Business Waste

How much waste do businesses produce?

All businesses produce waste and have a legal responsibility to dispose of it safely and appropriately, according to the different types of waste.

Every business produces different kinds and amounts of waste, depending on a range of factors including the type of industry, the size of the company, and their waste strategy. Business waste accounts for roughly 25% of all waste produced in the UK, some 41.1 million tons of commercial and industrial waste, much of which requires specialist handling.

Every business has a Duty of Care

Businesses need to be sure that any waste they generate is disposed of correctly. This includes plastic packaging and other plastic waste, hazardous materials, food waste, confidential documents, construction materials, electrical and electronic equipment and much more. Unlike household waste, business waste cannot simply be disposed of in a domestic bin, even if it’s similar to the waste produced by a household, for example food wrapping.

A waste management company can advise business owners on the best way to dispose of both regular and occasional waste. Companies sometimes try to save money by cutting corners on their waste disposal, but they are opening themselves up to significant penalties if they do so. A licensed waste carrier will collect and dispose of the waste in the most efficient manner, and will provide the customer with a waste transfer note to show they have conformed to the legal requirements.

A waste carrier can help them to reduce their overall costs by sensible use of waste strategies, such as installing a recycling bin, and ensuring all employees know what types of waste to put in which bin.  

Recycling waste is more important than ever

Increasing attention is being paid to how waste is handled, and the need to reduce the amounts of waste going to landfill or ending up in the wrong place—whether that’s in the ocean or as fly tipping in a local beauty spot.

The waste stream describes what happens to refuse – from putting rubbish in a bin or recycling container, to pick up, to its eventual destination in landfill, energy production or the reuse of recycled materials. Recycling waste is as important for businesses as it is for individuals and can help them to also reduce both their volume of waste and the bills associated with correct disposal.

Reducing the amounts of waste produced by businesses

A waste management hierarchy can be followed by any business keen to reduce the amount of waste they have to dispose of. This goes from prevention, to re-use, to recycling or other recovery methods before the final resort of disposal. Further details can be found on the DEFRA website. A simple answer to the question ‘how much waste do businesses produce?’ would be that any business not applying this system is producing too much.

However, while some waste can be prevented—for example, eliminating excessive plastic packaging—some, such as toxic chemicals, can only be disposed of. This hazardous waste category includes items such as printer cartridges and used batteries, so encouraging employees to think twice before printing documents, or to use more rechargeable devices, will help reduce the overall amount of waste a business produces.

It is the legal responsibility of the business owner to ensure that all waste is properly disposed of, and this may discourage some from taking possible steps towards reducing their waste, because they are uncertain about how to, while still observing their duty of care. A waste management company will be able to provide all the information needed to create and implement a waste manage strategy.  

Erese Ltd can provide a range of waste management solutions suitable for any size or type of business

Different industries produce different types of waste, and each type needs to be dealt with appropriately. For example, waste from food producers could cause significant public health issues if not handled correctly, but waste from construction sites needs a completely different approach. Many businesses generate different kinds of waste and need correct guidance for each category.

While there is no legal requirement to employ a waste management company, the time and effort required to handle their waste themselves, along with the costs associated with licensing and disposal, mean that the majority of companies are better served, no matter how much or how little waste they produce, by having a licensed waste carrier collect and dispose of it for them.

At Erese Ltd we match you with a professional waste partner who can efficiently carry out waste removal services from your commercial premises. We can provide high-quality equipment, such as glass crushers or compactors.

If you are looking for a professional waste management service in the UK, we can help you.

Contact Erese Ltd today:

01375 258022
info@ereseurope.net