How to Get Rid of Business Waste Legally
Before you decide how to get rid of business waste, you need to know its law. In this article, you will learn more about the regulations regarding Commercial waste, Off-site recycling options, and penalties for illegally disposing of business waste. This article is part of a series about business laws and regulations. Please click here for more information and pricing on commercial waste.
Get Rid of Business Waste: Commercial Waste
Business waste disposal is an essential part of running a business. If it is not correctly disposed of, it can pose a severe threat to the environment and result in hefty fines and suspension of business activities. You also risk illegal dumping, resulting in fines and even suspension of your business. In addition to this, improper waste disposal can cause soil, water, and air pollution.
- The best way to safely dispose of business waste is to find a certified waste management company and hire them to take care of it.
- Before hiring a waste contractor, you must know what types of waste you produce and where you store it.
- Your commercial waste contractor will be able to advise you on the right way to store, separate, and dispose of your waste legally. They will also provide you with a document called a Waste Transfer Note.
Businesses that don’t comply with this requirement can face fines, which may reach up to £5,000, and unlimited fines at Crown Court. In addition, commercial waste can’t be deposited at household recycling centres. However, you can legally dispose of business waste by arranging a trade waste collection with a licensed trade waste company. The commercial waste can include old lunchtime soup tins to used food tins.
Consider recycling if you’re unsure what to do with the waste you’re producing. Recycling is an excellent way to reduce the amount of commercial waste you generate, and consumers love buying products made from recycled materials. Businesses that carefully follow the rules can also handle business waste responsibly. The laws regarding commercial waste disposal differ from those for households, so be sure to review the laws before you start throwing out your waste.
Recycling codes |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
PETE |
HDPE |
V |
LDPE |
PP |
|
Polyethylene Terephthalate. |
High Density Polyethylene |
Polyvinyl Chloride |
Low-density Polyethylene |
Polypropylene |
|
Veolia Waste Management
To dispose of your waste correctly, you should check with your local government authority on what type of waste you can legally dispose of.
Most council-run commercial waste services accept everyday recyclable materials, but some may require that you sort your waste before dropping it off. You should also check if there’s a charge for a collection bin. If so, you should consider using one of the many options for disposing of your business waste, such as a commercial waste management company. Besides the regulations concerning the type of waste, you should document its proper disposal.
You must maintain a Duty of Care Waste Transfer Note document every time your waste is transferred to another location. This document must include information about the type of waste, the date of disposal, the weight of the materials, and more. This document is vital for legally protecting your business under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Get Rid of Business Waste: Off-site
Businesses in the UK can get rid of their waste at off-site locations, such as recycling centers, waste transfer stations, or landfills. However, some specific regulations and requirements must be followed to ensure that waste is disposed of safely and legally.
Businesses must comply with the Duty of Care regulations, which require them to take all reasonable steps to ensure that their waste is properly managed and disposed of. This includes ensuring that waste is transported by a licensed waste carrier, that it is accompanied by the correct documentation, such as a waste transfer note, and that it is disposed of at a licensed waste facility.
Businesses can also work with waste management companies to arrange for the collection and disposal of their waste. These companies can provide a range of services, such as collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal of waste, and can ensure that waste is managed in compliance with all relevant regulations.
It’s important for businesses to properly manage their waste to minimize the environmental impact and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines or legal action, so it’s important to work with a reputable waste management company and to follow all regulations and requirements for waste disposal.
Below are some reputable business waste companies:
Get Rid of Business Waste: Penalties
There are many potential penalties for businesses that illegally deposit their commercial waste.
Depending on the type of business waste deposited, these can range from a minor fine of £30 to unlimited fines and imprisonment for five years. Even a tiny fine such as £110, can land the business owner in hot water, and they can also be forced to pay back any monetary benefit they’ve gained from the deposited waste. The Environmental Protection Act 1990, part of UK law, regulates waste disposal and several offences. The maximum punishment is a fine and prison sentence.
Fines can range from a few hundred pounds to a couple of years, and imprisonment can be five years in the Crown Court. While the penalties for dumping waste illegally are typically high, most of these offences apply to businesses. Domestic households are not liable for any waste crimes. A person accused of illegally dumping commercial waste can raise a legal defence that attempts to demonstrate a valid reason for the dumping. This legal defence is sometimes called “guilty with an explanation.”
For example, an illegally deposited business waste may argue that he acted unlawfully because of an emergency. While the fine is usually a substantial sum of money, the legal disposal costs are minimal and often less than half of the fine.
Get Rid of Business Waste – Learn more about UK business waste statistics here
Other useful links from our Commercial Waste Centre
The Benefits of Dry Mixed Recycling
Looking After Your Business Bins
Commercial Skip Hire – How to Find a Cheap Deal
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