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Business waste, trade waste or commercial waste, whatever you choose to name it, every company has rubbish that must be disposed of. And with the environmental impact waste has on the world, it is more imperative than ever that business owners are aware of their responsibility to ensure that all waste is disposed of and recycled in the most ecologically sound way. There are many different types of waste that need to be disposed of, and each type will have its own rules and regulations that must be adhered to.
Whilst most business owners do not have this topic at the top of their priority list, with warnings from environmentalists about how imperative it is to cut waste and to recycle in any way we can, it pays to carefully consider your options in this area. It’s a legal duty, so the questions around commercial waste disposal demand serious attention.
So, what are the different types of waste, and how do you manage them? Below are the top four types of waste that can and should be recycled in a responsible manner.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment recycling regulations, otherwise known as WEEE, will affect almost every business in the UK, and as a business owner, you must understand your obligations to meet these. If you use, produce, distribute, generate or export WEEE products you must have a waste management programme in place to process these items. You must comply with your duty of care, which includes storing waste equipment safely, using a registered waste carrier and keeping a waste transfer note when equipment leaves your site. It is also important to remember that items like phones, computers, batteries, etc. will be able to be recycled and reconditioned.
With environmentalists warning that if the issue of plastic waste management is not tackled now, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the sea, it is imperative for your business to get this right. All businesses create some form of plastic waste, and in the majority of cases this can be recycled. Plastic waste comes from industrial production processes, as well as from utilities and from making other materials. It’s important to put a plastic recycling policy in place. While plastic is a material commonly found in many commercial operations, such as the retail and hospitality sectors, there are other examples of businesses where scrap plastic waste may be found, such as glazing companies and warehouses. Similarly, florists or landscaping companies often have waste flowerpots and other trade materials that are made from plastic. Covers, wrapping and bags from farm equipment are also examples of commercial plastic waste that could, and should, be recycled responsibly by your chosen waste management company.
Up until recently, it was not possible to recycle items like rubber tyres, which resulted in millions of scrap tyres being dumped in landfills, or left illegally in lakes, along the side of the road and in natural habitats. Now businesses are recycling more than 90 percent of these tyres annually and the material produced is being reused to create products for use in medical supplies, on roads and in agriculture annually. In fact, rubber recycling saves impressive amounts of energy, which ultimately reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Virgin cardboard and paper are created from trees, and this is a resource that needs protecting. For example, the production of just one ton of virgin cardboard requires three tons of wood! This is why it is so important to recycle all cardboard and paper waste, creating new recycled products and saving lots of trees. To recycle these items, they will need to be separated from other commercial waste; a waste management company can assist you with this and will ensure none of your cardboard or paper waste ends up in landfills.
If you would like to discuss your business waste management requirements with one of our friendly team members, we will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Get in touch!