The 4 Cleaning Products You’re Probably Not Recycling

With the government’s new Simpler Recycling legislation now in place, organisations are being called on to improve onsite recycling program and reduce waste, with a target 66% national recycling rate by 2035.

While most workplaces now have recycling systems in place, one issue keeps cropping up: missed capture — recyclable items mistakenly thrown in general waste. Unsurprisingly, cleaning products are some of the biggest culprits – and cleaning teams are key to making this happen.

Organised by Recycle Now, Recycle Week is the UK’s biggest annual celebration in the recycling calendar. This year’s theme of “Rescue Me! Recycle” is all about saving one more item from the bin and giving it a second life through recycling.

For cleaning and facilities teams, this means taking a closer look at the everyday cleaning products we use and discard, and making sure they all end up in the right bin.

Cleaning teams handle – and create – huge volumes of waste every day from used or empty cleaning products. Yet many finished products, including toilet roll cores, soap bottles and empty trigger sprays – are, in fact, recyclable, and a instant way to improve onsite recycling rates.

1. Trigger Spray Bottles: Used to package surface cleaners, disinfectants and cleaning chemicals, most bottles (including the spray mechanism) are usually recyclable. Check with your local authority or waste contractor to confirm if the trigger needs to be removed.

2. Aerosols (e.g. Air Fresheners): Empty aerosol cans can be recycled with metals. Just make sure they’re completely empty before disposal to meet safety and compliance standards.

3. Cardboard Cores: Whether it’s toilet roll, kitchen roll, centrefeed roll or hand roll towel, if it has a carboard core – it’s recyclable.

4. Soap and Shampoo Bottles: From hand soap or shower gel, shampoo or hair wash, most soap bottles can go in your plastic recycling. Check if pumps need to be separated based on local guidance, and always rinse bottles before disposal.

With Workplace Recycling Regulations now in force, cleaning teams are critical in driving (and improving) onsite sustainability. Here’s how you can make an impact:

• Audit your cleaning waste stream: Review the cleaning products used across your sites and identify those with recyclable packaging. Make sure recycling bins are clearly labelled and easy to access.

• Engage Your Waste Contractor: Recycling rules can vary by site or region. Confirm what materials are accepted with your waste contractor and clarify grey areas like trigger sprays, soap pumps and mixed materials.

• Educate your teams: Most missed capture happens due to a lack of awareness. Use posters, toolbox talks, recycling workshops and internal comms to highlight recyclable cleaning items and correct disposal methods.

• Track and report progress: Start collecting data, set targets and celebrate recycling wins to build momentum across your team.

Recycling isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for business. Reducing general waste can lower disposal costs, improve ESG performance, and support your organisation’s sustainability goals.

Let’s rescue those forgotten cleaning products and give them a second life. Because when we recycle right, our entire organisation benefits.

Find out what else you can recycle at recyclenow.com.