Commercial waste services: A complete guide for businesses

Running a business involves more than smashing sales, flexing your creative muscles or dealing with clients, it also covers mundane but essential activities, like managing commercial waste.  No matter the type of company, an effective and efficient business waste collection and disposal plan needs to be implemented.

If you have a small shop or restaurant, you can contract a small business waste collection service to remove, dispose of and recycle daily rubbish. Similarly, larger businesses, for example hotels or office blocks, implementing a commercial waste and recycling plan is a crucial element of the company’s operations.

To help you stay on the right side of the Environment Agency (and your customers, who are more and more choosing businesses with green credentials), Adrian Westwood, founder of Brighton based commercial waste management company, has outlined exactly what services are provided by commercial waste disposal services and how they can benefit your business.

‍What do we mean by commercial waste?
Firstly, let’s define exactly what commercial waste services are and how they differ from regular rubbish removal from private homes.  In a nutshell, the term commercial waste collection covers the removal and disposal of all types of waste generated by a commercial entity.  This is usually carried out by commercial waste collection companies (such as the above-mentioned Brighton based G&S Clearance), as they provide specialist waste collection services, including the removal, disposal and recycling all types of waste, including WEEE waste. These specialist waste management companies also ensure that you the business is compliant with all of the latest regulations, regarding safety and sustainability.

‍Categories of commercial waste

‍• General office waste: Most businesses produce waste, this can be documents, food, plastic, office materials, office furniture or WEEE waste. Commercial waste companies offer tailor made solutions, whereby they regularly collect, remove and dispose of the rubbish, ensuring all the site / premises is clutter free and waste is disposed of correctly.

• Recycling: More and more companies are looking at ways to improve sustainability, including ensuring that waste is recycled. A commercial waste removal company can include paper shredding of confidential documents and recycling of paper and plastics.

• Hazardous waste: You may be surprised at the number of businesses that deal with hazardous waste; this could be in the form of electronics (WEEE waste), dangerous chemicals, metals or gasses.  For example, commercial refrigerators and freezers contain dangerous elements that need to be disposed of safely and legally, in order to avoid contaminating the environment, wildlife and people.

• Bulky items: Offices, shops, factories, warehouses, showrooms and construction sites may need to get rid of bulky items, such as furniture, equipment or even building debris. Bulk waste removal, it should be carried out by professional waste removal teams, so that the items can be safely removed, disposed and recycled according to the law.

• Food waste: Food waste management doesn’t only apply to the hospitality and related industries, any business with employees generates food waste. This could be in a canteen or restaurant or even individual packed lunches, all generate organic material that needs to be disposed of correctly. It is possible to manage this type of waste responsibly by organising regular food waste collections from companies offering composting solutions, as an alternative to landfills.

• WEEE waste: As touched upon briefly under ‘hazardous waste’, the safe disposal of electronic devices, from mobile phones to monitors, TVs, microwaves and other items is crucial. All electronic items contain hazardous materials that can seriously damage the environment, and in some cases, cause fires.

• Construction and building sites: Every construction site generates debris, whether it’s a demolition, new build or a refurbishment project. This type of waste can be heavy, bulky and hazardous, and the removal process can be fraught with dangers. This is why it is essential to use a regulated and insured building waste removal company with experience, to ensure the safety of the team and the safe removal of any hazardous substances.

• Manufacturing, retail, industrial and warehouse waste: The UK government has implemented clear regulations designed to limit the amount of plastic waste generated in the manufacture and packaging of goods, paper, glass, metal and food waste.  The aim is to encourage companies to not only reduce the waste produced but to also separate and dispose of waste correctly. Find out more here.

• Flying tipping: Lastly, there is the perennial problem of fly tipping. Brighton & Hove council have introduced stiff penalties for anyone caught illegally dumping rubbish.  The question is, what happens when fly tipping has taken place? The answer is, a professional waste management team will need to remove it and dispose of it correctly.

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Benefits of using professional commercial waste disposal companies:

A safe working environment: Maintaining a safe, clean and tidy work space is essential for greater efficiency and for minimising the potential for accidents and hazards. Engaging the services of a commercial waste management company not only creates a more pleasant working environment, it offers a convenient, flexible solution and peace of mind that your company is compliant with the latest laws.

‍Compliance with Regulations
‍The simple fact is, all UK businesses have a legal obligation to manage their waste responsibly, in line with government guidelines. If your business doesn’t take the appropriate steps to ensure waste is disposed of correctly and recycled, they will be liable for fines and penalties.  G&S Clearance is a fully regulated waste management company which means you will receive the legally required waste audit report, confirming your company’s compliance.

‍ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance): Green credentials are becoming more and more important to clients, by using a waste management company committed to sustainable methods, can enhance your business’ green credentials. For example, Brighton based commercial waste company, G&S Clearance, aims to recycle or reuse 100% of all items removed, whenever possible in order to minimise environmental impact.

In conclusion, commercial waste management services play a crucial role in helping companies navigate the ever-changing rules and regulations. By removing, disposing and recycling all types of commercial waste, they ensure businesses are compliant with the law and allowing them to operate in a cleaner, safer and more pleasant working environment.

If you need to arrange for the safe removal and disposal of commercial waste, including  construction clearance, builders waste clearance, office furniture clearance, WEEE recycling and much more, in Brighton, Hove and Sussex, contact G&S Clearance by emailing info@gsclearance.com, WhatsApp  +44 7817 647075  or website www.gsclearance.co.uk/.