What is commercial waste?

Commercial waste, business waste or trade waste – whatever you want to call it: every company has rubbish that must be disposed of.

While finding commercial waste solutions may not initially be on the top of your list as a business owner, it certainly pays to carefully consider your options in this area. It’s a legal duty to dispose of your business waste properly, so sorting our your system early on can save you a lot of time and hassle (not to mention money) down the line.

Finding a commercial waste company that serves your business’s specific needs will help you handle your waste in a legally complaint and ethical way – plus, it’ll mitigate any risk of penalties and fines!

If you’d like support in finding a reliable UK commercial waste service, tell us what your business needs, and we’ll match you with providers that suit your exact requirements.

Or, read on for our full guide to commercial waste for UK businesses.

Note: This article will focus on commercial waste collection for small businesses in England only. So if you’re based in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, be sure to check the specific requirements for your location, such as local council rules, as they may differ.

What is commercial waste?

Commercial waste is defined as any waste product that is created from commercial activity. So whether you’re a builder needing to clear construction waste, an office discarding paper documents, or you need to dispose of plastic created from your business, it’s all categorised in the same way.

This also applies for any business waste you produce from a home-based company. For example, this could be the food waste created if you run a cake-making business.

Again, the official definition is clear: whatever waste is produced from commercial activity is considered as business waste and must be disposed of as such. It can’t go in your domestic refuse bins – you have to register for a commercial waste bin. So that’s something else to consider when starting a business from home.

Commercial waste for ‘from home’ businesses: What do you need to know?

If you run a business from your home, then there are some additional aspects to factor in when considering your commercial waste disposal options. These include:

• Any waste from the part of your home that you use for your business must be disposed of as commercial waste
• Your local council or a commercial waste management company should be able to collect waste from home-based businesses
• You can’t move waste from your business to be disposed of with your home waste, as it would breach your duty of care (see below for more information)
• It’s also not possible to use domestic waste sites (usually operated by local councils) or public bins to dispose of waste from business activity

What is ‘duty of care’?

In section 34 of the Environment Protection Act 1990 (the legislation which governs waste disposal, amongst other environmental considerations) states that you have a ‘duty of care’ for the waste you produce. This includes:

• Ensuring any waste collection providers are licensed
• Containing the waste within your control as much as possible
• Storing it safely and securely
• Preventing the waste from causing any damage to the environment or people
• Having a waste transfer note if you plan to pass the waste on to another company

Waste transfer note

This is a written document that must be completed per load of non-hazardous waste, which details the waste your company produces. You’re required to keep a copy of the note for two years.

You’re also responsible for keeping waste to a minimum, by following the order below for waste management:

1. Prevent
2. Reuse
3. Recycle
4. Recover

What is hazardous waste?

This is waste that’s considered to be damaging to humans or the environment. Some examples of hazardous waste include:

• Asbestos
• Chemicals
• Batteries
• Solvents
• Pesticides
• Oils (not including oils that can be eaten)
• Equipment that contains substances harmful to the ozone e.g. refrigerators
• Hazardous waste containers

There are additional requirements for this type of waste, so think about if it applies to your business. Examples include: disposing of chemicals or oil from a car wash business; chemicals used in treatments from a beauty or hairdressing business. You can find more information about hazardous waste on Gov.uk.

All waste has to be described and classified first. It’s at this stage that you can find out if it’s deemed to be hazardous or not from the code that’s assigned to it. Codes with an asterisk (*) indicate hazardous waste, although other conditions may apply. Read the Gov.uk guide on classifying different types of waste for more specific information.

Who is involved in the waste disposal process?

The production, transportation and disposal of waste is separated into three parts: waste producer, waste carrier and waste receiver. Sometimes, the waste carrier and the waste receiver are the same organisation.

Waste producer – where the commercial waste is created
Waste carrier – how the waste is transported from producer to disposal
Waste receiver – where waste is disposed of at a licensed or permitted site

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How to choose a commercial waste disposal provider

Essentially, you have two choices: use your local council or hire a private company. With the first choice, it takes away the element of deciding, as you simply use the services of whichever council your business premises is located in. Opting to use a private company means you make the decision about how your business waste is collected.

Best waste management companies

Company	Best for...	Price range
WasteManaged	Quick set-up	Per lift, per month – contact provider
Biffa	Coverage	Contact provider
Enviro Waste	Eco-friendly waste disposal	Starting from one cubic yard load at £97+VAT and increasing based on load amount

To compare personalised quotes for commercial waste management, take two minutes to tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll match you with the best-matched provider offerings and prices. 

Along with deciding on a local council or private company service, you’ll also have to think about other factors. For instance, what type of waste will be collected? This means knowing if it can go in general waste disposal or if it needs specialist treatment, such as hazardous waste. Similarly, you should consider how it will be disposed of: will it be recycled or will it go in landfill?

In addition, many waste collection companies cover more than one location, which may be ideal if your business also occupies more than one site. If geographical expansion is part of your business strategy, whether now or in the future, it’s important to think about scale.

Overall, you should ask: can the service grow with your business? As the bigger your business becomes, the more waste it will create and, consequently, your commercial waste disposal options will change too.

Another factor to consider is timeframe – check how frequently the standard commercial waste collection dates are from your local council or a potential provider.

Think about if a weekly or less frequent option suits you, or conversely, if your business would require collections more often. From time to time, a one-off collection could work as well, for a particular item or a specific job.

Again, these are available through your local council or a specialist company – be sure to check the fees.

Speaking of cost, local councils usually operate commercial waste collection for a fee. It’s important to note that this is in addition to any business rates you may pay. Your local council may have a commercial waste officer that you can contact for more information about services in your area. Review different waste disposal prices and assess what’s in your budget.

Also, you need to bear in mind what the contract terms are that you may be required to sign up to. Check the contract length – can you afford the fees and are there any extra charges to be expected?

To help you decide you can check reviews for different companies as well as ask other small businesses which providers they use.

How to choose a commercial waste provider:

1. Select from the local council or a private company
2. Consider the type of waste to be collected
3. Think about location and scale
4. Decide on the timeframe requirements
5. Investigate the costs
6. Clarify the contract terms
7. Check reviews

Consider the above points to help you find the best waste management companies that are most suited to your business’ waste disposal needs.

Key points

• Decide if you’ll use your local council or a private service provider
• Clarify the type of waste for disposal – is it hazardous?
• Think about how many locations you’ll need business waste to be collected from
• Consider what services you’ll need both now and in the future
• Plan how often you’ll require commercial waste collection
• Weigh up the costs involved
• Check contract terms
• Research provider reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations
• Remember your ‘duty of care’ responsibilities and legal obligations

Are there any other options?

If neither using your local council or a private company appeals to you, there is the option to take your business waste from your location directly to a commercial waste disposal site.

As a business owner, you might consider this option to reduce costs and/or to have greater control over your business waste disposal process. Note that it’s illegal to dispose of commercial waste at domestic facilities, so you must ensure you’re using the correct method and facilities.

If you want to do this, you must first register as a waste disposal carrier. You can do this online, and usually it’s free to apply for a license if it’s only for waste that your business produces. However, this is likely to add more responsibility to you as a business owner, as well as demands on your business’ time and resources, so think about if it’s a viable option.

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Which commercial waste bins are right for your business?

Whichever waste disposal method you opt for in the end, you’re going to need somewhere to store the waste while it’s on your property. So what are your options?

Before a bin can be placed on your premises, a risk assessment has to be completed. Generally, commercial waste bins come in a range of sizes, so you’re sure to find one that suits your business’ needs.

The capacity is measured in litres, and tends to range from 240 litres through to 1100 litres. Within this, 360 litre and 660 litre bins are available, and sometimes smaller bins too.

Alternatively, you can use specialist business waste sacks – ideal if your business produces a minimal amount of waste or if you don’t have a secure location for the bins.

Key points

• Risk assessment required first
• Measured in litres (l)
• Capacities of 240l, 360l, 660l or 1100l
• Bins with smaller capacities may be available
• Waste sacks are an alternative to bins

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What commercial waste recycling options are available?

When it comes to recycling, the first step is to accurately separate and store waste into recyclable and non-recyclable waste. You can use specific bins for paper, commercial glass disposal and food waste, as well as a different bin for general waste – this will go to landfill.

You’ll need to find a waste management contractor to work with. This includes organising a business recycling service and contract that suits your startup’s requirements in terms of budget, as well as the type and frequency of the service.

Best waste management companies for business recycling

Company	Best for
Veolia	A UK leader for providing environmental solutions
Biffa	Waste diverted from landfill
FCC Environment	Bespoke solutions

Read our article on business recycling to learn more.

But recycling can begin before this point too. If you run your business as usual but with an eco-friendly mindset, there are many ways in which you can ‘go green’. For example, you can use materials that have already been recycled – this can be as simple as using notebooks made from recycled paper, or choosing furniture made from reclaimed wood.

Plus, instead of throwing old furniture or equipment away, you could donate it to your local charity shop. Or why not pay it forward and help out another startup? Be sure to check that it’s safe to use though. Another option is to use a commercial waste company that is licensed to recycle.

Whichever method you decide to use, recycling could help boost your company’s image. It may even determine if customers choose your services over another competitor, especially if they’re ethical consumers. Being eco-friendly can become a part of your business strategy too – think about how to introduce a recycling scheme when you start your business.

A 2017 study by Unilever found that 33% of consumers choose to buy from brands that they feel do environmental or social good.

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Commercial waste for small businesses: Summary

In this article, you’ve learned more about business waste – how it is defined as well as how to dispose of it safely and legally. Also, you’ve learned about how to choose a commercial waste collection provider.

You’ve discovered the essential information about commercial waste bins. Plus, you’ve gained an understanding of commercial waste recycling.

Key points

• You have a duty of care for the waste your business produces, from creation through to disposal
• Prepare a waste transfer note each year and keep copies for two years
• Remember it’s the law – the Environment Protection Act 1990
• Select your local council or a private company for business waste disposal
• Possibility to take waste from your business to the disposal site directly
• Different requirements for hazardous waste – check if applicable
• Commercial waste bins are measured in litres; sacks are an alternative
• Look for ways to recycle waste as much as possible

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Selecting a commercial waste company: What are the next steps?

The information on this page should help you to understand what your business might need in terms of commercial waste collection. For more information on which provider you should choose, you should speak to an expert – and we can help with this.

Answer a few short questions about your business’s waste requirements, and we can provide you with quotes from one or more perfectly suited commercial waste services in your area.

Alternatively, you can read our page on business recycling to learn more about this specific type of waste disposal, if this is what your business requires.

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Commercial waste: The FAQs

Here we answer some of the most common questions about commercial waste disposal.

How to choose waste collection companies

When choosing waste management companies, it’s useful to think about the days and times they offer collections, as well as the range of waste they can dispose of and the areas they cover. Plus, consider the frequency of collection service your business requires.

How much does commercial waste disposal cost?

The price you’ll pay to dispose of your business’ waste varies, depending on the type and amount of waste you produce, as well as how it’s disposed of. Sending waste to landfill or recycling can be priced differently — check out our waste disposal prices page for more information.

Where are commercial waste disposal sites located?

Commercial waste sites are located across the country; usually either at sites run by local councils or by private providers. Remember to follow the correct procedures if you choose to transport waste yourself, or for collection from your premises, use a commercial waste management company instead.

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