Trade Waste and Recycling
Any property that is commercially rated is required to take
all reasonable steps to take care of and dispose of their
waste.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty of care on
all businesses over the waste they produce. This means that owners
and operators are responsible for making sure the waste their
business generates is disposed of correctly.
We do not provide a service to collect or recycle trade waste.
There are private operators that provide collections, details of
which can be found in the local telephone directory or Yellow
Pages.
Disposing of Waste
You must make sure that your waste is kept secure and that it
is collected by a licensed waste carrier. It is against the law to
dispose of your waste using a street litter bin, pretending it is
household waste or by using recycling banks.
Licensed Waste Carriers
Licensed waste carriers are registered with the Environment
Agency. You can check if a company is listed by contacting the
Environment Agency on 08708 506506, or online using
their website.
Recording the Collection of Your Waste
Businesses are responsible for ensuring that waste is not
disposed of illegally, as fly tipping for example. You must keep a
record to prove that you arranged for a licensed waste carrier to
collect your waste. If you cannot do this you could be prosecuted
or given a Fixed Penalty Notice.
You must complete a Waste Transfer Note, which will be
provided by your carrier, when your waste is transferred for
collection and keep this for at least two years.
The Law and You
Remember it is a criminal offence not to dispose of your waste
correctly. This includes fly tipping, using waste carrier that
isn't licensed and failing to contain your waste to prevent it
escaping.
Charges for Collection
The cost of collecting trade waste is not included in the
business rates paid, which are collected by South Lakeland District
Council on behalf of central government.
More information about commercial waste is available from the
DEFRA
website.
If you would like more information about applying for a
licence to carry waste please visit the
Environment
Agency website.
Recycling and Reducing Your Waste
According to
Envirowise the consumption of
office paper is rising by 20% per year. A green audit could save
your company money as well as helping the environment.