Commercial waste
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, businesses have a duty of care for all their waste, including general rubbish and things that can be recycled. Liverpool City Council can only provide free services for household waste collections. For all commercial businesses, a charge will be made for waste removal.
For more information, please contact Liverpool Direct on 233 3001.
You are responsible for the waste your business produces.
Liverpool City Council will prosecute offenders, so you need to be aware of your duties.
You must:
- Sign a Trade Refuse Agreement with a carrier who is legally authorised to carry waste and pay the charges. Alternatively, you may take your own rubbish to a licensed disposal site or tip and pay the charges. Businesses cannot use the public civic amenity sites for free tipping.
- Check that your carrier holds a Waste Carrier's Certificate of Registration or is exempt.
- Check that your carrier is taking your waste to a licensed disposal site or tip. Carriers cannot use the public civic amenity sites for free tipping. You can be prosecuted if your carrier dumps your rubbish.
- Ensure that you complete the waste transfer note and provide a written description of the waste. Unless the nature, quantity and collector of your waste changes, this will be on an annual basis. Normally your carrier will produce this for you as part of your agreement.
- Keep a copy of all documentation for two years. You may have to produce this to a council officer, on request. You can be prosecuted if you cannot produce full records for the last two years.
- If your carrier has supplied you with labelled sacks, make sure that these sacks are used for your waste, and no others. If you have been supplied with bins, use them.
- If you start to produce more rubbish, get your carrier to provide more bins/sacks or collect more often.
- Bin, bag, box or bundle all refuse securely and do not put loose rubbish out for collection.
- Flatten down and bundle up cardboard boxes.
- Dispose of semi-liquid waste appropriately and do not pour it into sacks.
- Do not put any sharp or dangerous items in plastic refuse sacks, put them in boxes to avoid injuries to collectors.
- Set aside adequate space for storage (between collections) inside the building or in an enclosed exterior space. Don't let your rubbish blow away and cause litter.
- Put out your refuse at the time given to you by the contractor and not before. Rubbish must not be left out on the street for long periods when it can cause litter.
- Where possible, keep all your rubbish and bins on your own property when waiting for collection. If this is not possible, put it close to your door so that it is clear that it is your rubbish waiting for collection.
- Don't put rubbish in or beside public litter bins, this especially applies to retail traders. Do not put it by trees, lamp posts or around the corner. Don't risk being prosecuted for causing litter.
- Recycle wherever possible as this will not only benefit the environment but could also reduce your waste transfer costs.
- Keep your premises and the area surrounding it clean and tidy. It's good for business and good for the image of the City of Liverpool.
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Dangerous and Poisonous Waste
- Clinical Waste
Liverpool City council will collect commercial clinical waste from businesses but a charge will be made for this service.
For more information, please contact Liverpool Direct on 233 3001.
- Hazardous and Special Waste
Liverpool City council will not collect hazardous or special waste from businesses. Commercial businesses must take responsibility for disposing of such wastes by making alternative arrangements with reputable waste disposal companies. You are responsible for your own waste and what happens to it. If your waste is discovered to have been disposed of illegally, even by your carrier, your company will face legal proceedings.
Waste Incineration
Liverpool City Council is a 'Waste Collection Authority', as such it only has a responsibility to collect waste, not make arrangements for the final treatment and disposal of this waste. The responsibility for the final treatment and disposal of the waste is the responsibility of the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority.
Waste management and regulation
Local Authorities are obliged to provide a commercial waste collection service to businesses for which a charge is made. Liverpool City Council along with Veolia provide such a service should a business request it.
To find out more information, please contact Liverpool Direct on 233 3001.
Find out more about Liverpool's waste management services.
Want More information?
A series of free leaflets and information sheets is available from the EnCams Information Service, formerly the Tidy Britain Group.
You can contact Encams on Tel: (020) 7831 4484 or view the Encams website