Commercial food waste collection
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Starting April 2025, any business in England producing over 5kg of food waste each week must arrange a dedicated commercial food waste collection service.
💡Businesses in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland that produce this amount of food waste are already required to arrange separate collections.
This guide provides all the information you need about commercial food waste collection services. Here’s what we cover:
In April 2025, most businesses that generate large amounts of food waste must arrange commercial food waste collections.
Segregating and storing food waste separately might seem inconvenient, but there are three key reasons to consider using a commercial food waste collection service today:
Managing commercial food waste through a dedicated food waste collection disposal service is significantly cheaper than general business waste collection. A food waste collection service can help lower overall commercial waste collection costs.
Food waste disposed of in general waste ends up in a landfill where it decomposes in such a way that it produces methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas. Methane is estimated to have 25x the warming power of carbon dioxide when present in the atmosphere
There are over 100 operational anaerobic digestion plants in the UK that utilise food waste as fuel to produce green biogas. This biogas will be a necessary substitute for natural gas (a fossil fuel) in the UK’s transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
Local waste companies across the UK provide commercial food waste collection services that are available in all towns and cities.
We help businesses find the cheapest food waste collection options in their area. To get a quote, fill in the details at the top of this page.
Here’s a simple breakdown of how the service works:
Your waste provider will supply your business with a dedicated bin to store food waste between collections. Within your commercial waste contract, you can select from a range of commercial waste bin sizes.
Your waste firm will regularly empty your food waste bin, as your business requires. The frequency depends on the volume and type of food waste generated. Food waste can begin to smell if stored for too long.
Your waste collection provider will transport your waste to a local composting or anaerobic digestion facility. Your waste provider will also issue you an annual waste transfer note so you can demonstrate compliance.
The following types of food waste can be included within a commercial food waste bin:
Includes peelings, cores, and scraps.
Stale or leftover bread, cakes, and pastries.
Cheese, yoghurt, and other dairy items.
Cooked or uncooked, including bones.
Used grounds and tea bags.
Cooked or uncooked grains, pasta, and rice.
The following specific types of waste cannot be included within a commercial food waste bin:
Soups, sauces, and cooking oils.
Wrappers, bags, and containers.
Bottles, jars, and cans.
Paper towels, napkins, and plastic utensils.
Typically too tough to process.
From seafood like oysters and crabs.
Various bins are used for commercial food waste collection, each designed for specific needs. It’s crucial to use the appropriate bins, particularly for raw meat.
Below are the most common commercial waste bins used for the collection and storage of food:
Picture source: Nisbets
Countertop bins offer a convenient way to quickly dispose of food waste while cooking or preparing meals. Their compact size makes them easy to place on kitchen countertops, providing immediate access for discarding scraps and trimmings.
Pedal bins often come with lids that can be opened hands-free, reducing the risk of contamination from handling. The pedal mechanism allows for easy and convenient food waste disposal, even when hands are occupied.
Open-top bins allow quick and effortless disposal of food waste without opening a lid, making them convenient for busy commercial kitchen environments where efficiency is paramount. The open-top design provides clear visibility of the bin’s contents.
Most businesses with a food waste collection service will utilise a 240-litre standard wheelie bin for commercial kitchen bin collection. This bin type is suitable for various kinds of food waste, including leftovers, peels, cooked meat, and coffee grounds.
The leading industries contributing to food waste are involved in the food supply chain, spanning from farms to the point where food is sold to consumers, either in supermarkets or restaurants. Here are the top three industries responsible for food waste.
Cafes contribute to food waste primarily through over-preparation and unsold products. Many cafes prepare fresh items daily, leading to excess that often goes to waste.
Pubs often face food waste due to the need to maintain a diverse menu of fresh food options. This results in excess ingredients and uneaten food from patrons, contributing significantly to overall waste.
Restaurants must stock fresh ingredients daily to provide a variety of dishes, leading to inevitable food waste from unused and leftover ingredients and uneaten customer leftovers.
Business waste regulations in the UK require businesses generating food waste to follow the following waste hierarchy.
The waste hierarchy is summarised as follows: