The term ‘commercial waste’ relates to a broad range of different types of waste. This can be anything from paper documents, construction waste, food waste from restaurants etc.
Any waste associated with a business is considered to be commercial waste. This also includes waste created in your home if you run a business from your home. But how do you dispose of this waste effectively?
What Includes Commercial Waste?
Types of waste include the following:
- Dry mixed recycling
- Food waste
- Glass waste
- Clinical waste
- Confidential waste
- General waste i.e. everyday rubbish that may not be recycled easily
All waste must be separated into suitable containers and bins and clearly labelled. Commercial bins for recycling and waste disposal are available in a variety of sizes and for various types of commercial waste and recycling. It is the responsibility of the business owner to ensure that all bins are stored securely and collected regularly.
Commercial Waste Legal Compliance and Regulations
The Government has strict guidelines in place directing that commercial waste should be kept to a minimum by doing whatever they can to prevent, reuse, recycle, or recover waste. They must ensure that waste is sorted and stored safely and in a secure manner.
It is the responsibility of the business owner to ensure that they only use registered waste carriers to dispose of waste and they must not allow a waste carrier to dispose of their waste illegally. To prevent this happening, it is the responsibility of the business owner to keep a record of all loads of waste that leave their premises.
For businesses that deal with hazardous waste such as asbestos or chemicals, or confidential waste, there are other regulations and compliances that business owners must adhere to.
Creating a Waste Management Plan
Most businesses now have a commercial waste management plan in place to ensure that they are adhering to government guidelines and regulations in the storing and removing of all waste.
A waste management plan should include the following elements:
- Types of waste produced by the business
- A rough estimate of the amount of waste produced by the business
- Type and sizes of bins required for sorting, collection and disposal of waste
- An outline of the frequency in which the bins need to be collected
- A guide to the cost of bin hire and waste removal
Utilising an Accredited Waste Management Company
It is the legal responsibility of a business owner to ensure that all waste from a commercial business is removed by an accredited and fully licenced waste management company. By ensuring the waste management company has the appropriate certifications and accreditations a business can be sure that their waste is being collected and disposed of by regulated waste carriers.
At KCM, we hold the following certifications which enable us to deal with the removal and recycling of commercial waste:
ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management
ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management
Booking Regular Commercial Waste Collections
It is important to ensure that businesses book regular commercial waste collection to protect the environment from pollution or contamination. It is also crucial to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and waste disposal laws.
By having consistent and regular waste removal maintenance in place, businesses can prevent the accumulation of waste which may be a health and safety hazard. Regular commercial waste collection is also far more cost-effective than allowing waste to build up and become a much larger and more expensive task to clear.
Commercial Waste Collections in South Yorkshire
At KCM, we are passionate about recycling and sustainability. We provide industry-leading waste management collection services across South Yorkshire to meet the specific needs of our commercial clients.
Established for over 35 years, we are an experienced waste management company made up of 120+ waste management professionals who all aim to offer a one-stop shop for all your waste disposal needs.