Commercial Waste and General Waste – What’s the Difference?
If you have a business, you might find yourself confused about the difference between commercial waste and general waste. Both types of waste have distinct treatment regulations and therefore require different disposal methods.
As an expert in waste removal, Away With It clarifies the difference between commercial and general waste, detailing the specific responsibilities and regulations businesses must follow to dispose of commercial waste correctly.
What’s the difference between commercial waste and general waste?
Commercial waste is defined as the rubbish that’s produced by a business, excluding agricultural or industrial waste. It includes materials like office paper, packaging and discarded equipment. General waste is produced by households and consists of the non-recyclable and non-compostable materials that are discarded from everyday activities.
Usually, there isn’t much of a difference in the type of waste that’s produced by businesses or households – they could both include things such as food waste, paper and packaging. However, the council has the duty to remove household waste. But, for commercial waste, it is the responsibility of the business to remove the waste safely to align with the regulations and environmental standards.
What’s classified as commercial waste?
According to the government website, commercial waste is defined as rubbish produced from any commercial activity. This includes waste generated from business activities conducted at home. For example, if you use a room in your home for beauty treatments or to build furniture to sell, the resulting waste is considered commercial waste. It is crucial for businesses to recognise the distinction between commercial and domestic waste because each type is subject to different regulations and disposal methods. Properly managing commercial waste not only ensures compliance with legal requirements but also promotes environmental sustainability and operational efficiency.
Commercial waste can also be produced through:
• Construction
• Demolition
• Industry
• Agriculture
What are my responsibilities for commercial waste?
As a business, you have several responsibilities regarding your commercial waste. Improper commercial waste disposal is illegal and can lead to significant fines and legal consequences. Additionally, incorrect disposal practices can negatively impact the environment, contributing to pollution and resource depletion. Therefore, it is crucial to follow the appropriate regulations and adopt sustainable waste management practices.
The government sets out business responsibilities for commercial waste as follows:
Keep waste to a minimum
• Keeping waste to a minimum can be achieved by following the order of prevention, reusing, recycling, or recovering waste. So, your first task should be to minimise how much waste your business produces – this could by reducing the amount of unnecessary printing, reducing packaging and swapping out disposable water bottles and cutlery for reusable alternatives.
• Aim to reuse products and recycle waste as much as possible. If it’s a possibility, reuse clean packaging or find alternative uses for it instead of disposing of it. Consider ways to measure materials more accurately to reduce spare offcuts or find other uses for them. Always assess whether an item can be repurposed before discarding it.
• You can also help to keep waste to a minimum by clearly labelling the recycling bins located around your business’s premises. Often, individuals struggle to identify the correct bin to dispose of their waste, so use the incorrect bins. This will ensure that staff and customers properly dispose of their waste, ensuring that the correct type of waste is being recycled.
• Sort your waste and store it correctly. Properly separate recyclables, compost, hazardous materials and general waste to help efficient disposal and recycling. Use clearly labelled bins to keep waste separate and prevent contamination. Ensure waste is stored securely to avoid attracting pests and comply with health and safety regulations.
• You should ensure that your commercial waste is separated. For example, you should have your recycling separated from the rubbish that will go to landfill. Depending on your waste removal service, you may be required to separate your recycling. In this case, you should store paper in a separate container to glass to avoid the wrong materials mixing.
• Your waste containers should be waterproof and lidded, with secure covers that won’t be blown away or blown open. The containers should be clearly labelled to easily identify which waste is stored inside them. The containers themselves should be safely stored in a secure, designated area that is protected from potential hazards and vandalism. Proper maintenance and organisation of your waste containers not only help in managing waste more efficiently but also contribute to a cleaner and more orderly environment.
Complete a waste transfer note
A waste transfer note is mandatory for each load of non-hazardous waste that is removed from your premises. This document must be completed for every waste removal, providing detailed information about the type of waste being disposed of, as well as specific details about your business and the waste removal service provider. The waste transfer note serves as a record of the waste’s journey and ensures proper documentation of the disposal process.
You are required to retain a copy of this note for a minimum of two years. This record may be requested by enforcement officers from your local council or the Environment Agency in the event of an inspection or if any issues arise concerning your waste disposal practices. Keeping accurate and accessible records helps ensure compliance with waste management regulations and can protect your business from potential fines or legal issues.
Use a registered waste removal company
You should ensure you’re using a registered waste removal company, such as Away With It, to handle and dispose of your commercial waste. It is crucial to verify that the waste removal service you choose is properly licensed and registered with the relevant authorities. You can check the credentials of registered waste carriers by searching on the government website here. This will confirm that the company is legally authorised to manage and dispose of waste in accordance with environmental regulations. Using a registered and reputable waste carrier not only ensures compliance with the law but also guarantees that your waste is managed responsibly and sustainably.
Ensure the waste removal company is disposing of your waste legally
Your business has a responsibility to ensure the waste carrier you use is disposing of your commercial waste legally. It’s essential to verify that the company is licensed and complies with all relevant regulations to avoid any legal or environmental issues. If you suspect that your waste carrier might be disposing of your waste illegally or engaging in improper waste management practices, you should report them to Crimestoppers.
Responsibilities for hazardous commercial waste
If your commercial waste includes hazardous materials like asbestos, chemicals, or pesticides, you have additional responsibilities. These materials require special handling and disposal to prevent health and environmental risks. Use licensed waste carriers experienced in hazardous waste and follow specific regulations for storage and disposal. For detailed guidelines, visit the government website.
How do I correctly dispose of commercial waste?
It’s easy to arrange for your commercial waste to be disposed with Away With It. We’re a fully licensed and registered waste removal company that has extensive experience with commercial waste disposal. We’ve worked with all sorts of businesses across London and Essex, including restaurants, cafes, retail outlets, estate agents and nightclubs.
Simply call us on 0208 504 7390 or 07957 123019 to speak to the team about your commercial waste removal needs. Alternatively, you can email us on info@essexwasteremoval.co.uk or fill in our form online and someone will get back to you ASAP.
We can arrange quick and efficient kerbside collection for all your business waste, including recycling and landfill waste. Our uniformed team will arrive at the agreed day and time, loading all your waste onto our vehicle and even sweeping up the premises so it’s left clean and tidy.
95% of the waste we remove is diverted from landfill, as we ensure all suitable waste is taken to relevant recycling stations. When you use Away With It for your commercial waste clearance, you’ll have peace of mind that your business has a better impact on the environment.
FAQ’s
What is the difference between commercial and general waste?
Commercial waste is generated from business activities and includes materials like packaging, office waste and industrial by-products. General waste, on the other hand, comes from residential sources and includes household items such as food scraps and everyday rubbish. The key difference lies in the origin and often the regulatory requirements for disposal.
What does commercial waste include?
Commercial waste includes any rubbish generated from business activities, such as packaging materials, office waste, food scraps from restaurants and industrial by-products. It involves a wide range of materials produced during normal business operations and excludes household waste.
What is included in general waste?
General waste includes everyday items that cannot be recycled or composted. This typically consists of non-hazardous household and business waste such as food scraps, packaging materials, broken or worn-out items and non-recyclable plastics. It excludes hazardous materials, recyclables and organic waste.
What waste is considered business waste when working from home?
When working from home, business waste is any waste generated from commercial activities or business operations conducted at your residence. This includes materials such as packaging, office supplies and waste from any business-related projects or activities.
