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, contents includes advice on waste audits, Duty of Care, procurement, communicating with staff, managing and storing waste.

  • 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, 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 ensure 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 business or industry.

Businesses must ensure 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 B&Bs/holiday lets, childminding, hairdressing, car parts etc.

Your business must pay to recycle or dispose of business waste whether or not it is registered, a company or pays business rates.

For more information: gov.uk/managing-your-waste-an-overview

Costs of collections depend on the waste type, containers used and collection frequency.

Reducing, reusing and recycling waste are 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 Somerset Council, see our business waste services

We can provide charged-for collections for businesses if requested, through our collection contractor.

This table shows some of the companies offering commercial recycling, refuse collections and electrical waste specialist contractors . We do not recommend any particular supplier.

See the List of companies offering commercial recycling table at full width

Last reviewed: May 24, 2023 by Adam

Next review due: November 24, 2023

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