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Advice for businesses disposing of their waste in Essex

Green business waste containers and bundled up cardboard.

Wednesday 1 January 2020

Business waste is not accepted at any Essex County Council (ECC) recycling centre. Disposing of business waste at these sites is illegal.

What is business waste?

Business waste is any type of waste that comes from a commercial activity. Anyone who gets paid for their services is therefore operating as a business and will produce business waste, this includes sole traders and people doing one-off jobs, as well as listed companies, shops, landlords, offices and factories. It may also include people who work from home and produce work-related waste. If you carry out work for a householder, such as a gardener, tradesperson or house clearance, this waste will also be classed as business waste and cannot be disposed of at an ECC recycling centre.

Why is business waste not accepted at ECC recycling centres?

Essex County Council recycling centres are for household waste only. Business waste is a cost that should be accounted for by the business. When business waste enters ECC recycling centres this is at a cost to taxpayers.

How can I dispose of business waste?

There are many options to dispose of business waste depending on what your requirements are.

  • If you have your own premises, such as office, factory, shop or restaurant, you can arrange for a waste management company or your local council to supply a trade waste collection service for your business. You can choose from a range of container sizes and collection frequencies to suit your business as well as other services such as recycling.
  • If you work at a property, such as a tradesman you can organise a skip hire or bulk waste bag to be delivered and collected by a waste management company. There are many different sizes and types based on your requirements.
  • If you operate a business away from a fixed premise, such as a man-in-a-van type service, handyman or any other type of business, you could use a commercial waste transfer station or other licenced waste site. You will require a Waste Carriers Registration.

Find out more about recycling centres

Find your nearest recycling centre

Large and small recycling centres in Essex

Recycling centre policy and site restrictions

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