffa also operates energy-from-waste (EfW) plants that generate electricity from non-recyclable residual waste. Biffa publishes an annual sustainability report covering diversion-from-landfill rates, total recycling volumes and carbon emissions per tonne. The recycling service is delivered as part of Biffa's integrated waste management offering rather than as a standalone product; businesses accessing Biffa recycling services typically do so as part of a broader waste collection contract.
How Biffa's material recovery facilities work
Biffa's MRFs receive mixed recycling collected from businesses and local authorities and separate it into individual material streams using a combination of automated sorting technology and manual quality control. The sorted streams (paper, card, plastic in multiple polymer types, glass, aluminium and steel) are baled and sold to reprocessors who convert them into secondary raw materials for manufacturing.
MRF output quality determines the value of the material streams and whether they are accepted by downstream reprocessors. Contamination of recycling, including food residue, non-recyclable plastics or prohibited items mixed with recyclable materials, reduces output quality and may result in material being sent to landfill or energy-from-waste rather than genuine recycling. Biffa applies contamination charges to business customers whose collections consistently contain high levels of prohibited materials.
Biffa's MRF network processes both wet (commingled, collected together) and dry (source-separated) recycling depending on the local authority or business collection arrangement. Source-separated collections typically produce higher output quality and achieve better material prices than commingled collections.
Materials accepted for recycling
| Material | Accepted | Condition | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper and card | Yes | Dry | Office paper, cardboard, newspapers |
| Plastic bottles/containers | Yes | Rinsed | PET, HDPE, PP primarily |
| Glass bottles/jars | Yes | Rinsed | Mixed colour unless source-separated |
| Aluminium and steel cans | Yes | Rinsed | Food and drink cans |
| Black plastic | No | General waste | Undetectable by NIR sorting technology |
| Food waste | Separate stream | Dedicated bin | Anaerobic digestion or composting |
Energy from waste: what happens to non-recyclable waste
Residual waste that cannot be recycled is directed to Biffa's energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities where it is combusted to generate electricity. EfW is classified as a recovery operation rather than disposal under the Waste Framework Directive waste hierarchy. Biffa's EfW plants feed electricity into the national grid, contributing to UK renewable energy capacity under the Renewable Obligation Certificate scheme.
EfW is positioned above landfill in the waste hierarchy but below recycling and reuse. Sending non-recyclable residual waste to EfW rather than landfill is a positive environmental outcome, but businesses should not treat EfW as equivalent to recycling. Biffa's sustainability reporting distinguishes between material actually recycled and material diverted from landfill via EfW; these are different outcomes with different environmental values.
Biffa sustainability reporting
Biffa publishes an annual sustainability report covering key metrics including total waste handled, diversion-from-landfill rate, recycling and recovery rates, carbon emissions per tonne of waste handled, and fleet electrification progress. The report is published on Biffa's investor relations website and provides the primary source data for independently assessing Biffa's environmental performance. Businesses with sustainability reporting obligations that use Biffa's services can obtain scope 3 emissions data for their waste management activities from Biffa's customer reporting tools.
WEEE and specialist recycling streams
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) must be disposed of through authorised WEEE treatment facilities under the WEEE Regulations 2013. Biffa offers WEEE collection and treatment services for business customers generating IT equipment, large and small household appliances, lighting equipment and other electronic waste. WEEE collection is handled separately from standard recycling and requires specific documentation including transfer notes referencing the WEEE category.
Confidential waste shredding is available as a separate Biffa service. Confidential waste includes documents containing personal data, commercially sensitive information and financial records. Biffa's confidential waste service provides locked console boxes, scheduled collection and a certificate of destruction confirming the waste has been shredded and cannot be reconstructed. The certificate of destruction is relevant for GDPR compliance purposes for businesses handling personal data in paper form.
Disclaimer: This review is produced by Kael Tripton Ltd for informational purposes only. Company No. 17177071, ICO ZC135439.
Frequently asked questions
What recycling rate does Biffa achieve?
Biffa's recycling and recovery rates are published in its annual sustainability report. Diversion from landfill across Biffa's operations has consistently exceeded 95% in recent years, meaning less than 5% of waste handled by Biffa goes to landfill. The proportion genuinely recycled versus sent to energy-from-waste is lower; Biffa's published data distinguishes between these categories. Businesses seeking specific recycling rate data for their own waste streams can request this through Biffa's customer reporting service.
Does Biffa offer food waste collection for businesses?
Yes. Biffa collects business food waste in dedicated food waste bins and processes it through anaerobic digestion or composting facilities rather than general waste treatment. Separate food waste collection became mandatory for English businesses generating more than 5kg per week from March 2025. Biffa's food waste service is available as an add-on to existing waste collection contracts or as a standalone service.
What happens to recycling collected by Biffa?
Mixed recycling collected by Biffa is transported to one of its material recovery facilities (MRFs) where it is sorted by automated and manual processes into separate material streams. Sorted materials are baled and sold to reprocessors who convert them into secondary raw materials. Glass is sent to glass manufacturers or aggregate producers. Paper and card goes to paper mills. Plastics go to plastic reprocessors. The specific downstream destinations depend on market conditions and material quality.
