Commercial waste covers every type of waste produced by businesses and organisations, or during commercial activities. Regulations surrounding the handling and disposal of commercial waste apply to all UK businesses, regardless of size or sector – covering everyday operations including packaging, food prep, admin, manufacturing, and maintenance.
As a UK business, you have a duty of care for your waste storage, transfer, and disposal processes. At ETM Recycling, we aim to provide compliant and effective commercial waste management for businesses in the South West.
In this article, we’ll explore what commercial waste is, who produces it, and how to manage it.
What Is Commercial Waste?
Commercial waste is a broad category, and includes all waste generated by any business or during any commercial activity. It is legally distinct from household waste, and as such cannot be disposed of via domestic bins or household council collections. This means a dedicated waste management service is required to ensure your commercial waste is properly handled.
- Commercial waste is produced by both profit and non-profit organisations
- It includes both solid and liquid waste
- All waste must be separated appropriately
Most businesses generate multiple waste streams simultaneously, so having access to quality commercial bins – alongside a good waste management provider – is essential to ensure your waste is treated quickly and effectively.
Types of Commercial Waste
Commercial waste is categorised to ensure it is correctly handled, recycled, and disposed of. Segregating your waste not only helps to improve recycling rates and reduce disposal costs, but it is also a mandatory part of disposing of commercial waste.
Incorrect classification or handling of your commercial waste can result in fines or legal consequences, so understanding the categories and working with a partner you can trust are vital factors in ensuring a smooth, compliant process.
General Waste
This waste is made up of the residual, non-recyclable waste that remains after segregation. Typically unsuitable for recycling or composting (without the proper treatment), this waste includes:
- Contaminated packaging
- Polystyrene
- Mixed materials
- Certain plastics
These materials have the highest disposal cost, either through highly technical and expensive recycling treatments or through landfill, and the lowest environmental benefit. The best bet is to try and avoid using these kinds of materials altogether, but at ETM Recycling our zero-to-landfill commitment will ensure as much of your waste as possible is recycled effectively.
Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR)
DMR is a combined recycling stream that covers all kinds of clean, dry materials. These materials can be sorted and processed at a waste transfer facility, leading to optimal recycling rates.
Common materials in this category include:
- Cardboard
- Paper
- Plastic bottles and containers
- Food tins and drink cans
DMR has lower disposal costs compared to general waste, and is made up of materials that are widespread across offices, retail, and hospitality businesses, making it one of the most common commercial waste types around.
Cardboard & Paper Waste
By itself, cardboard and paper waste is one of the highest volume waste streams for many organisations. Despite the digital era we now live in, paper waste continues to be a major contributor to commercial waste streams.
Common sources include:
- Delivery packaging
- Online retail fulfilment
- Office printing and admin
To properly process cardboard and paper waste, the materials must be clean and dry, and devoid of any contaminants. This is a highly recyclable material with a strong end-market demand, making it a great choice for packaging or products by businesses looking to be more sustainable.
Food Waste
Organic, biodegradable waste from food handling and consumption also counts as commercial waste – and it must be handled like any other waste source. You might get commercial food waste from:
- Food preparation waste
- Plate scrapings
- Expired or spoiled stock
- Coffee grounds and tea bags
While much of this waste is produced by hospitality, catering, and food retail businesses, you might also see food waste produced by offices with food halls. Not all waste management providers work with this kind of waste, so separate collection may be required.
Glass Waste
Glass waste is mainly generated by the hospitality, leisure, and construction sectors, through materials like bottles, jars, and windows. Glass is a relatively heavy material, requiring dedicated storage and handling. However, it’s 100% recyclable when properly segregated, making it a highly sustainable material to work with.
Hazardous Waste
Any type of waste that poses a risk to health or the environment, or has the potential to do so, is classed as hazardous. This type of waste requires specialist handling and documentation, must never be mixed with general waste, and often isn’t recyclable without expensive testing and treatments. Common examples include:
- Chemicals and solvents
- Oils and fuels
- Batteries
- Fluorescent tubes
- Cleaning products
Learn more about hazardous waste disposal and regulations >
WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
Discarded electrical or electronic items are covered by specific UK regulations, which detail the handling and disposal of these items to prevent electrical fires, ensure valuable materials are properly recovered, and avoid any data protection issues. These extensive regulations cover a broad range of categories, such as:
- Computers and monitors
- Printers and photocopiers
- Lighting equipment
- Small appliances
Find out more about what WEEE is and how it is recycled >
Construction & Demolition Waste
Any waste produced during building, renovation, maintenance, or demolition is classed as C&D waste. Common materials include:
- Rubble and concrete
- Wood
- Metals
- Plasterboard
These materials are often bulky or heavy, and there are many regulations regarding hazardous or potentially hazardous materials that could be present. As such, dedicated skips or containers are required to ensure this waste is properly handled and transported.
Explore the benefits of onsite vs offsite segregation for the construction industry >
Who Produces Commercial Waste?
As we’ve mentioned, commercial waste covers all waste produced by any organisation (for profit or not) that carries out any kind of commercial activity. Here is a non-exhaustive list of organisation types that produce commercial waste:
- Offices and corporate workplaces
- Retail shops and shopping centres
- Restaurants, cafés, pubs, and takeaways
- Hotels and hospitality venues
- Schools, colleges, and universities
- Healthcare facilities and care homes
- Construction sites and tradespeople
- Warehouses, factories, and industrial units
It is important to note that while the waste volume and composition will vary by industry, the end result is the same – getting the correct waste management services to match your waste type and quantity. And with the experienced team at ETM Recycling, this process will happen seamlessly, regardless of your industry or waste outputs.
UK Commercial Waste Laws & Duty of Care
The UK has a number of commercial waste management regulations that underpin how commercial waste needs to be gathered, handled, stored, treated, and processed in the UK. All businesses have a legal responsibility for their own waste, from production to disposal, so working with a trusted partner is vital to ensure your compliance.
The UK Waste Duty of Care requires anyone who produces, handles, transports, or disposes of waste to take all reasonable steps to store and transfer it safely and legally, ensuring it goes only to authorised people and is accompanied by correct documentation.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 establishes this Duty of Care, and requires businesses to prevent any unauthorised disposal of their waste.
Meanwhile, regulations like the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 help to introduce the waste hierarchy – prioritising prevention, reuse, and recycling before any waste goes to landfill. They also come with the requirements to store waste securely, use a licensed waste carrier, and keep waste transfer notes.
Hazardous waste can come with its own tertiary requirements, such as for certain types of wood waste under the Wood Waste Regulations 2023, with additional controls or paperwork depending on the type and destination.
How to Manage Commercial Waste
Here is a quick guide to managing your commercial waste, that you can refer back to when trying to optimise your commercial waste management:
- Assess the different waste streams produced by or at the organisation
- Segregate waste by type at source wherever possible
- Use clearly labelled bins and containers, and encourage staff awareness
- Arrange regular collections with a licensed provider like ETM Recycling
- Review waste data to identify reduction opportunities and lower your overall waste production
Commercial Waste Services in Bristol from ETM Recycling
With so many businesses required to ensure compliant, effective handling for their waste, it’s important to work with a commercial waste management provider you can trust. At ETM Recycling, we provide quality waste management services to local businesses in Bristol and the South West, offering reliable and compliant collections and handling for your various waste categories.
If you’re interested in our services on recycling, landfill diversion, and waste segregation – and how this supports your legal compliance and environmental efforts – then get in touch today to start building your tailored commercial waste solution.
