Commercial Waste

Businesses are responsible for the waste they produce. Remember, your rubbish can damage the local environment if not managed correctly and this can be bad for business.

Your responsibilities

• Pre-treatment rules for the landfilling of non-hazardous waste

From October 30 2007, non-hazardous waste must be treated before it can be landfilled. This requirement stems from the Landfill Directive, which aims to reduce our reliance on landfill as a waste management option and minimise the environmental impact of landfill sites.

• What the rules will mean for your business

You will need to check with your waste contractor whether the waste they collect from you is sent to landfill. If your waste does go to landfill you will need to ensure that it is 'pre-treated' beforehand.

As a waste producer you can treat the waste yourself, or, you could ask a waste management company to sort your waste on your behalf at a transfer station prior to disposal.

For further information about these rules and how a business can pre-treat landfill waste, please refer to the Environment Agency website fact sheet.

Animal by-products

Catering waste and waste food of animal origin become animal by-products when they are no longer intended for human consumption. For example, this may be when produce is removed from sale because it has passed its sell by date or use by date, or due to damage, soiling or contamination.

Catering waste (waste food from restaurants, catering facilities and kitchens) can go directly to landfill for disposal. This includes:

• cooked or processed meat and fish
• baked products
• unsold fruit or vegetables

However catering waste needs pre-treatment if it is going to a composting or biogas facility.

Waste from factories making cooked meat is not catering waste - it is processed animal by-product (category 3).

Category 3 animal by-products must be disposed at an approved premises, by rendering or incineration, or disposal at an approved biogas or composting plant. Such waste cannot be disposed of in landfill sites unless they have been pre-treated.

Catergory 3 by-products include:

• raw meat, fish and eggs
• lightly cooked meat and fish
• meat and fish products that require cooking before consumption

Irrespective of animal by-product waste category, you should enter into dialogue with your waste contractor to ensure that it is disposed of correctly.

For further information about these rules, and how a businesses can deal with such waste, please visit the NetRegs website.

Alternatively you can contact the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506.

Your responsibility for the waste your business produces

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 businesses have a duty of care for all their waste, including general rubbish and things that can be recycled. Southwark Council will prosecute anyone who does not legally dispose of their waste so you need to be aware of your duties.

You should:

• Sign a trade refuse agreement with a carrier who is legally authorised to carry waste and pay the charges or take your own waste to a licensed disposal site or tip and pay the charges. Businesses cannot use the public civic amenity sites for free tipping.
  
  
• Check that your carrier holds a waste carrier's certificate of registration or is exempt.
  
  
• Check that your carrier is taking your waste to a licensed disposal site or tip. Carriers cannot use the public civic amenity sites for free tipping. You can be prosecuted if your carrier dumps your waste.
  
  
• Ensure that you complete the waste transfer note and provide a written description of the waste. Unless the nature, quantity and collector of your waste changes, this will be on an annual basis. Normally your carrier will produce this for you as part of your agreement.
  
  
• Keep a copy of all documentation for two years. You may have to produce this to a council officer on demand. You can be prosecuted if you cannot produce full records when requested.
  
  
• Ensure that if your carrier has supplied you with labeled sacks, these sacks are used for your waste and no others. If you have been supplied with bins, use them.
  
  
• Ensure that if you start to produce more waste, you arrange for your carrier to provide more bins/sacks or collect more often.
  
  
• Ensure that you bin, bag, box or bundle all refuse securely and do not put loose waste out for collection.
  
  
• Flatten down and bundle up cardboard boxes. Dispose of semi-liquid waste appropriately and do not pour it into sacks.
  
  
• Do not pour liquid or semi-liquid down drains.
  
  
• Do not put any sharp or dangerous items in plastic refuse sacks - put them in boxes to avoid injuries.
  
  
• Do not allow your waste to blow away and cause litter.
  
  
• Put out your refuse at the time given to you by the carrier and not before. Rubbish must not be left out on the street for long periods when it can cause litter. Where possible, keep all your waste and bins on your property when waiting for collection. If this is not possible, put it close to your door so that it is clear that it is your waste waiting for collection.
  
  
• Do not put rubbish in or beside public litter bins, by trees, lamp posts or around the corner. Don't risk being prosecuted for causing litter.
  
  
• Recycle wherever possible as this will not only benefit the environment but could also reduce your waste transfer costs.
  
  
• Keep your premises and the area surrounding it clean and tidy. It's good business.
  
  
• If you produce waste which has certain hazardous properties your business must also comply with regulations applying to hazardous/special waste.

A series of free leaflets and information sheets are available on the EnCams Information Service website or by calling 020 7831 4484.

For further information on environmental legislation affecting small businesses, please visit the NetRegs website. This site also provides a self-assessment tool to help small and medium sized enterprises check their compliance with this legislation.

Registered waste carriers

Whilst there are a number of registered waste carriers that operate in the area, the details below relate to some that the Council are aware of. Contact details for these registered waste carriers providing commercial waste services are given below:

Biffa plc
www.biffa.co.uk
Tel: 0800 307 307
Coronation Road
Cressex
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP12 3TZ

Bywaters
www.bywaters.co.uk
Tel: 020 7001 6000 
Head Office
Lea Riverside
Twelvetrees Crescent
Bow
London
E3 3JG

Veolia Environmental Service plc
www.veolia.co.uk 
Tel: 020 7812 5000
Veolia House
154A Pentonville Road
London
N1 9PE

Sita UK
www.sita.co.uk/business
enquiries@sita.co.uk
Tel: 0870 421 1122

As a business, you should consider carefully if your waste carrier service meets your needs such as the day and times for collection. You have a duty to ensure that your waste does not pollute the environment. It is advisable to review several services before making a final decision.

Please note: The above list is not comprehensive and is provided for information purposes only. This is not a recommendation from Southwark Council for the services provided by these companies. Details of further companies may be obtained searching through local directories and the www.sub-it.co.uk website.

Please remember that you are responsible for ensuring that the waste carrier you use is registered with the Environment Agency. If in doubt, check with the Environment Agency on 0800 807 060.

Contact us

If you have any questions, we'd be happy to help and meet with you.

Waste management
Tel: 020 7525 2000
Fax: 020 7525 3077
environment@southwark.gov.uk
Manor Place Depot
30-34 Penrose Street
London SE17 3DW