Every business produces waste, and how you manage it is a legal responsibility, not just good practice. Getting it right keeps you compliant, controls costs, and can even improve how customers see your business.

Here's what you need to know about managing business waste properly.

Your legal duty of care

As a business, you have a legal duty of care for any waste you produce, which means making sure it's stored, transported and disposed of properly, even after it leaves your premises. This includes using a registered waste carrier, keeping waste transfer notes as evidence of what happened to your waste, and separating recyclable material where required by law.

Choosing a waste contractor

Most businesses use a licensed waste contractor to collect and dispose of waste, rather than handling it themselves. A few things worth checking before you sign up:

•        That the contractor is a registered waste carrier

•        What's included in your contract, such as collection frequency and bin sizes

•        Whether recycling is separated out, and if this affects your cost

•        Contract length and any penalties for leaving early

Reducing costs and waste

Waste costs are often driven by volume, so reducing how much you produce is usually the most effective way to cut costs. Separating recyclable material properly often reduces general waste charges, since recycling collections can be cheaper than general waste. It's also worth reviewing your bin sizes and collection frequency periodically, since businesses often end up paying for capacity they don't actually need.

Staying compliant

Keep waste transfer notes and contracts on file, since you may need to show these if there's ever an inspection or dispute. If your business produces hazardous waste, such as certain chemicals or electrical equipment, additional rules apply around how it's stored and disposed of, so it's worth checking gov.uk for guidance specific to your industry.