Businesses
Any waste that comes from a commercial activity is business waste. If you use part of your home to run your business then any waste from that part is business waste. Business waste also includes any waste that comes from construction, demolition, industry or agriculture
Your responsibilities
As a business responsible for all waste you produce you must:
- keep waste to a minimum by doing everything you reasonably can to prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste (in that order) - get help to do this
- sort and store waste safely and securely
- complete a waste transfer note for each load of waste that leaves your premises
- check if your waste carrier is registered to dispose of waste
- not allow the waste carrier to dispose of your waste illegally (and report them to Crimestoppers if they do)
You have extra responsibilities if you’re dealing with hazardous waste.
Fixed penalty notices and fines
If you give your waste to someone who cannot legally take it and you did not do the necessary checks on them, you might:
- have to pay a ‘fixed penalty notice’ to your local council.
- be prosecuted and have to pay a higher penalty - for example, if you do not pay your penalty notice on time or if you’ve previously had a penalty notice for a similar offence
This could happen, for example, if something that has been fly-tipped (dumped illegally) is identified as yours.