Smiths News Recycle is our recycling service proudly created 3 years ago. Since then, it’s grown exponentially. Read on to find out more!

Created back in 2022 as an experiment for our retailer customer base, the original aim of our recycle service was to provide a cost-effective, convenient recycling scheme. For a single, flat-free rate, added to their news bill each week, retailers could have unlimited bags of plastic and cardboard recycling collected at the same time we collected newspaper returns. The idea was born out of recognition that:

• Our retailers amass significant amounts of soft plastics and bulky cardboards when unpacking deliveries.
• We have space at our depot sites that we can utilise.
• We’re passionate about sustainability. We proudly recycle up to 99% of newspaper returns, so we wanted to explore the other ways we can promote sustainability.

Since its trial stage, the service has amassed an impressive 5000+ customers and continues to grow.

Developing this service further, in line with the new Simpler Legislation changes that were introduced in March 2025, we expanded our service offering to non-Smiths News customers, and to include all aspects of Dry Mixed Recycling. Taking advantage of our award-winning early morning network, and the fact that our vans are already out on the roads, passing by many businesses, we decided to expand our customer base. We began this development of businesses now also being able to leave recycling outside ready to be collected in the early hours in Liverpool and Stoke-on-Trent.

Considering this significant change to our customer base, we’ve introduced a new Managing Director role for SN Recycle, and are excited for Adam Wylie to be joining us in July 2025.