Commercial waste
Reducing waste can save money!
More people are looking to recycle and reduce waste in the workplace. Disposing commercial waste can be one of the biggest costs for businesses. To reduce, reuse and recycle waste, will save money and show commitment to saving the environment.
What is commercial waste?
Commercial or trade waste is waste that comes from premises used for a trade, business, or for the purposes of sport, recreation or entertainment excluding households and industrial premises, which are classed under controlled waste regulations.
Disposing of commercial waste
The council is not responsible for the disposal of commercial waste. All businesses have a duty to organise their own commercial waste disposal and recycling.
You can choose your nearest registered waste carrier or you can take your own rubbish to your nearest licensed disposal site, but you cannot use Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC'S) or public civic amenity sites for free tipping.
N.B. Landfill sites do not accept waste which has not been subject to some form of treatment to reduce its volume or impact on the environment. For more details on how to manage your commercial waste go to the Environment Agency website.
Clinical waste
Businesses will need to make their own arrangements for clinical waste.
Slough Enterprise, our waste collection partner, can collect commercial clinical waste from business premises for a charge. For more information contact 0800 634 6301.
Your responsibilities
All businesses produce waste and your company has a legal responsibility to ensure that you produce, store, transport and dispose of your business waste without causing harm to human health or the environment. This is called your Duty of Care (DoC). The applicable legislation is the Environmental Protection Act (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991.
- You must store your waste securely so that it does not escape - tie up bags, flatten boxes, close bin lids.
- You must sign a Trade Refuse Agreement with your carrier who is legally authorised to carry waste and pay the charges.
- Ensure that you complete the waste transfer note and provide a written description of the waste. Normally, your carrier will produce this for you as part of your agreement.
- Keep a copy of all documentation for two years. You can be prosecuted if you cannot produce full records for the last two years.
Illegal dumping of waste
It is illegal to flytip or dispose of commercial waste into household waste or recycling bins, this includes recycle bring sites and Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC's). If your waste is discovered to have been disposed of illegally, even by your carrier, your company could face prosecution.