TranslateCommercial waste
No matter the sector or size of your business, commercial waste is required to be managed and disposed of safely.
We provide high quality VAT free recycling and waste collection services. We guarantee that our clients are 100% compliant with all relevant legislation and regulations.
Our Commercial Waste Team will help to assess your needs and requirements. Our fleet staff will provide an efficient and effective collection service to maximise the positive impact on your business.
For a quote or more information contact the Commercial Waste Team.
New enquiry formIf you are an existing customer and would like to make changes, contact us.
Make service changes formThere are obligations and areas of compliance when dealing with commercial waste.
Legal compliance
Businesses in Scotland have a responsibility to recycle the waste they produce. This is due to the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012. Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) provides a Duty of Care guidance note on Zero Waste.
Food businesses could be liable for fines of up to £10,000 if not complying. SEPA provides recycling guidance note including food waste. A food business is classed as a business that processes, distributes or sells food. This includes restaurants, hot food carry outs and hotels.
Short term let and self-catering establishments
Short term let establishments include self-catering, holiday homes and 'Airbnb' accommodations. If registered for non-domestic rates, or registered for Council Tax, the waste produced is commercial waste. This is under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) (Scotland) Regulations 2014. This means waste cannot be collected as part of the domestic waste collection services.
Non-domestic rates payable to the council do not include payment for trade waste collection and disposal. Waste is subject to commercial waste and recycling charges. The council reserves the right to consult non-domestic rates records to verify if a property is listed.
Charity or voluntary organisations
You must be on SEPA's Register of Professional Collectors and Transporters of Waste if you are a charity or voluntary organisation. This applies if you transport waste, or carry waste that you have produced as a result of your business. This excludes construction and demolition waste. There is no charge for this type of registration. Waste Carriers Registration Guidance applies.
Waste carriers registration guidance
You must register as a waste carrier to legally transport waste. This includes if you deal with your own business waste, or for profit on behalf of others. You must use a registered and legal site for disposal, and this does not allow for use of council centres. All records of disposal must be maintained. It is an offence to transport controlled waste if you are not a registered carrier. You may be fined up to £5,000. You must register even if you transport controlled waste only periodically.
Contact SEPA for an application for registration and cost details. Visit Net Regs for legal requirements on carrying or disposing of commercial and trade waste.
If you have questions, or need advice, contact our Commercial Waste Team.
Make an enquiry formTrade waste collection
We operate a kerbside wheeled bin system for the collection of commercial waste. It is the responsibility of the business to ensure that containers are available for collection. Appropriate containers to store waste can be purchased.
Right stuff in the Right Bin
We don’t collect:
- cooking oil
- animal by-products
- asbestos
- poisonous/noxious/toxic or other hazardous material
Contact us for guidance on business waste prevention and disposal.
Recycling bins contaminated with non-recyclables will not be collected. A red tag attached to your bin will explain why it was not emptied. Remove these items and the bin with the tag should be presented for the next collection.
Containers
Only wheeled containers approved by the council can be used. This is for storage and the waste collection services. Containers should not be overfilled, and lids should be closed.
Your business will be responsible for repair, maintenance or renewal of containers. This includes normal wear and tear during provision of the service.
| Wheeled bin size (litres) | Approximate capacity in sacks | Approximate dimensions in millimetres (height, width, depth) |
|---|---|---|
| 140 | 1 to 2 | 1060 by 505 by 555 |
| 240 | 2 to 3 | 1060 by 580 by 740 |
| 360 | 4 to 5 | 1120 by 600 by 850 |
| 660 | 9 to 11 | 1370 by 1250 by 720 |
| 1100 | 12 to 15 | 1400 by 1200 by 1080 |
| 1280 | 16 to 18 | 1470 by 1260 by 985 |
The price per collection is available on the application.
Bin lid locks
Commercial 660, 1100 and 1280 litre wheeled bins come fitted with a lid lock as standard. We don’t provide locks for 140, 240 and 360 litre plastic wheeled bins. Online suppliers sell lid locks. Note that bins must be unlocked on collection day.
Trade waste recycling
A blue bin collection service is available for recycling. All items must be clean and free from food residue:
- cans (steel and aluminium food or drink cans)
- aluminium foil and trays
- cardboard
- paper (office and computer paper, telephone directories, envelopes, newspapers, magazines and junk mail)
- Tetra Pak (juice and soup cartons)
- plastic bottles (plastic containers for milk, soft drinks, cooking oil, washing-up liquid, detergent)
- glass containers and bottles
A food waste service is available (and compulsory) to any business producing more than 5kg of food waste per week. It is not currently available in Arran.
Household Waste Recycling Centres are not open to businesses.
Prepaid waste recycling sacks
Prepaid commercial waste recycling sacks are available for businesses that have no space to store bins safely.
The colour coded sacks can be used for:
- mixed recycling
- general waste
No other sacks will be collected.
Prices are available on request and include the cost of collection and processing of waste.
Commercial white goods
Contact us for a quote to remove white goods (for example cookers, fridges and freezers) used in business premises.
Arran
Arran Waste Transfer Station offers a limited commercial waste disposal service using permits which can be purchased from the local office. Phone 01770 600338.
Non-domestic rates payable to the council do not include payment for trade waste collection and disposal.
Cancel or alter the service
Waste collection contracts are legally binding for a 12 month period. To cancel:
one month’s notice in writing is required notice can be no earlier than the second last month of the contract period If your company changes ownership, you must give the council one month notice of the date of changeover, with the name of the new owner. This is the responsibility of the representative of the company whose signature appears on the Service Agreement, or their successor. The company is liable for refuse collection charges until one month after we receive notification.
A new owner must sign a new Service Agreement. If payment is not received within six weeks of invoice date, the service will be withdrawn. We have the right to recover any outstanding amount owed.
Amendments to any contracted service must be agreed in advance with the Council.
To enquire about an invoice, or make changes to your service, contact the Commercial Waste Team to request an:
Enquiry or changes formA member of the Commercial Waste Team will liaise with your business to assess and agree your needs.
You must complete and sign a Duty of Care Waste Transfer Note and Service Agreement.
Charges are one month in advance. Services are VAT free. We issue a monthly invoice, calculated according to:
- size of bin supplied
- frequency of collection
Every organisation has a legal responsibility or a Duty of Care for waste they generate.
Access arrangements
A kerbside collection is provided, and bins should be made available and presented appropriately. Access should be available for collection vehicles and operatives at collection times. This includes the unlocking of gates or doors before collection. Pavements or roadways should not be blocked.
If needed, a temporary 'no parking – keep clear – refuse collection access' sign should be displayed in a prominent position. There may be an extra charge where access is not available, and a return visit is needed to complete collection.
Your business should keep the road surface, container storage and loading route surfaces in good condition. This includes keeping them free from ruts, potholes and other obstacles which may impede the safe movement of the collection vehicle and container. Your business shall exempt the council from liability against any damage its collection vehicle may cause to property if the vehicle is required to enter to empty your company’s containers.
Management of your commercial waste
Your business should introduce a system to internally separate waste. All containers should be clearly labelled. Internal separation helps minimise contamination of external containers. Your waste contractor may refuse to collect contaminated waste.
Create a Waste Management Folder. This should contain:
- training details including an induction pack for new staff
- Waste Transfer Notes (WTN’s) and retain for at least two years
- details of your waste contractor and waste collection days
Reports and requests associated with commercial waste services.
Report a missed commercial bin collection
Let us know if we have missed a commercial bin collection.
Missed collection formReport a damaged or missing commercial container
Let us know if one of your commercial waste bins has been damaged or is missing.
Damaged or missing formRequest a commercial special uplift
Request a commercial waste special uplift outside of your usual collections. All special uplifts are chargeable.
Special uplift formRequest bins for an event
Request a quote from us to provide commercial waste services for a one-off event.
Bins for an event form