In the South West a total of 3 million tonnes of waste was produced by the commercial sector and a further 2.6 million tonnes by industry

in 2002-3.

10 million tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste was deposited, whilst there was a further 270,000 tonnes of hazardous

waste created.         

All businesses and commercial traders are required to make their own arrangements for the disposal of their  commercial waste. 

Local business rates do not cover the cost of collecting and disposing of commercial waste by your local Council. 

It is illegal to dispose of trade and business waste as if it were household waste. Please note, waste type is defined by its producer not by what it consists of.  

Pre-treat your waste

If your business sends waste to landfill, then from 30th October 2007 you must ensure that it is pre-treated. Click here for an Environment Agency factsheet explaining the changes in legislation. If you use your local council to collect your business's waste, then it is added to the municipal waste stream and as a result will be pre-treated.

The duty of care is a law stating that traders/businesses must dispose of their waste safely. If businesses and commercial traders give waste to someone else, you must be sure they are authorised to take it and can transport, recycle or dispose of it safely. The duty of care applies to anyone who produces or imports, keeps or stores, transports, treats or disposes of waste or is a broker.

To see more information about your responsibilities as a waste producer, click here.

For more information about waste brokers - click here.

Waste Carriers Licences

Any business that moves waste is required to have a ‘Waste Carriers Licence’ issued by the Environment Agency. If you are disposing of your waste through another company, you are legally responsible for ensuring that they have this licence.

You can access more information on waste carriers licences and what you need to do to become a carrier of waste by clicking here.

For more information on applying for a waste carriers exemption - click here.

Waste Transfer Notes (WTN)

All businesses are required by law to have a record of their waste disposal arrangements through the Waste Transfer Note (WTN) system. Businesses/traders must describe their waste in writing, fill in and sign a transfer note for it and must keep a copy of the transfer note. When waste is passed to another trader/business, the receiving trader/business must have a written description of it. A transfer note must also be filled in and signed by both persons involved in the transfer.

Click here to download a usable waste transfer note template.

Please Note: Trade Waste cannot be taken to household recycling centres