Every hair appointment creates waste, but where does that waste end up?

For many UK hair salons, a large proportion of everyday waste is still sent to landfill or incineration because it is placed in general waste bins. Hair clippings, used foils, empty colour tubes, paper, plastic packaging and other materials are often discarded without being separated for recycling.

The environmental impact of salon waste is significant, but it is also avoidable. By improving salon waste management, salons can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, increase recycling rates and play an important role in protecting natural resources.

What happens to salon waste?

Hair salons produce a variety of waste streams every day, including:

• Hair clippings
• Aluminium foils
• Colour tubes
• Paper and cardboard
• Plastic bottles and packaging
• General waste
• Compostable towels

Without an effective salon waste disposal system, many of these materials are placed into general waste. Once mixed together, they are much less likely to be recovered and are more likely to be sent for disposal.

Separating waste correctly gives each material the best chance of being recycled, reused or recovered.

Why is landfill a problem?

Landfill remains one of the least sustainable ways to manage waste.

When recyclable materials are buried instead of recovered, valuable resources are permanently lost. New raw materials must then be extracted and processed to replace them, increasing energy use and carbon emissions.

Landfill sites can also create wider environmental challenges, including:

• The loss of valuable recyclable materials
• Increased greenhouse gas emissions
• Long term land use
• Potential pollution of soil and water if sites are not managed effectively
• Missed opportunities to support the circular economy

For hair salons committed to sustainability, reducing landfill should be a key priority.

Can hair salons avoid sending waste to landfill?

Many salon waste streams can be diverted away from landfill through better salon waste management.

Hair

Hair is often viewed as rubbish, but it has value.

Recovered hair can be repurposed for environmental projects, horticulture, agriculture and manufacturing. Rather than occupying landfill space, it can support innovative solutions that give this natural material a second life.

Aluminium foils

Foils used during colouring services are one of the largest recyclable waste streams in a salon.

When collected separately, aluminium can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality. Recycling aluminium also requires significantly less energy than producing new aluminium from raw materials.

Colour tubes

Specialist salon recycling services can recycle the full tube, helping prevent unnecessary waste.

Paper and cardboard

Delivery boxes, product cartons and paper packaging can all be recycled when kept clean and dry.

Simple waste separation can prevent these materials from ending up in general waste.

Plastic

Hair salons use a variety of plastic containers, product bottles and packaging.

Although not every plastic is recyclable through standard collections, separating recyclable plastics improves recovery rates and reduces contamination.

General waste

General waste should be the smallest waste stream in any salon.

The more recyclable materials are separated correctly, the less waste remains for disposal. Anything that can't be recycled should go here, to a waste-to-energy service rather than landfill.

Composting towels

Plant-based salon towels like Replant Compostable Towels, which are certified compostable, can be turned into fertiliser or compost nationwide via Green Salon Collective. 

The hidden environmental cost of landfill

Every recyclable item placed into general waste has a wider environmental impact.

Sending aluminium to landfill means more aluminium must be mined.

Discarding paper means more trees and natural resources are required to produce new paper products.

Throwing away plastic instead of recycling it increases demand for new plastic production.

Even natural materials such as hair can become a wasted resource when they could instead be reused.

Effective salon waste disposal helps prevent these unnecessary environmental costs.

How salon recycling reduces landfill

A comprehensive salon recycling programme ensures valuable materials are collected separately and processed through the most appropriate recycling or recovery routes.

Benefits include:

• Less waste sent for disposal
• Greater recovery of valuable materials
• Lower demand for virgin resources
• Reduced carbon emissions
• Support for a more circular economy
• Improved sustainability credentials for your salon

Customers increasingly expect businesses to demonstrate environmental responsibility, making recycling an important part of building trust and loyalty.

Practical ways to reduce landfill in your salon

Improving your salon waste management does not have to be complicated.

Start by:

• Separating hair from other waste
• Collecting aluminium foils independently
• Recycling empty colour tubes through specialist schemes
• Keeping paper and cardboard clean for recycling
• Separating recyclable plastics
• Reducing the amount of waste placed into general waste
• Reviewing your waste regularly to identify opportunities for improvement
• Training every member of your team on correct waste separation

Small changes made consistently can have a significant impact over time.

How Green Salon Collective supports sustainable salon waste management

Green Salon Collective helps UK hair salons reduce their landfill impact through specialist collection and recovery systems designed specifically for the hairdressing industry.

By providing solutions for hair, foils, colour tubes and other common salon waste streams, Green Salon Collective helps salons improve salon recycling, simplify salon waste disposal and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

The result is a more sustainable approach that supports both your business and the environment.

Frequently asked questions

Does salon waste go to landfill?

If waste is placed into general waste bins, it may be sent to landfill or incineration depending on local waste management arrangements. Separating recyclable materials significantly improves their chances of being recovered.

What is the biggest source of waste in a hair salon?

Common waste streams include hair, aluminium foils, colour tubes, paper, cardboard, plastic packaging and general waste generated during daily salon operations.

How can salons reduce landfill waste?

Salons can reduce landfill waste by improving salon waste management, separating recyclable materials, reducing contamination and using specialist salon recycling services.

Why is salon recycling important?

Salon recycling keeps valuable materials in use for longer, reduces the amount of waste requiring disposal, conserves natural resources and supports a more sustainable future for the hairdressing industry.

Every item recycled makes a difference

Landfill should be the last resort, not the default option.

With better salon waste management, thoughtful salon waste disposal and dedicated salon recycling, UK hair salons can significantly reduce the amount of waste sent for disposal while making a positive contribution to the environment.

Every hair clipping, foil, colour tube and cardboard box that is recovered instead of discarded helps move the salon industry closer to a truly circular future.