Collecting business waste
This section provides information on collecting business waste and the duty of care.
Business rates do not include the collection or disposal of business refuse or recycling, therefore a separate collection must be arranged.
Businesses must make sure their waste is managed and disposed of responsibly via an authorised private waste contractor or the local authority, such as Reigate & Banstead.
It is the responsibility of businesses to dispose of their waste, via an licensed waste carrier with the Environment Agency, in accordance with the Duty of Care under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The business must, retain a copy of the paperwork for two years and have it available for inspection upon request.
Please note that businesses have a Duty of Care to ensure that all waste is securely stored and disposed of responsibly.
What is Duty of Care?
The Duty of Care is a law set out in section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and associated regulations of the Duty of Care Regulation 1991. It applies to all businesses, who must take all reasonable steps to keep waste safe. Waste must be stored safely and securely and must not cause pollution to people or the environment.
The waste must be packaged in suitable containers so that it cannot fall out, blow away or escape from the receptacle.
It must be secured against unauthorised removal as far as is reasonably practical. Security should be sufficient to prevent the breaking open of containers and removal of wasted by vandals, thieves, animals, accident or weather.
Businesses must ensure that the person removing the waste is either from a local authority or a licensed waste collection company.
They will be authorised to remove waste and transport and dispose of it safely.
The business must provide a written description of the waste to the person who removes it. This is known as a waste transfer note and must be completed by both persons involved in the transfer.
The completed duty of care is an acceptable transfer note and must be renewed every 12 months.
How can the Council help with business waste collections?
Refuse collection
The Council operates a business refuse collection throughout the borough.
Frequency of collection and a range of container sizes are available to suit every businesses need. We can issue business waste sacks where bin storage may be a problem.
Cost for this service
The prices are valid from 1 April to 31 March for each financial year. Businesses will be notified prior to any price changes that may occur. The prices are given on the Business refuse and recycling service page.
Please contact us if you have any questions on prices.
Recycling collection
Having listened to the local businesses we launched a business recycling service in April 2009.
We are able to offer your business a recycling service to reduce the refuse sent to landfill whilst helping your company to stay green and reduce the cost of your waste disposal.
Initially we have introduced a mixed paper and card collection to extend to other materials in the future.
Please contact us for further information on prices.
What we collect
We will collect business refuse and recycling that does not contain any unacceptable items in accordance with the Environment Agency and the Duty of Care.
Examples of unacceptable items include: hazardous waste, asbestos, construction waste, bulky waste.
If you have any questions on which items are unacceptable please contact us and we can put you in touch with the specialised organisations.
Contact Customer Services
Email: customer.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
Tel: 01737 276000
Write to:
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH
Last updated : 26/01/2010
