7 best waste management companies for today’s SMEs If you’re looking for ways to best manage your commercial waste, check out our pick of the UK's top waste management companies Written by Scarlett Cook Updated on 21 December 2022 About us Startups was founded over 20 years ago by a multi-time entrepreneur. Today, our expert team of writers, researchers, and editors work to provide our 4 million readers with useful tips and information, as well as running award-winning campaigns. Our site is governed by the Startups editorial manifesto. Written and reviewed by: Scarlett Cook Writer Robyn Summers-Emler Digital Growth Editor Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. One way or another, every business is going to have to deal with waste management. However, given the number of options out there, it’s often tricky to figure out which waste management company suits the needs of your business.That’s where we come in, using our more than 20 years of small business experience, we’ve thoroughly explored the UK waste management market and picked out three providers that you should put at the top of your list. The top three commercial waste providers for UK businesses areWaste Managed – This is our top choice for small businesses overall, and the best for quick and easy setup as well as fixed monthly feesBiffa – One of the UK’s largest waste management companies, Biffa boasts true nationwide coverage and decades of experience.Enviro Waste – Enviro Waste leads the way when it comes to eco-friendly waste disposal, and recycles 92% of commercial waste. However, it’s only currently available in London. If you need a hand figuring out the right waste management company for your business, then just tell us a bit about your business needs and we can set you up with bespoke quotes from some of the UK’s leading providers.Or, just read on to learn more about how the nation’s top waste management companies stack up, and which could be the right fit for you. Compare and save Do you already use a commercial waste service? Yes No Our top seven waste management companies are: WasteManaged: Best for quick set up Divert: Best for diverting waste from landfill Biffa: Best for coverage Enviro Waste: Best for eco-friendly waste disposal Keenan Recycling: Best for food waste collection Veolia: Best for cafe waste collection Business Waste: Best for customer service Tips for choosing the right waste management company for you Next steps: Compare waste management companies Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward QUICK AND SIMPLE SETUP ZERO WASTE TO LANDFILL GOOD FOR LARGE SMEs WasteManaged Divert Biffa Enviro Waste Keenan Recycling Veolia Business Waste Best for A quick and simple set up for small businesses Best for Flexibility for businesses and diverting waste from landfill Best for Best for larger SMEs and businesses with complex needs Best for Eco-friendly waste disposal Best for Food waste collection Best for Cafe business waste collection Best for Businesses wanting access to 24/7 customer support Price from Prices start from £1.17 a day Price from £74.99 for office rubbish removal Price from Doesn’t publish set price plans, instead provides personalised quotes Price from 70kg waste load = £107 + VAT Price from Doesn’t publish set price plans, instead provides personalised quotes Price from Doesn’t publish set price plans, instead provides personalised quotes Price from Doesn’t publish set price plans, instead provides personalised quotes WasteManaged: Best for quick set up From its base in Newcastle, WasteManaged offers waste collection services across the nation, regardless of where your business is based. In addition to its waste collection services, WasteManaged is also a waste broker.Offering account set-up via phone and email in minutes and bin delivery taking five-seven working days, your business waste service can be arranged quickly.WasteManaged can collect multiple types of waste, so you can use the same provider for your different types of commercial waste. For example, it can collect both general and recyclable waste, as well as clinical and hazardous waste. Glass waste collection is possible too, which is ideal if you run a bar. Skip hire is available too – essential for a construction company. Secure shredding of documents is also offered.Plus, bins can be collected every day, week, fortnight, or month (depending on the waste stream).Bins are available in the following sizes: 120 litres (l), 240l, 360l, 660l, and 1,100l. The option to have a 120l bin gives you a wider choice, as bins tend to only be available in bigger sizes.WasteManaged pros and cons Pros Quick account set up Service available nationally Multiple waste types can be collected 120l bin size available Cons Slow customer service response times No live chat on website How much does WasteManaged cost?Doesn’t publish set price plans, instead provides personalised quotes.Who is WasteManaged best for?WasteManaged is best for quick set up, as it’s possible to organise your collection via phone and email. So if you have limited time, CheaperWaste could be the ideal supplier for your commercial waste collection needs. Divert: Best for diverting waste from landfillIt was only founded in February 2021, but Divert is already making serious waves in the world of waste management.With an experienced team in place, a wonderfully user-friendly approach, and some seriously slick purple branding, Divert very quickly outgrew its initial Yorkshire focus and now offers its seriously straight-forward waste management services to the whole of the UK.What really makes Divert stand out in a sector full of complex Ts and Cs and additional costs is its completely transparent approach to pricing. You can book a delivery online, and the fixed price is there on the page, with all labour costs included.As you’d expect from a 21st century waste disposal service, Divert operates on a carbon neutral basis and aims to divert waste from landfill.All this has gone down very well with its customers – Divert boasts an excellent 4.8 rating on Trustpilot, with reviewer’s praising the company’s customer service and reliability.Divert pros and cons Pros Clear fixed prices that include labour Environmentally friendly Excellent customer service Available nationwide Cons Doesn't handle construction waste How much does Divert cost?Divert’s waste management services start at £59.99.Who is Divert best for?Divert is a pretty good all-rounder – it offers nationwide waste disposal services, excellent customer service, clear pricing, and can handle waste from a variety of industry sectors.However, it doesn’t currently offer a specialist service for construction companies. Biffa: Best for coverageCollecting 250,000 bins a week and 2.1 million tonnes of waste a year, Biffa offers multiple waste disposal services.These include general and unplanned waste removal, as well as recycling services of both dry mixed and single stream items (for high quantities of one type of recyclable material, such as cardboard). Food waste disposal is also available – ideal if you run a restaurant, for example.Biffa offers a range of bins, including both standard and large wheelie bins, as well as plastic bags and skip hire. More specialist waste holders (such as containers, drums, pipes and safes) are also available.Biffa provides services across a number of sectors, including construction, hospitality and retail, as well as the public sector.With the possibility of contacting customer service via phone, plus the option to manage your account online, it’s quick and easy to get in touch about your account or services.Biffa pros and cons Pros National waste collection services Online account management Range of waste types and bins available Established business with industry expertise Cons Smaller startups could feel lost in such a big business How much does Biffa cost?Doesn’t publish set price plans, instead provides personalised quotes.Who is Biffa best for?Biffa is the best for coverage – its services are available in 95% of postcodes, and across 49 counties. Plus, it has more than 100 depot locations, making Biffa ideal for small businesses that require multi-site collections.However, recycling collection isn’t available as a standalone service – you must have a regular waste collection service, too. To compare quotes for commercial waste management, use our commercial waste comparison tool to make sure you’re looking at the top providers for your requirements. Enviro Waste: Best for eco-friendly waste disposalEnviro Waste offers waste collection services across the capital from its east London base, so it’s ideal if you’re looking for commercial waste collection in London.It provides both commercial and construction waste services, with commercial collections including services for hotels, offices and warehouses. Skip hire services are also available. One-off collection services are charged by truck capacity, measured in cubic yards.Enviro Waste pros and cons Pros Environmentally friendly waste disposal Charitable activities London-wide waste collection services Customer service Cons Collection services are only available in London No ongoing bin service How much does Enviro Waste cost?Prices start from £107+ VAT.Who is Enviro Waste best for?Enviro Waste is best for eco-friendly waste disposal – the company aims to recycle 92% of the waste it collects, and to plant a tree as a donation for each clearance it oversees. It’s already planted more than 4,300 trees in partnership with the Woodland Trust.Enviro Fund refers to the company’s charitable activities, which also include working with the British Heart Foundation and the Brixton Soup Kitchen, donating items from waste clearances. Keenan Recycling: Best for food waste collectionIf you’re looking for a perfect partner for your food waste management needs, look no further than Keenan Recycling.Established in 2001, Keenan Recycling offers chipping, composting, recycling, screening and shredding services, all specifically for food and garden waste.It operates services seven days a week across both urban and rural locations.Waste is recycled, and becomes either green energy or premium grade (BSI PAS100) compost.Keenan Recycling pros and cons Pros Ideal for food-based businesses Nationwide service Waste is recycled Bins are included Cons Non-food or garden waste can only be collected through partner waste companies How much does Keenan Recycling cost?Doesn’t publish set price plans, instead provides personalised quotes.Who is Keenan Recycling best for?Keenan Recycling is our top choice for food waste collections as it has specialist expertise in this area.However, this specialism does of course mean it won’t suit the needs of all businesses. Want to compare quotes for commercial waste management? Use our commercial waste comparison tool to easily find the providers best suited to your needs. Veolia: Best for cafe waste collectionVeolia is a French company with international locations, including more than 85,000 customers across the UK. It has won a number of awards in the past 10 years.Covering a variety of sectors – including transport, leisure and education – Veolia offers waste collection services for the disposal of general waste, as well as food and glass waste. As part of its service, your commercial waste needs will be audited to find the right waste solutions for your business.Veolia has a network of collection, recycling and treatment facilities across the country. It has a focus on recycling and green technology, and recently invested £1m into its Dagenham plastics recycling plant for example.Veolia pros and cons Pros Services available across the UK International company Focused on recycling and green technology Cons New customers can contact Veolia via an online form only Nationwide services may not be ideal for businesses that want a waste collection provider with local knowledge How much does Veolia cost?Doesn’t publish set price plans, instead provides personalised quotes.Who is Veolia best for?Veolia is best for cafe waste collection, largely thanks to its coffee cup recycling service. This bespoke service offers a system of bins and processes to recycle disposable paper cups that isn’t widely available.However, as it’s such a big company, the nationwide service Veolia offers may not be ideal if you are looking for a waste collection provider with specific knowledge of your local area or industry. Business Waste: Best for customer serviceFrom its offices across Yorkshire and in Chesterfield, Business Waste provides multiple commercial waste disposal services throughout the UK.This includes management, collections and recycling, with the aim of 0% landfill. It can collect a range of different types of commercial waste.Wheelie bins are available in a variety of sizes, from 120 litres through to 1100 litre bins. Rear and front end loaders, roll on/off bins and skips, as well as waste bags and compaction, are also all available.Business Waste offers an audit, a bin and advice, all for free. Plus, customers have an account manager to handle their account, and you can get phone support 24/7.Business Waste pros and cons Pros A bin and specialist advice are offered for free Phone lines are open 24/7 Services are available across the UK Offers waste management and disposal services, as well as recycling Cons It doesn’t specialise in a particular area as it’s a nationwide service The waste bags are only available in one size How much does Business Waste cost?Doesn’t publish set price plans, instead provides personalised quotes.Who is Business Waste best for?Business Waste is best for customer service because it can be reached 24/7, and it provides equipment and advice for free. Tips for choosing the right waste management company for youThere are a number of factors to consider when choosing between waste disposal companies, including:Area covered – does your business require a national or local service?Collection frequency – do you need a one-off, or ongoing, collection service?Specialist service – are you disposing of specialist items, such as hazardous or builders waste?Disposal methods – will your commercial waste go to landfill, or can it be recycled?Price point – how much will it cost to receive the service your business needs?For more detailed information, read our page on waste disposal prices. Next steps: Compare waste management companiesOur guide to the best waste management companies has taught you loads about some of the top providers out there, including what makes them stand out, and how to choose the best provider for your business. However you decide to dispose of your startup’s commercial waste, it’s absolutely crucial to have an effective waste disposal system in place.For bespoke waste management quotes for your small business, just complete our 2-minute questionnaire and easily see which supplier suits your needs.Best waste management companies: The FAQsHere we outline and answer some of the most pressing concerns that you may have as a small business owner trying to choose between waste disposal companies.1. Commercial waste collection in London: What do you need to know?Disposing of commercial waste in the capital is similar to other parts of the country, although there are some key differences to consider. These include:If the disposal team have to drive through the centre of London, is the congestion charge included in the price, or is it charged as extra? Assess this when working out costs.Does the potential provider collect waste in the specific post code(s) your business is located in? Check to ensure your area is covered.Is the service only available in London, or does the company cover other parts of the UK too? This is useful to know if you have plans for expansion, or multiple sites.2. Commercial waste collection in Birmingham: What do you need to know?With the biggest local authority in the UK, it’s possible to use the City Council waste collection service. There are many private specialist commercial waste companies with services in Birmingham, as well as across the region, too.3. Commercial waste collection in Manchester: What do you need to know?In Manchester, commercial waste can also be disposed of via either the local council’s service, or from one of many private providers. Plus, some providers offer services throughout the wider north-west region as well. Need help solving your waste management needs? Compare the leading providers and find the right fit for your business Compare now Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Written by: Scarlett Cook Writer Scarlett writes for the energy and HR sections of the site, as well as managing the Just Started profiles. Scarlett is passionate about championing equality and sustainability in business.