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Northern Ireland businesses across every sector trust RiverRidge to handle their waste. From hospitality and retail to manufacturing and construction - if your business generates waste, we have a service built around it.

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Since 2011, the once small landfill orientated business has become Northern Ireland’s leading waste management operation. Our team has developed significant infrastructure, offering the country’s most progressive resource recovery service.

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Home | Collection | Waste Types

Waste Types

We specialise in the collection, treatment and disposal of a wide range of waste streams, both co-mingled and single stream. These include General Waste, Dry Mixed Recyclables, Cardboard, Plastic, Food Waste, Glass, and Construction and Demolition Waste.

Each waste type is processed using methods designed to extract the maximum amount of recyclable materials, reduce landfill dependency, and optimise energy recovery. Our tailored approach ensures efficient, sustainable waste management for every stream.

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What we collect

General waste relates to co-mingled waste containing no hazardous materials. At a household level this would be akin to your black bin waste. A large proportion of recyclable materials may end up included, but with our specialised treatment process RiverRidge will be able to separate these materials and return them to productive use.

What we can accept:

Contaminated paper and packaging (e.g., greasy food wrappers, used napkins)

Broken glass (small amounts, securely wrapped)

Non-recyclable plastics (e.g., plastic film, polystyrene)

General commercial waste (e.g., used stationery, disposable cups)

Mixed waste from commercial premises.

What we can't accept:

Hazardous waste such as batteries, paints, and chemicals

Medical sharps or offensive waste streams

Gas cylinders or fuel containers

Explosives or fireworks

Tyres

Animal carcasses

Hot ashes

The segregation, collection and treatment of recyclable materials produces far less carbon emissions than a general waste collection service. Our dedicated material recycling facility means we can collect commingled dry mixed recyclables.

What we can accept:

Dry office paper and envelopes

Dry, flattened cardboard

Magazines and newspapers

Clean, dry plastic films and bags

Clean, dry and empty plastic bottles

Clean, dry plastic tubs, trays and containers

Clean, dry metal and aluminium cans, tins, and foils

Clean, dry and empty glass jars and bottles

Materials should be loose or placed in clear plastic bags.

What we can't accept:

Light bulbs

Greasy pizza boxes (suitable for food waste collection)

Styrofoam

Items contaminated with food waste

Wet items

Materials should be loose or placed in clear plastic bags.

We collect, treat and recycle all forms of cardboard provided the items are clean and dry.

What we can accept:

Shoe boxes

Flattened cardboard packaging

Cardboard sleeves from food packaging (e.g., ready meals, drinks)

Cardboard egg cartons

Toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes

Cereal boxes (without plastic liners)

Corrugated cardboard boxes (e.g., delivery, packaging boxes)

What we can't accept:

Cardboard with food residue (e.g. greasy pizza boxes)

Wet or soggy cardboard

Takeaway containers lined with plastic or foil

Cardboard mixed with plastic or metal (e.g., Pringles tubes)

All forms of plastic are accepted if they meet the following requirements.

What we can accept:

Items separated into a single stream (one type)

Clean and dry plastic

Items free from printing

As it decomposes, food waste generates methane gas. This is significantly more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. Since 2017 the Northern Ireland government requires that any business producing over 5kg of food waste per week must have a separate collection service for this waste stream.

What we can accept:

Raw and cooked food scraps

Fruit and vegetables

Bread, rice, pasta and grains

Dairy products

Tea bags and coffee grounds

Greasy pizza boxes

In order to ensure your bin is kept clean and to avoid odours we also provide bin liners and a bin cleaning service.

We offer an efficient and regular glass collection service to the hospitality sector across Northern Ireland. Glass is an easy waste to return to productive use without much treatment, however, once mixed with other waste types, this becomes very difficult.

What we can accept:

Glass bottles (e.g., wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks)

Glass jars (e.g., sauces, condiments, preserves)

Clear, green, and brown glass containers

All items must be clean, unbroken and separated from other waste.

What we can't accept:

Mixed waste containing glass

Broken glass (e.g., shattered windows, mirrors)

Pyrex or heat-resistant glass (e.g., oven dishes)

Ceramics, porcelain, or stoneware

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste refers to materials produced in the processes of small and large-scale construction, renovation, or demolition projects. Ideally, containers would be used on-site to separate different material types. This ensures the service is cost-effective and ultimately a better recycling outcome. A dedicated collection service for plasterboard is available. Hazardous materials require a specialist collection service.

What we can accept:

Wood

Concrete and rubble

Soil and stones

Bricks and tiles

Roofing materials

Insulation materials

What we can't accept:

Hazardous materials such as asbestos

Plasterboard

What makes us different from national operators

We're not a broker reselling collections on your behalf. We own the vehicles, the facilities, and the relationship - from collection to processing to recovery.

We own everything end-to-end

Our facilities process what we collect. There are no subcontractors, no third-party hauliers, and no gaps in the chain where your Duty of Care documentation could fail.

GRI-aligned ESG credentials

We report our own environmental performance in line with GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards – which means you can cite us as a supplier with verified ESG credentials in your own reporting.

300,000+ tonnes processed annually

Across our advanced material recovery facilities (MRFs) and Northern Ireland’s only waste-to-energy facility in Belfast. The scale to handle any volume your business generates.

NI knowledge, not call-centre service

We’ve operated in Northern Ireland since 2011. Our account managers know NI’s commercial areas, its licensing requirements, and its NIEA compliance landscape – because they work here.

Zero landfill ambition

Our waste-to-energy facility in Belfast recovers energy from residual waste that cannot be recycled, diverting it from landfill entirely. Your waste doesn’t end up in the ground.

Low-emission fleet

RiverRidge operates Northern Ireland’s first electric skip lift vehicle and runs a fleet of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) vehicles, reducing transport emissions by 90% versus diesel.

For small to medium enterprises

As an SME ourselves, we are familiar with the constraints faced by small to medium businesses. We tailor solutions to fit within these constraints, while providing a cost effective service for most waste types. Whether you are a small or large business, we offer attractive credit terms and market leading data about your waste arisings on a regular basis.

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For large businesses

Large businesses are required to become more aware of the carbon cost of their scope 3 activities, particularly the waste produced from their operations. RiverRidge is one of Northern Ireland’s only independent operators capable of providing valid and auditable tonnage and carbon data to large organisations. We are a one stop shop for large, multi-site operations who require reliable and cost effective solutions to their waste removal needs.

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Switching to RiverRidge is easy

Get a free quote

1 - Call us or complete our online sales form

Get in touch by phone or fill in our quick online form and one of our sales executives will get back to you promptly to discuss your requirements.

2 - We put together your proposal

Tell us about your business, your waste volumes, and your current setup. We’ll put together a tailored proposal that works for you.

3 - We sort the switch

We handle everything. Containers are delivered, collections are scheduled, and your team is briefed – no disruption to your business.

4 - Sit back

Reliable collections, full compliance documentation, and access to your waste data via My RiverRidge. Job done.

FAQ

Whether you’re looking for information about our services, waste types, or sustainability initiatives, you’ll find clear and helpful guidance here. If you can’t find the answer you need, reach out to our team. We’re always happy to help.

From collection to carbon reduction

Collection

Utilising the most modern commercial fleet on the market, our collection solutions result in the lowest carbon footprint per tonne.

Treatment

At this stage we extract recycling products trapped in your waste streams and release the energy hidden in non-recyclable materials.

Reporting

We provide full digital reports of the benefits gained to ensure your scope 3 obligations are fulfilled and your compliance needs are met.

Every week, we collect over 25,000 bin bags, averaging about 1.3m a year.

Speak to our team today for more help. +44 (0)28 95 313 313

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