Commercial waste collection
Businesses have a duty of care to dispose of their waste responsibly, via a suitably licensed company or facility.
What is Duty of Care?
Duty of Care is a law which says that businesses 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 waste 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 to 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.
For further information on the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the legal observations of businesses under the Duty of Care regulations, go to Her Majesty's Stationary Office (HMSO) website.
Does the council provide a commercial waste collection service?
Private arrangements must be made for the disposal of trade waste via either a suitably licensed facility or, alternatively, a designated and licensed waste disposal contractor. There is a charge for this service.
The Council’s streetscene contractor SERCO operates a trade waste service for companies throughout the borough. They are able to offer a range of container sizes from individual sacks to 1100-litre wheeled containers and different levels of service. Please note this service is operated independently of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and other suitably licensed contractors can be used.
For more information on SERCO's trade waste services, including charges, preparation of service agreements, duty of care documents and delivery of bins please ring SERCO on 01707 379176.