Most businesses create some type of waste in their daily activities and must ensure it is disposed of responsibly. Various types of waste require different methods of processing and recycling.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about general waste, including what is included in this category and how it’s collected and treated.
With a better understanding of the details of commercial waste management, your business could become greener and more efficient.
- What is General Commercial Waste?
- Types of General Waste
- How is General Waste Collected and Disposed Of?
- How Can My Business Reduce General Waste?
- What Types of General Waste Bins Are Available?
- Who Needs General Waste Collection in the UK?
- What Is the Best Company for General Waste Collection?
- General Waste Laws and Regulations in the UK
What is General Commercial Waste?
General commercial waste is any type of waste a business produces that can’t be recycled. It can include a variety of materials such as plastics, packaging, and food scraps.
General waste is usually incinerated and does not include special types of waste, such as electronic, chemical, or clinical waste.
Types of General Waste
General waste can include:
- Office waste
- Retail waste
- Food waste
- Manufacturing waste
- Construction waste
How is General Waste Collected and Disposed Of?
As a business, you are responsible for segregating your waste into recyclable (glass bottles, paper and card, cans, etc) and non-recyclable (residual or general waste).
General waste is usually put into black bin bags and wheelie bins. A licensed waste management company should collect general commercial waste on your scheduled collection day.
You can read more about choosing a commercial waste management company in our guide here.
The waste will usually then go to a recycling centre or waste transfer station where it is sorted and processed.
Most general waste cannot be recycled, so it is either incinerated (sometimes to produce power through an Energy From Waste facility) or sent to a landfill site to be compacted and buried.
How Can My Business Reduce General Waste?
Because most general waste is burned or put into landfills rather than recycled, your business can help the environment by reducing the amount of general waste produced.
You can promote reusable containers and cups instead of single-use, disposable ones. You can also switch from non-recyclable plastic packaging to paper or cardboard.
Donate or sell equipment, furniture or other materials which would otherwise be thrown away. Think creatively about whether you could repurpose, reclaim or upcycle waste to give it a new life.
To improve recycling rates, encourage waste sorting before the point of collection, for instance, by having separate bins for different types of waste on your premises.
Create a system for composting food waste or at least separating it out so it can be processed separately from general waste. Food waste can be converted into green energy called biofuel using anaerobic digestion.
What Types of General Waste Bins Are Available?
Waste management companies typically have a range of general waste bins, so you can choose the size most suitable for your business’s waste production.
A household wheelie bin from the local council is typically 240 litres in size. Businesses might want larger wheelie bins; they usually go up to 1,100 litres. There are also larger containers, such as front-end or rear-end loaders, or smaller containers, such as bags or small bins.
When you request a quote from a waste management company, they should be able to recommend the right size container for your business.
Who Needs General Waste Collection in the UK?
Any waste that is produced by a business, even a small business that you run from home, is classed as commercial waste.
You have responsibilities around disposing of this waste correctly (more on this below). You can’t take commercial waste home to put it in your household wheelie bin, for instance.
What Is the Best Company for General Waste Collection?
The best company for general waste collection for your particular business will depend on your waste management needs and budget. We have put together brand reviews of some companies offering different types of commercial waste disposal. You can read them here:
General Waste Laws and Regulations in the UK
If you don’t dispose of your company’s waste correctly, you could face fines, prosecution, reputational risk, and, of course, you would be damaging the environment. The government has outlined the responsibilities businesses have around commercial waste disposal. You must:
- Keep waste to a minimum by doing everything you reasonably can to prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste.
- Sort and store waste safely and securely.
- Complete a waste transfer note for each load of waste that leaves your premises (you can do this each year if the collection details stay the same) and keep records for two years. · Check if your waste carrier is registered to dispose of waste (search the official register here)
- Do not allow the waste carrier to dispose of your waste illegally – you must report them if they do.
You also have to store waste safely and securely before it is collected. You must:
- Store waste in a secure place
- Use suitable containers to stop waste from escaping
- Label containers clearly with what they contain
- Use covers to stop waste from being blown away
- Protect from rain
Using suitable bins provided by a registered waste carrier should ensure you meet all these requirements effortlessly.
There are several laws and regulations in place governing commercial waste in the UK. Here are some of the main ones:
The Environmental Protection Act 1990
The Act imposes a duty of care on businesses to keep land clear of litter, regulates the transport and treatment of waste, and establishes local authority over waste disposal companies.
The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011
Compels businesses to segregate waste, encourage recycling, and follow the waste hierarchy of prevention, reuse, recycling and recovery, with disposal (such as sending to landfill) as a last resort.
The Landfill Directive
This directive includes the Landfill tax, which acts as an incentive for businesses to divert waste away from landfills. It also bans hazardous waste and some types of untreated biodegradable waste from landfills.
The Controlled Waste Regulations 2012
These regulations define different categories of waste, including household, industrial, and commercial waste, and explain how they should be managed.
Simpler Recycling
From 31 March 2025, a new legislation called Simpler Recycling will require businesses, schools, hospitals, and other non-household premises in England to separate their recycling and food waste from their general waste.
