Recycling in 2025: What’s Changed and What Comes Next? 

Over the past few years, UK businesses and households have been making gradual progress towards a more sustainable waste management. But it hasn’t been entirely smooth. At Morecambe Metals, we’re right in the middle of this. Not only do we collect and recycle commercial scrap metal and end-of-life vehicles, but we also purchase bulk waste metal both from the UK and overseas, processing it to extract maximum value and reuse potential.  Whether it’s collecting commercial scrap, recycling vehicles, handling factory clearance, or processing imported waste metal, our work gives us a clear view of how recycling trends play out in real life.    

So, where does the UK stand in 2025? And what should businesses, councils and households know about the evolving world of recycling, especially when it comes to metals, one of the most valuable recyclable resources we handle every day? 

Has the UK Met Its Waste Goals? 

In a nutshell, no. In 2008, the EU Waste Directives set a target for the UK to recycle 50% of household waste by 2020. But progress has been slow. By the end of 2023, the household recycling rate was still around 44.6% according to government figures. Despite campaigns, media pressure and public goodwill, household recycling in the UK has struggled to reach even the halfway mark.  

The commercial and industrial side of waste is no different, the UK still produces over 200 million tonnes of waste annually, and whilst the proportion going to landfill is reducing, a significant amount still isn’t being recovered or reused. At Morecambe Metals, we directly help reduce this burden by diverting large volumes of ferrous and non-ferrous metal away from landfill and into new production cycles.   

Confusion Still Holding People Back 

A 2024 report found that only around 9% of people felt very confident in knowing what can and can’t be recycled. That means the majority are still guessing and often getting it wrong.   

The good news for metals is that they’re universally recyclable. Steel, aluminium, copper and more can be processed indefinitely without losing quality.   

This is exactly why Morecambe Metals focuses on metal recovery. It’s not just good for the planet, but it’s also a guaranteed way to keep valuable materials out of landfills, regardless of where they came from.   

 

Energy from Waste 

Recycling doesn’t always mean reprocessing materials. Sometimes it means capturing energy from waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill. While Morecambe Metals doesn’t capture energy from waste plants, our work plays a vital role in this bigger picture.  

By removing recyclable metals before waste reaches incineration, we not only make energy recovery more efficient but also reduce the need for producing new metals, a process that consumes far more power than recycling existing materials. This means every tonne of scrap we process helps conserve energy, cut emissions, and keep valuable resources in circulation.      

More Responsibility for Producers and Retailers 

The UK produces approximately 10-11Mt of scrap steel each year. 80% of this is exported mostly to developing countries like Turkey, followed by Egypt, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The UK is using very little of its own material domestically and instead regularly exporting large quantities of scrap metals.  

In 2025, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation will continue to encourage brands to design more sustainable packaging and cover the costs of collecting and recycling it. It’s also helping to support better infrastructure at the local group. However, this shift is gradual, and many businesses are still in the process of adapting to it.  

For metals, producer responsibility often involves ensuring that manufacturing offcuts and end-of-life products are recycled rather than discarded. With growing pressures on businesses to keep metal recycling domestic, rather than shipping valuable resources abroad, many companies are seeking options. This is where Morecambe Metals partners with factories, demolition firms, and industrial sites, collecting bulk scrap for reprocessing and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. 

What Are We Doing at Morecambe Metals? 

We’re committed to closing the loop wherever possible. That means:  

• Offering safe, certified vehicle scrappage through our Scrap My Car service  

• Recycling factory and industrial metal waste, including both ferrous and non-ferrous materials.   

• Helping businesses meet sustainability goals by diverting useful materials from landfills.   

Every tonne of metal we recover saves energy, reduces carbon emissions and protects finite natural resources. Our role in the recycling industry is not just about collection, it’s about being a key link in the chain that transforms waste metal into valuable, reusable material.   

We believe metal recycling plays a crucial role in the UK’s wider environmental progress. It saves energy, reduces emissions and makes better use of finite resources. If you’re a business with ongoing waste needs, an individual with an old vehicle, or you have bulk scrap metal that needs processing, we’re here to help you recycle responsibly. Contact us for metal recycling services, and we’ll be happy to assist you.