When disposing of commercial waste, there are some very stringent rules and regulations that need to be followed. Regardless of the industry you work in, it’s imperative that you’re disposing of your waste responsibly. This helps to avoid fines and possible prison sentences. It’s never been more important to consider your options for commercial waste disposal, and that includes choosing the right waste carrier. In this article, we’ll go through what commercial waste is and how you can get rid of it properly.

What is commercial waste?

Commercial waste is any waste or rubbish that is generated by a business or a company on their property, regardless of its size or the industry it belongs to. Any and all waste produced by a business, whether you’re based in an office, on a farm or on a construction site, to name just a few settings, is considered to be commercial waste, including:

Cardboard
Paper
Cans
Tins
Food packaging
Retail packaging
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

What responsibilities do businesses have for commercial waste?

Businesses are obligated to dispose of the waste they generate in a way that is responsible and mindful of the planet. These days, it’s less about making sure that your waste ends up in landfill and more about making sure it’s recycled and not fly-tipped in our green spaces. It’s illegal to dispose of your commercial waste incorrectly, leading to dire consequences that few companies can afford to come face-to-face with. It’s in your best interests to make sure that waste is disposed of properly, because of the following things:

It ensures you aren’t prosecuted for any offences
It saves the planet
It protects the wildlife
It prevents contaminant from ending up in the ocean
You get to reduce your carbon footprint, which is a unique selling point for many businesses these days

How to dispose of commercial waste properly

There are multiple steps and considerations to take into account when it comes to disposing of commercial waste. This is a key step that protects yourself, your finances and the environment. From ensuring you’re not generating lots of waste to checking your waste carrier is licensed, here are a few tips on how to dispose of commercial waste properly:

Firstly, try to keep waste generation to a minimum

In order to make waste disposal as simple and as straightforward as possible, one of the easiest things you can do is to keep the waste generation to a minimum. Not only is this better for you, as a business, but it also helps to protect the planet. It keeps your carbon footprint as low as possible, whilst making it far more simple to dispose of any waste you already have generated. No matter the type of waste you’re producing, this is a good, all-round rule of thumb if you’re looking to keep your waste disposal responsibilities to a minimum.

Make sure commercial waste is stored appropriately whilst awaiting collection

Waste collection can be scheduled for different times of the day and days of the week. It’s not always possible to have waste collected exactly when you want to, unless you’re scheduling those collection dates in good time.

Therefore, whilst you’re waiting, you will need to make sure that the commercial waste you have is stored in a secure, appropriate place. This ensures that no one comes to harm if they come across it by accident.

It also protects the wildlife and prevents it from ending up in the wrong hands. Tell your waste carrier where it is located so that it can be collected safely by someone who is experienced, such as us here at Willshee’s.

Complete a waste transfer note

Every time your commercial waste is collected, you will need to complete a waste transfer note. Sometimes, a waste transfer note is completed by the waste carrier themselves, depending on their individual processes. Usually, a waste transfer note is given to you upon collection. This gives people peace of mind that their waste is going to be collected and disposed of responsibly.

Check that the waste carrier is registered

It’s imperative that the waste carrier you’re choosing is registered. They need to be registered to take away and dispose of many different types of waste, including hazardous waste, if they advertise that service. If they are not registered, then you will risk having your waste collected and fly-tipped by an illegitimate company.

If this happens, it’s likely that the waste collected will be traced back to you, and you will then be held legally responsible. According to Noble Solicitors, the consequences of fly-tipping can cripple a business, with fines of up to £50,000 and even a prison sentence if convicted in a Magistrates’ Court. It’s in your best interests to make sure that the waste carrier is registered for a number of reasons, including:

It ensures you don’t end up with a hefty fine
It prevents you from going to prison
It protects the wildlife
It helps to save the planet
It reduces your carbon footprint

Hazardous waste needs to be disposed of correctly

Hazardous waste is extremely dangerous, especially if it ends up being disposed of incorrectly. It has detrimental consequences on the health of the general public and can destroy wildlife and their habitats. In addition, it’s extremely damaging to the environment.

That’s why it’s important that it is collected and treated by a responsible waste carrier, such as us here at Willshee’s. We have a dedicated hazardous waste collection and disposal service that you’ll be able to take advantage of. The materials we will get rid of included in our hazardous waste collection service includes the following:

Chemicals
Solvents
Oils
Asbestos
Paints
Cylinders
Aerosols
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
Fluorescent tubes
Manufacturing wastes
Processing wastes
Contaminated rags
Contaminated absorbents

Willshee’s are dedicated to ensuring all waste types are disposed of correctly and in the most eco-friendly manner possible. We will always aim to recycle 100% of the waste we collect, including domestic waste, commercial waste and hazardous waste. As such, we are pleased to offer skip hire to a wealth of customers throughout Burton-upon-Trent and the surrounding areas. If you would like further information about the waste management services we have available, get in touch with a member of our friendly, knowledgeable team today – we are fully-licensed and registered, so you can rest assured that your waste will always be disposed of responsibly and in a sustainable way.

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