Click here to activate screen reader, translation and accessibility tools

How to dispose of trade rubbish and recycling

How to safely dispose of waste from your business.

If you run a business, you have a legal duty to take care of your waste through recycling, treatment or disposal.

Every business is responsible for making suitable arrangements for their commercial waste with a licensed waste removal organisation.

Business Rates do not cover the cost of waste collection from business premises.

Arranging a collection

When arranging a trade waste collection, you must ensure that your waste is only presented for collection on:

  • Monday: 6 am to 9 am
  • Wednesday: 6 am to 9 am
  • Friday: 6 am to 9 am

Businesses are also required to comply with the following aspects of commercial waste presentation and storage:

  • Commercial waste must fit within the branded bin or refuse sack provided by your licensed collection organisation.
  • Your bin/ container must not overflow; rubbish must not overhang, be stacked on top of or beside the bin/ container.
  • Your presented waste should not cause a problem or be harmful to the local facilities.
  • The bin/ container should not be placed or stored on the Public Highway other than the time(s) specified or agreed by the local authority.
  • If your waste collector fails to collect the waste, it is your responsibility to remove it (i.e. remove the bags or push the bin back onto your property) from the Highway until the waste can be collected

Failure to obey may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued, or Court proceedings being taken against you.

Trade waste disposal providers

Registered trade waste disposal companies that provide a collection service in Waltham Forest:

Bywaters

  • 020 7001 6000

Biffa

  • 0800 307 307

Veolia

  • 0845 60 60 460

Sita

  • 0870 421 1122

Enterprise

  • Enterprise do not provide a recycling service
  • 0845 226 5101

The First Mile

  • 0800 612 9894

UK Waste Consultancy LTD 

  • 0800 634 4815

Duty of care waste transfer notice

Businesses must hold a "duty of care waste transfer" notice (also known as "duty of care certificate"). This shows us that they dispose of waste legally.

If the business has not been supplied with a duty of care waste transfer notice from your waste service provider, they might not be registered. If your waste is then dumped or disposed of illegally, you could be held responsible.  

Check the company through the Environment Agency's waste carrier's public register.