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Waste Segregation
Waste segregation is the process of sorting waste into separate categories so each type can be recycled, reused, or disposed of in the right way.
Waste segregation systems prevent the cross-contamination of waste, which improves recycling rates, reduces waste collection costs, and minimises the environmental impact of waste.
This article explains best practices for waste segregation for businesses. Here are the key parts of our guide:
- The importance of waste segregation
- Types of waste and how to segregate them
- How businesses should implement a waste segregation system
- Waste segregation regulations for businesses
The importance of waste segregation
Waste segregation plays a crucial role in sustainable waste management and has far-reaching benefits for the environment, public health, and economic resources.
These are the top reasons why waste segregation is so important.
Improved resource recovery
Waste segregation allows recyclable materials, such as paper, plastics, metals, and glass, to be collected more effectively and reduces the chances of these materials being contaminated by other waste types.
At recycling facilities, these materials can be transformed into new products, reducing the need to extract virgin resources from the environment.
This conserves natural resources, minimises mining and deforestation, and promotes circular economy principles.
Reduced landfill usage
Effective waste segregation processes prevent organic and recyclable waste from being disposed of in landfill.
Landfills occupy vast areas, cause soil and groundwater contamination, and emit harmful greenhouse gases.
Find out more in our guide to the environmental impacts of landfills.
Reduced waste emissions
One of the most environmentally harmful aspects of waste management is the decomposition of food waste in landfill, which generates harmful greenhouse gases.
Waste segregation ensures that food and other organic waste can be separated from general waste and sent to an anaerobic digestion facility.
Anaerobic digestion converts organic waste into renewable energy that can be used on the national grid, while also reducing the emissions associated with the energy industry.
Find out more in our guide to calculating waste emissions.
Public health benefits
Hazardous waste, such as clinical waste, batteries, and chemicals, can cause severe environmental and public health hazards if disposed of incorrectly.
Healthcare waste includes used syringes, sharps, and medical instruments, all items that can harbour infectious pathogens.
Proper waste segregation reduces hazardous waste and infectious materials in our homes, workplaces, and public spaces. This contributes to a safer and cleaner environment, reducing the risk of accidents, injuries, and exposure to harmful substances.
Reduced waste disposal costs
Segregating common waste types and recycling them separately helps reduce the cost of waste management because:
- It minimises landfill usage, reducing exposure to the landfill tax.
- It enables cheaper production of new products, such as cardboard packaging and glass bottles.
- It enables the production of green gas and renewable energy from organic waste
- It reduces waste contamination charges from disposal providers.
These reduced costs benefit households through lower council tax payments, and companies through reduced commercial waste collection costs.
Types of waste and how to segregate them
Below are practical tips for sorting the most common types of waste from homes and businesses.
For each of these waste types, we recommend clearly labelling all bins to help people make the right decision when choosing which bin to use.
Food waste
Segregating food waste not only prevents it from ending up in landfill, but also stops it from contaminating other types of recyclables.
Using a dedicated food waste bin in kitchens is key to keeping food waste separated at the point of generation. We recommend using a small kitchen bin with a lid to help prevent odours and pests.
Businesses typically empty smaller food waste bins into a dedicated wheelie bin kept outdoors. Commercial food waste collection services empty this bin on an agreed schedule.
Cardboard recycling
Cardboard packaging is one of the most common types of recycling for both homes and businesses.
The key to effective cardboard recycling is keeping it clean and dry. A greasy pizza box is not recyclable and will end up in landfill or at a local incinerator.
Cardboard takes up a lot of space, so we recommend breaking down all cardboard boxes before putting them in a dedicated commercial waste bin. This will help keep the lid of the cardboard bin closed, preventing it from getting rained on.
Find out more in our guide to commercial cardboard recycling collection.
Glass recycling
Glass bottles and jars are a vitally important waste type to keep segregated, as glass is 100% recyclable and can be remade into other glass products without losing its quality.
The key to effective glass recycling is preparation before storing waste in a dedicated bin:
- Bottles and jars should be emptied and rinsed.
- Plastic and metal lids should be removed.
These steps will help ensure that the contents of your commercial glass recycling bins are not contaminated by non-recyclable materials.
Dry mixed recycling
Mixed recycling services allow plastic bottles and aluminium cans to be collected alongside other dry recyclables, such as glass, paper, and cardboard.
The dry mixed recycling system is very convenient and makes recycling easier in both home and business environments.
With a commercial dry mixed recycling service, a waste provider will handle the segregation of your mixed recyclables at a materials recovery facility.
It is still important to keep mixed recyclables clean and dry to avoid contaminating all recyclable items in your bin.
How businesses should implement a waste segregation system
At Commercial Waste Quotes, we specialise in business waste management. Our customers frequently ask us for advice on setting up a waste segregation system.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to implementing an effective waste segregation system for a business.
1. Conduct a waste audit
A waste audit allows a business to understand the types and volumes of waste it is generating.
Visit our step-by-step guide to conducting a waste audit for more information on how to do this.
2. Categorise waste into types
In most towns and cities, there are a variety of commercial waste collection and recycling services available.
We recommend considering which services are available to suit the different types of waste you identified in step 1.
For example, a mixed recycling service may be optimal for a small office, whereas larger businesses may benefit more from separate glass, paper, and plastic recycling collections.
3. Set up clearly labelled bins
The key to an effective waste segregation system is to make it as easy as possible for employees to choose the correct bin.
We recommend using colour-coded bins with clear signage and visual icons. Simple “do’s and don’ts” symbols are most effective:
✅ Paper only
❌ No food or liquids
Where possible, place bins close to one another to make it as convenient as possible to choose the right bin.
4. Staff training
Sharing the importance of waste segregation with employees is crucial to promoting responsible waste management practices within an organisation.
By educating employees about the importance and benefits of waste segregation, businesses can collectively reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Make sure to explain to staff and external cleaning services what goes in each bin and why it matters.
5. Monitor progress
We recommend assigning a manager to regularly check the effectiveness of your waste segregation system.
The easiest way to do this is to inspect the contents of various bins to ensure that signage is being followed.
Some of the best waste management providers offer regular reporting, including the volumes of waste diverted from landfill. Having access to this reporting enables your business to track improvements over time.
Waste segregation regulations for businesses
Waste laws and regulations in Britain encourage and mandate waste segregation practices.
These laws promote sustainable waste management, minimise environmental impact, and conserve natural resources.
Each devolved nation has developed its own specific regulations for waste segregation. Here, we summarise the requirements for each nation,
Waste segregation regulations in England
Simpler recycling rules require that core recyclable waste streams are segregated from general waste.
Core recyclable waste streams covered by the regulations include glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, and food waste.
The simpler recycling regulations allow and encourage the use of mixed recycling services, rather than requiring dedicated services for each recycling type.
Waste segregation regulations in Wales
Welsh recycling rules require that businesses segregate and arrange separate collections of:
- Food waste (where businesses produce more than 5 kg per week)
- Paper and card
- Glass
- Metal, plastics, and cartons
- Unsold textiles
- Unsold small waste electrical and electronic equipment
Find out more on our commercial waste collection Wales page.
Waste segregation regulations in Scotland
Scottish commercial recycling regulations require businesses to segregate and separately arrange recycling collections for:
- Glass
- Tin and aluminium cans
- Recyclable plastics
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Food waste of over 5kg per week*
Find out more in commercial waste collection Scotland page.
What are the challenges businesses face with waste segregation?
Businesses may face several challenges with waste segregation, and addressing these is crucial for effective waste management and compliance with regulations.
Here’s a summary of the most common challenges:
Education and awareness
A lack of awareness and understanding among employees about the importance of waste segregation can hinder effective implementation.
Proper training and communication are essential to ensure staff members understand the significance of segregating waste.
Contaminated waste
Despite efforts to educate employees, there may still be instances of accidental mixing of different waste streams, leading to contamination.
Using the wrong bin is an easy mistake to make, and just one instance of contamination in a bin can make the entire collection unrecyclable.
Limited space
Small business premises may have limited space, making it challenging to allocate dedicated areas for waste segregation and storage.
This limitation can mean that a business does not have enough room to store separate bins for each type of recycling.
Complexities of segregation requirements
Different waste collection providers and local councils often use different sets of rules for what should be included in each recycling bin.
For example, some mixed recycling services accept recyclable cartons, whereas others do not.
These nuances in waste segregation requirements make it difficult to implement a simple system that employees can easily understand and follow.
The role of technology in waste segregation
Waste technology may offer solutions to some of the common challenges in waste segregation.
Although these innovations are not yet widely available, here are some examples of promising waste segregation technologies:
- Smart waste bins – Bins with built-in sensors and processors that detect and sort waste automatically.
- AI-powered sorting systems – Systems used in waste sorting facilities that use machine learning to identify different waste types on a conveyor belt.
- Waste management apps – Apps that can scan barcodes on everyday waste items to suggest which bin the item should go into.
Find out more in our complete guide to commercial recycling technology.
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