In order to reduce environmental impact and associated disposal costs, we are committed to recycling as much as possible.
This has a direct impact on the business sector, as we are committed to reducing the costs associated with waste produced by businesses.
Your legal responsibilities and duty of care
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Section 34) introduced the concept of Duty of Care. Under this law you must take all reasonable steps to keep waste safe.
Duty of care applies to anyone who runs a business and produces:
- stores
- transports
- recycles or disposes of waste
Safe disposal of waste
Whatever the type of waste, whether it is cardboard boxes, plastic packaging or lunchtime leftovers, safe disposal is your responsibility.
All waste must be placed in suitable containers so that it cannot fall out, blow away, or escape. Containers should be sufficiently secure so that they cannot be broken open and waste removed by animals, accident or weather.
Registered waste contactors
You must also ensure that whoever is collecting or receiving your waste that they are authorised to do so, for example the Council or a registered waste carrier. Ensuring that your waste is disposed of properly is your responsibility. You must ask for proof from your waste contractor that they are registered.
When you agree to have your waste picked up by a licensed contractor you will be issued with a Waste Transfer Note to complete. This has information about the type and amount of waste that your business produces. It also states the name and address of the company that collects your waste.
You are required by law to have this documentation readily available.
Breach of duty of care is a criminal offence and may result in an unlimited fine.
Commercial recycling permit
Only residential waste is accepted at our Recycling Centres. Entering the sites with commercial business waste or depositing commercial business waste within a site is an offence.
If you have commercial business waste, please purchase a Commercial Recycling Permit or use the weighbridges at our Garlaff and Southhook Commercial waste disposal sites.
Providing a local collection service to suit your needs
We will engage with your business to provide you with a local collection service which will best fit the needs of your individual business, and which complies with legislative requirements surrounding the collection and disposal of waste.
The Zero Waste Plan and the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2014
The Scottish Government's Zero Waste Plan sets out a strategic direction for waste policy in Scotland. The Scottish Government believes that waste is a resource and as such, should not be disposed to landfill, but should be sorted for recycling, leaving only limited amounts to be treated.
For businesses this means that:
- all businesses will be required to present for collection their dry recyclate, such as metals, plastics, glass, paper and card
- for all businesses involved in food production, food retail or food preparation producing over 50kgs of food waste per week, food waste must also be presented for collection
- for small businesses producing over 5kgs (roughly equivalent to a full supermarket carrier bag) of food waste per week, food waste must also be presented for collection
We fully support and endorse the aims of the Zero Waste Plan and can offer your business the support needed to ensure compliance with the Regulations. We recognise that small businesses may require additional support to meet these requirements.
Zero Waste Scotland have produced a simple, five-step process to stay within the law for organisations to follow. These steps will help ensure that the new regulations are being met.
Find out more at Zero Waste Scotland: Waste (Scotland) Regulations.
Should you need further information our Zero Waste Officers are available to help.