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What is classed as commercial waste?

‘Commercial waste’ is a widely used term in the waste industry, so much so that it’s part of our company name.

Many people are unsure what qualifies as commercial waste and why it matters. The key distinction is:

Household waste: Local councils in the UK are responsible for collecting and disposing of household waste free of charge.
Commercial waste: Businesses, charities, and organisations must arrange and pay for its collection and disposal.

💡 Who produces commercial waste? Any individual, business, charity, or organisation generating waste as part of their operations.

Below, we break down the exact definitions of household and commercial waste:

Household waste meaning

The local “waste collection authority” (district, metropolitan, city council, or unitary authority) must collect “household waste” under section 45 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Household waste collection provided by the local council is free, where household waste is produced from:

A building or self-contained part of a building which is used wholly for the purposes of living accommodation
University or school student accommodation
Garages smaller than 25 square meters
Boats, caravans and other vessels used for accommodation
Places of worship
Charity shops focusing on goods generated from domestic properties.

Except for the following, which local councils must collect but levy a charge:

Articles of waste exceeding 25kg
Articles that don’t fit into the council’s bins
Garden waste (although some councils do this for free, others don’t)
Waste oil and grease.
Asbestos

Source: The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 – Schedule 1

Commercial waste meaning

Local councils do not provide a free waste collection service for commercial waste.

Commercial waste is produced by any trade or business or for the purposes of sport, recreation, or entertainment and includes waste from:

Premises occupied by a charity
Campsites
Premises of clubs, societies, or associations.
Courts, government departments, and local authorities.
Hotels
Markets and fairs
Tradesperson waste working on the construction or renovation of homes.
Townhalls and buildings used for public meetings
Charity shop waste
Care homes/residential homes
Agriculture
Demolition
Construction

💡Most councils in the UK offer a paid commercial waste collection service, which includes general business waste and common types of recycling. Visit our locations page to see the service offered by your local council.

Quickly compare commercial waste quotes from trusted providers in your area. We’ll help you find the cheapest deal.

Source: The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 – Schedule 1

Is there a duty of care the same for domestic and commercial waste?

No, the duty of care differs for domestic and commercial waste.

For households, the duty of care is limited to transferring waste to an authorised person, such as the local council or a licensed waste carrier. This simply means placing waste in council-provided bins for free collection.

For businesses, the duty of care extends to properly handling, storing, and disposing of all waste types, including household, commercial, and industrial waste. For example, a boatyard managing household waste from moored boats must still comply with all duty of care regulations.

💡Want to learn more? Visit our commercial waste regulations page for full details.

How does commercial waste differ from industrial waste?

Under the Environmental Protection Act, both commercial and industrial waste are classified as “Controlled Wastes”.

Producers of both types of waste have a legal duty of care concerning the waste they generate.

The primary distinction with industrial waste is the stricter regulations imposed on its handling, treatment, and disposal, owing to higher environmental and health risks.

Industrial waste includes:

Construction and demolition waste
Factory waste
Transport
Utilities
Telecommunications
Mining
Laboratory waste
Hazardous waste
Agricultural waste

💡Did you know? Demolition and construction waste can be categorised as both commercial and industrial waste. Small-scale projects like shop renovations are considered commercial waste. In contrast, large-scale construction or demolition projects are classified as industrial waste due to the greater environmental impacts and stricter regulations.

If it’s classed as commercial waste, do I need to arrange a collection?

Yes, if your waste is classified as commercial waste, you must pay for collection and disposal through a licensed commercial waste carrier. Local councils do not provide free collection for commercial waste, including general business waste, commercial recycling, commercial food waste, and commercial glass waste.

Here at Commercial Waste Quotes, we help businesses arrange commercial waste collections. Use our simple free commercial waste quote service to start today.