Introduction
Information and guidance to help businesses recycle, reduce waste and keep up to date on regulatory requirements can be found on the Business of Recycling website. Developed by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), contents include:
- A waste calculator tool to see how much waste a business generates and how recycling can help save money.
- Guidance on the importance of recycling, waste audits, Duty of Care, procurement, communicating in the workplace, and managing and storing waste
- Free downloadable communications resources to help businesses engage with staff and encourage recycling in the workplace.
Your duty of care
All businesses producing any waste should have a trade waste agreement with a registered waste carrier or take their refuse to a site licensed to accept trade waste. They have a duty to make sure that any waste produced is handled safely and legally. ‘Duty of Care’ applies to anyone who produces, imports, transports, stores, treats or disposes of waste from a business or industry.
Businesses must make sure that:
- All waste is stored and disposed of responsibly
- Waste is only handled or dealt with by people or businesses authorised to do so, or delivered to a site licensed to take it
- Records are kept for at least two years of all waste transferred or received
For more information on Duty of Care and your responsibilities see the Right Waste, Right Place website.
Business waste collections
Unlike household waste, which is paid for through Council Tax, waste collections for businesses are not included in business rates. All businesses must arrange and pay for waste services as part of their Duty of Care.
This includes business run from home, such as Bed and Breakfast, holiday lets, childminding, hairdressing and car parts.
Your business must pay to recycle or dispose of business waste whether it is registered, a company, or pays business rates.
You can find more information on GOV.UK about disposal of business or commercial waste.
Costs of collections depend on the waste type, containers used and collection frequency.
Reducing, reusing and recycling waste is better for the environment and may save you money.
We recommend you compare prices and services from the range of providers to get the best deal. For business waste facilities provided by us, see our business waste services
We are required by law to provide a waste collection service to businesses, where they are unable to find a contractor to service their business. For example, a business in a remote location and cannot contract a commercial waste company. In these circumstances we can provide charged for collections for businesses if requested, through our collection contractor.
However, it is possible these commercial waste producers are unable to get a commercial contractor because these collections are not geographically/financially viable, and the council may have to align collections with the domestic service and will be unable to offer a bespoke service outside these limitations.
Another option is to use an online marketplace for the collection of bulky waste, furniture and appliances. LoveJunk matches you to nearby licensed waste carriers and also reuse charities and is free to use.
| Category | Contractor | Materials accepted |
|---|---|---|
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorBiffa 0800 307307 | Materials acceptedPaper, confidential waste, cardboard, container glass, food and drinks cans, plastic bottles, metals, hazardous waste, WEEE. Refuse. Cans in dry mixed recycling service. Mixed metals – skip service only. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorBinit 01392 247035 | Materials acceptedGeneral, dry mixed, glass, food, card, clinical, hygiene, confidential, textiles, wood, metals, hazardous waste, WEEE, skip hire, fluorescent tubes, batteries, vending cups, beverage cartons, glass bottles, printer cartridges. Provision of storage containers, balers and compactors available. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorBottleman 01297 21719 | Materials acceptedPaper, cardboard, container glass, food and drinks cans, plastic bottles, food waste. Mixed plastics, plate glass. Please note: food waste service only has limited coverage. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorCommercial Recycling 01749 830889 | Materials acceptedBuilders waste, commercial waste, farm plastic, glass, paper, cardboard, metal, green waste, mixed plastics, wood waste, WEEE. Contact direct for full details. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorDS Smith – Recycling Division 0800 7831831 | Materials acceptedPaper, confidential waste, cardboard, container glass, food and drinks cans, plastic bottles, textiles, wood, metals, hazardous waste, WEEE. Refuse. Dry mixed recycling collection now available. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorGreat Western Recycling 0300 303 4856 | Materials acceptedGeneral waste, dry mixed recycling, glass, cardboard, food waste, sanitary, clinical waste, confidential waste. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorJ W Waste Recycling Ltd 01761 479444 | Materials acceptedPaper, cardboard, container glass, food and drinks cans, plastic bottles. Refuse. Polythene acceptable either as a separate stream or in mixed recycling collections. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorM&J Bowers 0800 027 6255 | Materials acceptedPaper, confidential waste, cardboard, textiles. Office clearance, secure document destruction on and off site. Please note: cardboard is only taken if a paper contract is in place. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorM.J. Church 01225 891591 | Materials acceptedGeneral waste, mixed recycling, food and glass. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorPerry’s Recycling 01935 850111 | Materials acceptedPaper, confidential waste, cardboard, polythene film, rigid plastics, cans, plastic bottles, metals, wood, WEEE items, fluorescent tubes, batteries, vending cups, beverage cartons, glass bottles, printer cartridges. Provision of storage containers, balers and compactors available. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorSUEZ recycling and recovery UK 08000 830504 | Materials acceptedGeneral waste, mixed recycling, glass and food waste collections. SUEZ also offer secure shredding and hazardous waste services. |
| CategoryGeneral recycling and waste | ContractorVeolia Environmental Services 0845 6060460 | Materials acceptedPaper, confidential waste, cardboard, container glass, food and drinks cans, food waste, plastic bottles, wood, metals, hazardous waste, WEEE. Refuse. Dry mixed recycling collection now available – paper/card/plastic/cans. |
| CategoryICT and electrical waste specialist | ContractorByteback IT Solutions Ltd 0117 3706456 | Materials acceptedIT equipment recycling and data destruction. |
| CategoryICT and electrical waste specialist | ContractorPure Planet Recycling 01234 315496 | Materials acceptedSecure recycling of all types of electrical waste including computers, IT equipment and fridge/freezers. |
| CategoryICT and electrical waste specialist | ContractorStone – IT Asset Disposal 08448 221122 | Materials acceptedIT equipment recycling and data destruction. |
| CategorySkip hire | ContractorWellington Waste Management 01823 664628 | Materials acceptedSkip hire. |
| CategorySkip hire | ContractorCompare Skip Hire | Materials acceptedSkip hire comparison website. |
| CategorySkip hire | ContractorOhire.co.uk | Materials acceptedSkip hire (and other equipment) comparison website. |
| CategorySkip hire | ContractorSkip Hire Services 0203 7013804 | Materials acceptedSkip hire. |
| CategorySkip hire | ContractorThe Skip Company 03000 309978 | Materials acceptedSkip hire. |
Get your business ready for Simpler Recycling
As a business, you need to make sure you are recycling.
Every business is responsible for its waste, and from 1 April 2025 will need to make sure the following materials are recycled:
- food waste
- paper and cardboard
- cartons
- glass bottles and jars
- food tins and drinks cans, foil and aerosols
- plastic bottles and pots tubs and trays
- from 2027, plastic film.
Alongside changes to business waste, the same materials will also be collected from households across the UK. The changes mean that, whether at home or in the office, people can recycle the same materials.
Act now and get it sorted.
Business waste cannot be disposed of through a household collection. This includes people who run businesses from home, such as childminding, home offices and holiday homes.
Businesses are responsible for arranging their own rubbish and recycling collections.
The changes will be introduced in stages:
- Simpler Recycling for businesses and non-household premises – 31 March 2025
- Simpler Recycling for households – 31 March 2026
- Simpler Recycling for Micro-businesses (less than 10 full-time equivalent employees) – 31 March 2027
- plastic film for everyone – 31 March 2027.
If you are in business, you can find more information and support to help you get ready for the change on the website WRAP – the business of recycling