Business waste disposal: Everything you need to know

Every business in England needs to make proper arrangements for its business waste disposal, no matter the volume or waste type.

But many owners are unaware of their “duty of care” when it comes to business waste and may not be using the most cost-effective service.

Here’s everything you need to know about business waste disposal in England, including all your options for having waste collected (and the serious risks if you don’t manage it properly).

Why you need to be on top of your business waste

Business waste (or trade waste) is any waste generated completely or in the most part for the purposes of business, trade, entertainment, construction, landscaping, education, recreation or sport. Household, agricultural and industrial waste are not classed as business waste.

Every business in the country is responsible for managing their waste according to the Environmental Protection Act 1990, paying particular attention to Section 34, which lays out the business owner’s “duty of care”.

Failure to take the necessary steps to manage your business waste can result in legal action, as well as unnecessary expenses that can arise by not contracting the most efficient business waste service for your needs.

How to manage business waste

Businesses have three options for managing, storing and disposing of their business waste:

• Private business waste companies.
• Local authority business waste collections (paid service).
• Driving the waste to a recycling centre.

Local authorities offer different services with a variety of bin sizes and collection frequencies to suit businesses of all types. Suffolk and Cambridgeshire residents can find more details, including rates, on their local council websites.

Private companies may offer more flexibility and a wider range of waste types and containers. For example, SunSkips provides both enclosed and open skips for business waste and can even offer a waste audit to see if there are ways your business could streamline its waste flows.

Businesses that only generate a small amount of waste still need to follow business waste legislation and can under no circumstances dispose of it in a household waste collection or public litter bin. However, it’s perfectly above board to team up with a neighbouring business and share the cost of a business waste service. Small business owners that only generate a small amount of waste and decide to drive their own waste to the recycling centre must first register as a waste carrier (it’s free).

MORE: Waste carrier licence: The risk you take by ignoring it

Burning or burying business waste on private land is generally a criminal offence unless you have an environmental permit that explicitly allows you to do so. Exporting waste for any other purpose than for it to be recycled or used for energy is prohibited.

On top of proper management and disposal, companies are also responsible for the storage of business waste. Any waste that spills out of containers for any reason is the responsibility of the business owner, as are any consequences that arise from it.

Types of business waste

Every business is different, so it’s important to contract a business waste management service that can deal with the waste stream types you generate.

Recycling will always result in cheaper costs, because it avoids the high taxes levied on businesses who send waste to landfill.

But some waste types are easier to recycle than others, so it pays to understand what the most efficient recycling method is for each.

Construction and landscaping waste

Rubble, green waste and most other things that are produced in the construction and landscaping industries are best managed by a skip hire service.

Construction waste is often handled in builders’ skips (8 yards), or much bigger containers of 20 or 40 yards, which can be rolled on and off a lorry (ro-ros). This waste type can usually be recycled and reintroduced back into the circular economy, as it is at SunSkips sites.

MORE: SunSkips is a real gem for simplifying paperwork, says Emerald Landscapes

Cardboard and paper recycling

Separating your paper and cardboard for recycling is the most cost-effective method for handling this type of business waste.

Envelopes (with any plastic parts removed), scrap printer paper, useless documents, newspapers, magazines, and junk mail can all be recycled.

You can save money on your paper and cardboard recycling by investing in a compactor because it’ll require fewer containers to store it, as well as reducing your collection frequency.

Plastic recycling

As one of the most difficult to recycle waste types, plastic is best taken care of by a professional waste management company that can help you lay out a strategy for separation into the different plastic categories.

SunSkips is able to separate plastic waste at its sites in Cambridge, Stowmarket and Haverhill, getting the most value out of it by either recycling or sending it to be used for energy from waste (EfW).

MORE: Plastics that can be recycled: a guide to sorting plastics in the UK

Glass recycling

Glass is fairly easy to recycle and the process requires less energy than making new glass. Unlike plastic, glass can be recycled several times over, so it’s an important part of the circular economy.

However, glass can be dangerous, so it’s important to store it in safe containers, like SunSkips’ closed skips.

Food waste

Food waste from restaurants and retailers must be properly separated and should be recycled to get the most value out of it.

SunSkips does not accept food waste in its bins, but recommends the services of Organic Waste Solutions (OWL), which was co-founded by SunSkips managing director Mathew Stewart.

OPINION: Food waste is valuable and we should’ve been recycling it years ago

Hazardous waste, oil, sanitary and clinical waste

If your business generates hazardous waste, you’ll need to take extra care of its disposal and hire a company that has experience in that particular waste type.

Pesticides, poison, asbestos and even paint are classed as hazardous materials and cannot be thrown in with your general business waste.

Your local authority should assist you in finding an accredited hazardous waste service that can help with your specific situation.

Confidential waste

Some business waste can include sensitive information that’s best destroyed or kept under lock and key before disposal.

SunSkips offers lockable containers to protect confidential waste and also removes the fire hazard inherent in storing paper.

How good business waste management can save you money

As with most things in the world of work, proper planning and assessment goes a long way towards making your business waste processes more cost effective.

Educating your employees on how to properly manage business waste is an investment worth making to build the necessary systems.

MORE: How smart waste management can boost your company’s profits

An onsite visit and consultation could reveal areas that can be simplified to streamline how you currently manage your waste.

You can also learn ways to cut costs by reducing the amount of waste you generate in the first place or finding alternative uses for your waste onsite.

MORE: The five Rs of waste management: Refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle

The risks of improper business waste management

Business waste crimes carry hefty penalties, including fines of up to £50,000 and 12 months in prison. Serious offences can carry even more severe penalties and authorities have revealed plans for harsher punishments still.

One East Suffolk accommodation owner recently found himself on the business end of fines and court costs amounting to £5,160.

The businessman admitted failing to provide containers big enough to store the volume of waste his properties generated so it spilled out around them. Wild animals were attracted to the overflowing waste, prompting residents to complain to the local authority.

An unprofessional waste management provider can land you in hot water too. The onus is on the business owner to check if the company holds a valid waste carrier licence. It’s also important for businesses to hold onto any waste transfer notes, which must be signed by both parties every time business waste changes custody.

MORE: What is a waste transfer note and why is it important?

Staying on the right side of the law is often a case of common sense and doing the right thing by the environment and your bottom line.

Do your due diligence when looking for a business waste management service and you can rest assured that you’re fulfilling your duty of care and don’t need to be constantly looking over your shoulder every time you’ve got something to throw away.

SunSkips offers open and closed skip containers for business waste. Speak to our friendly team today and discover how SunSkips can streamline your business waste processes.