Warehouse and Logistics Waste Management
The warehousing and logistics industry is the backbone of the UK economy, moving millions of products each day across national and international supply chains. However, behind every smooth operation lies a major challenge: ensuring efficient and sustainable logistics and warehouse waste management.
From excess packaging and broken pallets to outdated stock and hazardous materials, waste in the logistics sector is high-volume, fast-moving, and varied. If left unmanaged, it can lead to safety hazards, operational slowdowns, increased costs, and compliance risks. This is where Cawleys comes in.
With over 75 years of experience in recycling and waste management, we provide industry-leading waste solutions tailored to the specific needs of warehouse and logistics environments. Whether you manage a single site or a national distribution network, we provide tailored warehouse and logistics waste management services that let you stay legally compliant, reduce environmental impact, and keep your operations running at full capacity.
Your Partner in Sustainable Logistics Waste Management
At Cawleys, we believe that waste management in the logistics and warehousing sector is more than just collections. It’s a critical part of your business strategy and sustainability goals. Warehousing and transport hubs operate under enormous time pressure, where space is at a premium and delays are costly. That’s why we work as an extension of your team, ensuring waste is managed quickly, cleanly, and compliantly.
We are proud to be more than just a waste collection company. As a trusted sustainability partner, we help you meet key environmental targets by improving recycling rates, reducing landfill dependence, and supporting circular economy initiatives. Through our bespoke warehouse waste management solutions, our goal is to transform waste into a valuable resource, creating operational benefits and enhancing your environmental credentials.
From waste audits and staff training to flexible scheduling and detailed reporting, our logistics and warehouse waste management and recycling services are designed to minimise disruption and maximise efficiency across your sites. And with depots in Luton, Wellingborough, and Milton Keynes, and nationwide coverage through SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, we offer local responsiveness with national reach.
A Complete Solution
Warehousing and logistics waste comes in many forms, and managing it requires a comprehensive, multi-stream approach. Cawleys offers a comprehensive portfolio of logistics waste management and recycling services designed for high-volume, high-velocity environments.
General waste and mixed recycling
Cardboard and packaging recycling
Packaging is a major concern when it comes to ensuring proper waste management in warehouse and logistics facilities. This is particularly true in e-commerce and retail distribution. This is why we offer dedicated bins, balers, and skip hire for managing cardboard, shrink wrap, pallets, and other bulky packaging. Our recycling services reduce waste volumes and help cut landfill costs significantly.
Pallet collection and wood waste
Broken or surplus pallets can quickly clutter a warehouse floor. As part of our warehouse waste management solutions, we offer scheduled and ad-hoc pallet collections, along with options for repair, reuse, or recycling. Clean wood waste is sent to energy recovery or repurposed into composite materials, supporting zero-to-landfill goals.
Hazardous waste handling
Some warehouses handle hazardous materials such as aerosols, batteries, cleaning chemicals, and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). With a specialist hazardous waste division that includes our in-house Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA), we provide compliant spill-proof containers, full documentation, and safe disposal to protect your workforce and meet regulatory standards. We also offer audits and expert guidance to ensure safety and compliance within your logistics facility.
Food waste and perishables
In cold storage or food logistics, spoiled perishables and returns can present unique challenges. We collect food waste for anaerobic digestion, turning organic waste into renewable energy and fertiliser. This is both cost-effective and environmentally responsible.
Out-of-date or damaged stock
Outdated goods and returned items can occupy valuable space in logistics facilities. As part of our logistics and warehouse waste management services, Cawleys offers secure, certified product destruction services, helping you manage stock rotation, maintain brand integrity, and free up operational space without compromising security.
Waste audits and compliance support
Our in-depth waste audits pinpoint areas for improvement, inefficiencies, and potential cost savings. To help ensure efficient and sustainable waste management in logistics and warehousing, we'll assess your waste types, handling processes, and collection frequencies and provide a tailored strategy that keeps you fully compliant with Duty of Care regulations and EA guidelines. You'll also receive documentation for internal audits and external inspections.
Equipment provision
From eurobins and roll-on roll-off containers to balers and compactors, we supply all the equipment you need for efficient waste storage and waste management in warehouse facilities. Our team will help you select the right units for your space, volume, and workflows, optimising every square metre of your facility.
Warehouse and Logistics Sectors We Cover
No two logistics operations are exactly the same, and Cawleys is proud to serve a diverse range of warehousing and logistics businesses, each with its own unique waste profile and operational needs.
We offer tailored logistics and warehouse waste management services to the following sectors:
E-commerce fulfilment centres
With mountains of packaging waste and high return volumes, e-commerce operations benefit from our warehouse waste management services that include packaging recovery, recycling, and real-time reporting for sustainability targets.
Distribution centres
For large-scale hubs that receive, sort, and dispatch goods face constant material flow, we ensure that waste doesn’t clog up your loading bays or interfere with stock movement. We provide flexible pickups and streamlined segregation to help optimise your day-to-day operations.
Cross-docking operations
These fast-paced environments need minimal disruption. Our fast-turnaround waste collections and onsite bins ensure waste never slows your cross-docking flow.
Cold storage facilities
Managing food waste, temperature-sensitive products, and packaging under cold-chain protocols requires precision and attention to detail. Cawleys provides reliable collection schedules and food-grade waste handling solutions.
Freight forwarding companies
From office-based waste to packaging and international returns, we help freight forwarders manage diverse waste streams and ensure sustainable waste management in the logistics sector with accuracy and compliance.
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers
We offer scalable, contract-friendly warehouse waste management solutions for 3PLs managing multiple clients and stock types, ensuring consistent reporting and service delivery across sites.
Intermodal transport facilities
Complex logistics hubs moving goods via rail, road, and sea require a partner who understands regulatory overlaps. Cawleys offers end-to-end solutions that promote proper waste management in warehouses and meet safety, transport, and environmental requirements.
Last-mile delivery services
Packaging returns and waste at local depots need quick response and clear storage options. As part of our warehouse waste management and recycling services, we provide localised, responsive collections to keep things running smoothly.
Streamline Your Logistics Facility’s Waste Management
eady to optimise your warehouse or logistics facility's waste management? Contact Cawleys today for a free waste audit and discover how our tailored solutions can reduce costs and improve your environmental performance.
