Many students have a reputation for creating lots of waste and being messy. More than half a million students in the UK live in privately rented houses and flats, while thousands more live in student accommodation. That means lots of rubbish is generated throughout the year, which isn’t always managed properly.
The end of the academic year is a key time when effective student waste management is required. Hundreds of thousands of students across the UK move out to head home or into new accommodation for next year. This is when everything from old pots and pans to furniture, food, duvets, clothes, and many more items are often chucked out.
Improper disposal and management may lead to fly-tipping and other problems. Responsible management of waste that students generate benefits everyone, from local residents and authorities to the environment. Discover how to manage student waste efficiently, whether you’re a student, a private landlord, or run any student accommodation.

Waste management in
student accommodation
Student accommodation needs efficient waste management processes in place, whatever its size and location. This helps maintain hygienic premises, uphold the duty of care of the university or company that owns the accommodation, and benefits the environment. There are unique challenges across different student digs, but you can apply many of the same techniques.
For effective waste management in student accommodation, it’s beneficial to have:
- Appropriate bins – as a minimum, it’s best for all students to have access to general waste, dry mixed recycling, and food waste bins. This enables the separation of materials at the point of production and should ensure as much as possible is recycled, composted, and diverted away from landfill.
- Posters – put up posters that explain the environmental benefits of separating and reducing waste where possible. Many students will want to help the environment, and having posters up next to each bin as well as in shared areas may help boost recycling levels.
- Clear signs – encourage recycling and responsible disposal with signs in place directing students towards bins and what waste materials should go in each one. Put these up with different languages to make it clear for international students getting to grips with their new accommodation. Consider a colour code if it makes it clearer.
- Arrange regular collections – frequent waste collections help avoid bins from overflowing. Student waste isn’t easy to predict, as one day there might be loads of empty glass beer bottles filling a recycling bin, but closer to exam times, this could drop. It’s best to prepare with regular collections to stay safe.
- Seasonal waste collections – during the holidays, there may only be international students around, so you can adapt your waste collections to suit. At the end of the year, you may need to order bigger bins or switch to daily collections as students move out and leave lots of waste behind.
How to get rid of student waste
at the end of the year
The end of the academic year, when many students move out, is prime time for waste production. Ideally, as a student, you’ll just use your bins to separate materials as usual and fill within their limits, then take any excess waste items with you.
If you’ve got too much rubbish, then take it to your local household waste recycling centre (HWRC). Don’t leave rubbish behind, as this is irresponsible. Many items could be donated to a local charity shop, listed for free on sites like Facebook Marketplace, or sold online.
The best ways to get rid of student waste at the end of the year can depend on the item:
- Furniture – if you can’t take any items of furniture with you, then consider donating to a local charity. Alternatively, check with the landlord to see if they’ll let you leave it behind or are happy for you to leave it for the next tenants. If you want to make a bit of money, then you can always try and sell it online.
- Bedding – loads of students chuck out bedding as it’s bulky, but you should avoid putting it in a general waste bin as it may go to landfill or be incinerated. When you really can’t take it with you or if it’s damaged beyond use, donate it to an animal charity that may use it as animal bedding.
- Electronics – any broken TVs, laptops, bedside lamps, toasters, or other electronics should be taken to your nearest HWRC. If you have working electronic items you don’t need, then consider either donating or selling them. You can also return to many electronics shops that should accept and recycle them for you.
- Food – you can donate tinned and dry food items to your local food bank. Anything in the fridge or freezer (or with a short expiry date) you should try to use up or just take with you.
- Books – many students end up with academic books they won’t need next year. Hang onto them and pass them down to anyone in the year below who might need them next year. You can also see if any libraries accept them as donations. Alternatively, put them up for sale online.
- Clothes – should you have a clear-out of clothes when you move out, you can donate to charity shops, sell on sites like Vinted, or take them to a clothes bank. Don’t throw them out with general waste, as clothes and textiles can be reused and recycled.

Managing student waste
as a private landlord
If you’re a private landlord who lets out one or more properties to students, then the end of the academic year can be a chaotic time. Whatever you do, there’s a good chance student tenants will leave items behind, and you’ll have to get rid of them.
These are a few ways to manage any waste from students efficiently as a landlord:
- Remind your tenants – send out a friendly reminder to your tenants to use the bins and not overfill them, which risks a missed collection. Ask them not to leave behind any items they no longer need, as it’s their responsibility to leave the place as they found it. Remind them that costs incurred to remove extra waste after they’ve gone could be taken off their deposit.
- Plan extra waste collections – speak with your tenants and assess how much extra rubbish they might create. Book an extra collection if required to help students get rid of any waste easily, especially if there are a few of them all leaving at the same time.
- Use a man and van – if you’re doing any renovations before new tenants move in or simply have lots of bulky items and require a one-off clearance, then consider a man and van to get rid of everything in one go.
- Clear garden waste – it’s not just items inside the property as the garden might also need a clear-out. If there’s a period between tenants, then it’s a good opportunity to spruce it up. You might need additional garden waste bins or a one-off clearance to help.
- Donate items left behind – should there be anything left behind, such as bedding, furniture, electronics, or clothing, then consider donating to a local charity shop or community centre if they’re in decent condition.
Get rid of student waste with Divert
Clearing out your rented property, private flat, or student accommodation at the end of the year? If you need some extra bins or assistance getting rid of bulky waste, then at Divert our services are here to help. We can provide everything from a man and van to garden waste clearances.
If you run a student accommodation, we can also help with regular bin collections throughout the year. This includes providing free bins for everything from general waste and dry mixed recycling to food waste, glass recycling, and more. There are no delivery or bin hire costs – you only pay for collection.
Find out more and get a free quote about how we can help with your student waste today – call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online.
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An overflowing bin may cause all sorts of problems for your business – whatever type of waste it contains. Rubbish spilling out of a wheelie bin or any other container can create unhygienic conditions, attract pests, and release a nasty smell. This can put off customers and affect your staff as well.
It doesn’t look good for your business to have an overflowing bin sitting outside. It might also not be collected by your waste partner, or you could face additional charges, especially if the bin is also overweight. Any overflowing wheelie bins will have their lids open, which causes more problems.
Any rubbish that spills out risks getting wet and contaminated (which affects the recyclability of paper and cardboard) or blowing away in the wind and littering the environment. Find out how to prevent a bin from overflowing in your business for smooth waste management.

What causes overflowing bins
for businesses?
Sometimes the cause of an overflowing rubbish bin is preventable while at other times it may be accidental. Being aware of the potential reasons can help you reduce the chance of it happening within your organisation. Some of the main causes of overflowing bins for businesses are:
- Missed bin collections – mistakes happen and occasionally your regular bin collection might be missed. This can mean you have too much rubbish in your bin by the time the next collection happens, and it starts to overflow.
- Skipped collections – sometimes a commercial bin collection will be skipped if the bins aren’t placed at the pickup point at the agreed time. Drivers may skip the collection, which means waste starts to build up.
- Inaccessible bin – another reason for missed collections leading to extra waste and overflowing bins is if they’re in an inaccessible location. It could be behind a locked gate, blocked in by a vehicle, or down a narrow street.
- Extra waste – depending on your industry you might generate more waste at certain times of year due to seasonality or increased demand, such as more food waste from hotels during busy periods in summer. This can lead to bins overflowing if you haven’t adapted your collections or containers.
- Strikes – occasional strikes by waste workers result in missed collections, which can cause bins to overflow.
How to avoid your commercial
bins from overflowing
Dealing with overflowing bins isn’t pleasant and it can cost your business money if you have to pay for extra collections or overweight charges. The easiest way to avoid such issues is to prevent an overflowing waste bin in the first place. These are a few ways to prevent your commercial bins from overflowing:
- Conduct a waste audit – assess the types and volume of commercial waste your business produces regularly. Use this information to identify the best number and sizes of bins you need to separate materials and an efficient collection frequency. If you need some expert help contact the Divert team for assistance with an audit.
- Order extra bins – if you find your waste is often close to overflowing then simply add a few more bins to your collections. It might just be one dry mixed recycling bin, or you may need one more for each waste stream.
- Use bigger bins – an efficient and cost-effective way to prevent overflowing bins is to switch to larger containers if you regularly fill yours close to the limit. Check you have enough storage space and consider moving up from a 240 litre to a 360 or 660 litre wheelie bin, for example.
- Arrange more frequent collections – increasing how often you get your commercial bins collected can also reduce the risk of them overflowing. You might need weekly rather than fortnightly removals to stay safe or daily collection of food waste containers.
- Reduce the risk of missed collections – move your bins to the correct pickup place ahead of the agreed collection time and ensure it’s easy to access by the waste collectors. This minimises the chance of any missed collections and rubbish overflowing due to a build-up of waste.

What to do if your outside bin
is overflowing at home?
Dealing with an overflowing household wheelie bin is different as your local council or authority is responsible for collections. If you constantly find your domestic general waste or recycling bin overflows then check with your council to see if you can order an extra bin or a bigger one.
If this isn’t possible then you can always take the waste to your nearest household waste recycling centre (HWRC) for disposal. There should be containers for most household waste such as general waste, cardboard, metal, plastic, and other recycling. Alternatively, use a licensed waste company to remove it, such as with our man and van service at Divert.
Should just your general waste bin overflow then consider what you throw away that’s recyclable and could be placed in your household recycling bin instead. This can even out the load. Do not put your rubbish in a neighbour’s bin or dump it elsewhere as this is fly-tipping, which is illegal and terrible for the environment.
Will bin men take an overflowing bin?
Many bin men may not remove or empty an overflowing bin from a household or a business. This is because it could pose a health and safety risk for them to handle or move. Overweight bins can be unsafe to manoeuvre and lift, which could result in a possible injury.
It can depend on your local council or authority though for domestic bins. The safest option is to avoid an overflowing waste bin in the first place. Put any excess rubbish in bags next to it if there’s a risk of your bin overflowing. This way the bin should still be emptied even if the extra waste isn’t removed.
Avoid overflowing commercial
waste bins with Divert
Stay on top of your commercial waste with Divert. We can provide a wide range of free bins to store your rubbish securely and ensure you’ve got enough capacity. There are no delivery or bin hire costs – you only pay for collection.
Combine suitable bin sizes, types, and numbers with a collection frequency that’s cost-effective and efficient. Daily, weekly, and fortnightly collections are possible to reduce the chance of your bins overflowing. We can help with a waste audit and advise on the best options.
Speak to one of our friendly team or request a free quote for commercial bin collection today – call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online.
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Taking commercial waste to the tip (any rubbish your business produces) might seem like a cheap and easy thing to do. Why pay a third party to do it when you could have a go yourself? The strict responsibilities, regulations, and potential penalties are there for a reason.
You might consider taking waste from your business to the local tip to save money, especially if you only create a small amount every day or week. However, it’s not as simple, cost-effective, or as safe as taking domestic rubbish like garden waste to your nearest household waste recycling centre (HWRC).
Discover when and how you can take your commercial waste to the tip, important considerations and limitations, and everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Can you take business waste
to the tip?
Technically, you can take business waste to the tip. However, to transport commercial waste you must be a licensed waste carrier. You may also need to apply for a waste permit and check the tip accepts the type and amount of commercial waste you have for disposal.
Most HWRCs are for the disposal of rubbish from homes, as the name suggests, which can’t go in domestic bins. Many don’t accept business or trade waste and could refuse entry even if you’re a licensed waste carrier with a permit. If you’re not a registered waste carrier and take commercial waste to a HWRC, you could face prosecution and a fine.
Should you want to dispose of your own commercial waste regularly and your local tip accepts business waste then you must register as a waste carrier in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. Costs to register as a waste carrier vary between countries and whether you need upper or lower tier registration.
You’ll also need to complete a waste transfer note for every load of waste that leaves your business.
The UK government website has more information about disposing of commercial waste yourself.
Where can I take
commercial waste?
If you are a licensed waste carrier you might be able to take commercial waste to a HWRC if it accepts business waste. Check whether trade waste is accepted at your local tip and if you need any other permits or licences. Also, check the waste types accepted and the charges that apply.
Many HWRCs don’t accept commercial waste or place limitations on the materials, volumes, or frequencies of visits. If this is the case then you may be able to take it to a registered recycling centre or licensed waste management facility. Again, you must be a licensed waste carrier and check any requirements to take commercial waste to the facility.
Fines and penalties for
tipping waste
Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 sets out the duty of care businesses have for disposing of commercial waste. This includes ensuring your waste is properly contained, transported by licensed waste carriers, transferred to someone legally allowed to accept it, and accompanied by the proper descriptions in the waste transfer note.
Duty of care breaches and failure to comply is an offence and may lead to a penalty. The size of the potential fine depends on the nature of the offence and where it’s dealt with. For example, failure to produce a waste carrier’s licence when moving your commercial waste can lead to a fixed penalty notice of £300 and a fine of up to £5,000 if you’re not registered.
Any offences due to unauthorised or harmful deposit, treatment, or disposal of waste – and other waste offences that end up in the Crown Court – could result in an unlimited fine and jail time. Potential fines for transporting and tipping commercial waste illegally include:
- Fixed penalty notice – £300
- Penalty in the Magistrates Court – up to £5,000
- Fine in the Crown Court – unlimited fine

Alternatives to tipping commercial waste yourself
Disposing of commercial waste from your business yourself can be complicated, expensive, and time-consuming. And if you make a mistake you could face prosecution leading to a large fine, criminal record, and potential jail sentence. There are a few safer, easier, and more cost-effective options:
- Commercial waste collection – the most common choice is to use a third-party professional commercial waste collection company, such as Divert. Licensed waste carriers will remove your business waste and transport it safely and legally to a recycling centre or waste management facility and provide a waste transfer note. Prices are tailored to your needs for cost-effective options.
- Council collections – some local councils offer commercial waste collections, but quite a few are cutting back on these services to save money. They can often be limited and more expensive than using waste companies too.
- Skip hire – for a one-off clearance or removal of bulky waste you might consider skip hire. The skip is delivered, you fill it, and then it’s removed by licensed waste carriers. You need space to store the skip and may require a permit if it’s not on private land.
Arrange commercial waste collection with Divert
Save money, time, and effort by using Divert for your commercial waste collection. We provide free bins for your waste with no delivery or hire charges – you only cover the collection costs. This includes bins to separate food waste, general waste, glass, paper, cardboard, plastic, garden waste, and dry mixed recycling.
A wide range of bins, bags, and containers in various sizes are available to suit your needs. Schedule daily, weekly, or fortnightly collections to arrange cost-effective commercial waste collection. Licensed waste carriers will remove your bins and divert all your business waste away from landfill, as our name suggests!
You receive a free duty of care certificate and peace of mind that your company’s waste is managed safely, legally, and responsibly. Get a free no-obligation quote for commercial waste collection today – call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online.
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Food waste in the UK is a constant concern as the country produces more than 9.5 million tonnes of it every year. The food and drink waste hierarchy advises businesses to prevent excess food and redistribute surplus food first before disposing of it. Understanding what happens to food waste highlights the importance of reducing it.
Businesses should segregate waste food from other materials with separate bins and collections to ensure it’s disposed of responsibly and diverted away from landfill. This is even more important with new food waste legislation making food waste separation a legal requirement for all businesses in England by April 2027.
Food is an organic material that contains useful energy even when it becomes inedible. Recycling waste food is vital, so it doesn’t end up in landfill to protect the environment. Find out what happens to food waste in the UK after it leaves your business or home.

How is food waste recycled?
There are various methods to recycle food waste. The food and drink waste hierarchy states that after reducing and redistributing excess food it should be donated to use as animal feed where possible. To recycle waste food it will be transported to specialist facilities that generate value from the waste in different ways.
These are the main ways that food waste is recycled:
- Composting – lots of food waste goes to industrial composting facilities. There are various recycling methods but one of the most common for food is windrow composting. Food and organic waste are piled in long rows (four to eight feet high) that are turned regularly. Air, heat, and moisture are checked as microbes break it down in around four months.
- In-vessel composting – this type of composting mixes food and garden waste. It’s all shredded, combined, and placed in an enclosed system for two to four weeks that reaches temperatures up to 70°C. This speeds up the process and it’s then moved outside to mature for one to three months.
- Anaerobic digestion – waste food can be recycled at anaerobic digestion (AD) plants. Here food is placed into sealed vessels (reactors) where there’s a lack of oxygen. Bacteria break down the food waste, which produces biogas comprised mainly of methane. This rises to the top and is captured and used to generate energy, while the solid content falls and is extracted to create fertiliser.
- Incineration for energy – some food may go to energy from waste facilities. Here it’s burned to create heat that’s converted into energy (such as electricity). However, food waste can contain up to 70% water, which makes incineration less efficient than composting or anaerobic digestion.
What happens to recycled food waste?
Recycled food waste is converted into energy, fertiliser, or fuel through composting, anaerobic digestion, and energy from waste processes. What happens to it depends on the specific facility where it’s sent after collection from your business or home and the recycling process it goes through.
Recycled food waste becomes:
- Energy – biogas captured from anaerobic digestion is used to produce renewable energy, such as electricity. Any food waste recycled at energy from waste plants is incinerated to create energy as well. From either source, this is used locally or sent to the national grid.
- Fertiliser – composted food waste turns into a natural fertiliser used by farmers and agricultural professionals to grow new crops, rejuvenate topsoil, and for other green initiatives. Leftover pulp from anaerobic digestion also forms a nutrient-rich digestate that’s used as a fertiliser.
- Biofuel – certain types of food waste can be recycled and converted into biodiesel, which is used to fuel vehicles and machinery. Cooking oils and animal fats can be cleaned, processed, and combined with refined petroleum products to form a fuel used by vehicles that run on traditional diesel.

What happens to food waste
collected by councils?
What happens to food waste collected by councils in the UK depends on where you live, the nearby food waste processing plants, and the policies of your local authority. Many UK councils will take the food waste they collect to anaerobic digestion plants, in-vessel composting facilities (IVC), or energy from waste plants.
Some councils may take food waste collected from households to incineration facilities, but most will avoid adding waste food to landfill. Check with your local council to see where they take food waste and how it’s processed.
What happens to supermarket
food waste?
Supermarkets in the UK generate around 240,000 tonnes of food waste every year. That’s equivalent to about 190 million meals. Unfortunately, lots of waste food from supermarkets ends up in landfill. There’s been a greater focus on reducing it and managing food waste more sustainably across the retail sector in recent years though.
What happens to supermarket food waste depends on the specific store and brand. Aside from landfill, many supermarkets send food waste that’s edible to food banks and some local charities. Lots of other food becomes animal feed or is sent to composting, anaerobic digestion, or incineration facilities.
Arrange food waste collection
from your business
At Divert we’re here to help your business save money and the environment with our food waste collection services. We provide free bins to store your waste food – you only pay for collection. Daily, weekly, and fortnightly collections are available to suit your needs.
Simply let us know what sizes and number of bins you need, where your business is based, and how often you want them collected. Then we can provide a free bespoke quote and get started. Speak to one of our friendly team if you have any questions.
All food waste is diverted away from landfill, as our name suggests, for a sustainable choice. Regular and reliable removals make managing your food waste easy. Get a free no-obligation quote for commercial food waste collection from your business today – call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online.
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The start of a new year is the ideal time to look back but also forward. This applies to many aspects of running a business, including what happens to your waste. Review your recycling resolutions from last year to see what progress you made and any changes that worked while setting fresh targets for 2025.
It’s set to be a big year for the world of waste management across the UK as new Simpler Recycling regulations are rolled out in spring. That’s why it’s more important than ever that your business has efficient, affordable, and reliable commercial waste processes in place whether you run a country pub, city centre office, or village shop.
Setting goals and sticking to them can help your company reduce its waste, save money on waste management, and keep you up to date with the latest developments. Make and keep these five waste management resolutions for your business in 2025 for safe, sustainable, and cost-effective ways of working.

1. Prepare for Simpler Recycling
The 31 March 2025 is an important date for every business in England with ten or more full-time employees. This is when the first stage of the new Simpler Recycling regulations comes into force. Your current waste provider should contact you to help prepare for these changes, but it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re ready.
From the end of March 2025, you must have separate collections of food waste, paper and cardboard recycling, and other dry recyclables (glass, plastic, and metal) in place. This is to avoid businesses throwing away recyclable and recoverable rubbish with general waste that may go to landfills or for incineration.
Check your current bins, waste collections, and the waste types your organisation generates to see if you need any extra bins. It’s a good idea to get them in places ASAP so you’re prepared to meet the new regulations. Failure to comply with the new Simpler Recycling legislation could lead to penalties and potential fines.
2. Reduce your packaging waste
Used packaging materials is one of the biggest waste streams for businesses of all sizes and industries. In the UK we throw away 11 billion bits of packaging waste every year. These are mostly plastic, paper, cardboard, and glass packaging items such as bags, wrap, food and drink containers.
Packaging waste is produced at many points. It could be creating products in a factory and packaging them up to send to customers, receiving deliveries in an office and getting rid of the cardboard boxes, or throwing out empty glass and plastic drink bottles in a restaurant or café. Reducing packaging waste where possible should be a priority.
Switch suppliers to work with businesses that use no packaging, minimal amounts, or sustainable and recyclable options. Think about how your company packages items and where waste is created, then take steps to minimise it. Find ways to reuse or repurpose packaging – like using boxes for storage or repackaging other items.

3. Educate employees about managing waste
Workers are the people in contact with waste and responsible for placing it in the appropriate bins. Spending time educating them about the proper processes to follow is essential to reduce waste, improve recycling rates, and comply with all relevant regulations. Run training and refresher sessions to ensure everyone is up to speed.
It’s essential that staff are trained to identify different waste types when hazardous and clinical waste types are present. This should ensure they’re handled safely and placed in the correct bins, bags, or containers for storage and disposal. Understanding recycling symbols is important for recyclable rubbish too, so appropriate packaging and plastics are recycled.
Explain the importance of the new Simpler Recycling regulations and complying with them to get your staff up to speed with changes. Incorporating waste management training into inductions and holding regular updates can help improve your recycling rates and reduce the risk of accidents this year for smoother working.
4. Keep on top of your inventory
A big cause of avoidable waste in many organisations is having excess stock, supplies, and items. It could be shops with extra products they need to sell to make space for new lines or restaurants with food about to go off that needs using. Often these items are thrown away as it’s the easiest option.
Stay on top of your inventory in 2025 to avoid creating such waste. This could involve running regular stock checks, training staff about product rotation so perishable items don’t go off, and implementing new technology and processes. Efficient inventory management should reduce waste and save your business money.
Delegating the role of stock checks to either one individual or someone in specific departments or teams assigns responsibility to the task. With an element of accountability and a clear idea of who should take charge of ensuring inventory management runs smoothly, it can minimise waste in this area.

5. Reuse and repair
Find ways to reuse waste your business creates in the new year. Rather than throwing things out once they’re used, think about how to repurpose them. A few ideas to reuse waste in your organisation include to:
- Use cardboard delivery boxes for storage in an office or any business
- Put a tealight into empty wine bottles for atmospheric decorations
- Turn old textiles into cleaning cloths for work surfaces
- Create a compost pile or box for food scraps
- Make signs from old bits of wood (to direct towards your recycling station)
Repairing broken items is another great way to cut down on your company’s waste. If something breaks don’t just chuck it out, consider whether it’s repairable. Paying an expert to fix broken electricals, furniture, or other tools might even be cheaper than buying a replacement. And it avoids creating more waste.
Putting these steps into action should help your business be more sustainable and save money on your waste management costs in the new year. If you’ve got a question or want a free no-obligation quote for any type of waste collections then get in touch with the Divert team today – call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online.
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Christmas is a busy time of year for most businesses. Shops, restaurants, and pubs experience an influx of customers as offices simultaneously throw Christmas parties and celebrations while also wrapping up for the year. With so much going on it’s easy to overlook business basics, such as managing waste.
In the UK, we produce around 30% more waste over the Christmas holidays compared to other times of the year. This includes homes and businesses throwing out extra food, decorations, and other items. The bank holidays and many people having time off work can also affect waste collection schedules.
Planning for the impact of Christmas on your commercial waste helps prevent overflowing bins, paying for collections you don’t need, or entering the new year with a waste problem for your organisation. Use the following actions to ensure waste management runs smoothly for your business over the festive period.

Prepare for extra waste
It’s estimated that households and businesses create an additional three million tonnes of waste at Christmas. That’s on top of all the regular rubbish we produce from running companies and living our daily lives. Your business should first forecast how much more waste it will generate over the festive period.
This could be more food waste from Christmas lunches and treats in an office, extra glass wine and beer bottles from restaurants and bars, or cards and decorations when the festivities are finished. Restaurants, bars, and shops especially are likely to create extra waste and can use previous experiences to predict increases in volumes.
Use the estimates of additional festive waste to arrange bigger or more bins, or to increase collection frequencies over Christmas. This should ensure you can store all the extra rubbish your business produces and that it’s managed efficiently. It avoids any overflowing bins or waste piling up on site that could otherwise cause a problem.
Anticipate changes to collections
Many councils change bin collection days for households in their areas across the Christmas bank holidays. And private waste collection firms also adapt their schedules over the festive period. Your waste collection company should inform you of any changes but if not you should check so you can prepare.
In most cases, it may only be that your usual waste collections are moved forward or pushed back a couple of days. The types and volumes of waste materials your organisation produces may affect any changes. For example, hospitals that continue to produce clinical and hazardous waste might not experience a change in collections.
Make sure you know any new collection dates and times over Christmas to avoid missing a collection. Should your business close then it’s vital you either inform your waste collectors or move bins to the pickup point before you shut. Otherwise, it could lead to a pointless and costly trip, or your bins not being emptied if there’s no access.

Reduce waste over the holidays
Sadly, more than 100 million sacks of rubbish end up in landfills every Christmas. Lots of this comes from households but businesses also create mountains more waste during the festive season. To save money and help the environment companies of all sizes and industries can play their part to cut down on waste levels at Christmas.
A few ways to reduce Christmas waste for any business are to:
- Plan accurately – it’s easy to get excited and carried away planning workplace Christmas decorations, parties, and other celebrations that lead to lots of avoidable waste. Estimate the numbers and amounts of food, decorations, and items you’ll need closely to minimise waste, leftovers, and costs.
- Give zero-waste gifts – cut down on waste when giving gifts to clients and staff with items that come in recyclable and minimal packaging. There are all sorts of low-waste Christmas gift options available, such as tickets to shows, sporting, and music events or sustainable food and clothing items.
- Arrange sustainable disposal – creating waste is inevitable at Christmas but avoid sending any of it to landfills. Choose sustainable disposal methods like composting for food waste and Christmas trees.
- Donate items – offer any unwanted items and things your business can’t reuse to charities and community groups. This could be Christmas decorations you don’t have space to store, old electronics that have been upgraded and replaced, or even food.
- Recycle rubbish – many businesses generate extra packaging waste over the holiday season. Much of this is recyclable such as glass, paper, cardboard, and plastics. Use separate bins to reduce contamination risks and ensure as much as possible is recycled.
Book free festive bins
Enjoy smooth and stress-free management of your commercial waste at Christmas with Divert. We can provide free bins for your business with no delivery or hire fees – you only pay for collections. Choose from a wide range of sizes to separate and store all the waste materials you produce.
We divert all rubbish away from landfill for a sustainable solution, as our name suggests. Bespoke waste services mean we can provide extra bins and adapt pickups to suit your busy festive period. Great communication and customer care ensure everything goes to plan when it comes to managing your waste at Christmas.
Call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online today for your free quote and to find out more about how we can help your business manage its waste this Christmas.
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Storing bins as a business can be a challenge. You need somewhere with space that’s far enough away, so any bad smells don’t reach your customers. Ideally, it also needs to be undercover to protect the bins from rain, potential theft, and pests. Making an outside bin store is an effective solution for most businesses.
Bin stores come in various shapes and sizes. The easiest way to get one that’s effective for your business is to build your own, whether you’ve just got a couple of small wheelie bins or use a few four-wheel bins. It helps keep your business tidy and your rubbish safe.
There are various options to build a bin store that works for your company. Learn how to make a bin store that protects your commercial waste before it’s collected and keeps your premises looking smart.

What is a bin store?
A bin store is a unit designed to keep bins in when they’re not in use. It’s a structure that’s normally made from wood, bricks, or other materials and has a roof and gate, so the bins are secure. Many homes have an outside bin store but they’re useful for businesses as well.
Most bin stores are often an outdoor unit but some large premises like warehouses and supermarkets might have one inside. Bin store designs vary depending on the materials they’re made from, the available space, and the size and number of bins that will go in it.
Why build a commercial bin store?
Building a commercial bin store for your business helps protect your waste from the elements. If rain gets into bins it can contaminate the rubbish and reduce its recyclability. Water weakens the fibres of paper and cardboard recycling, so it may no longer be of good enough quality to be recycled.
Placing bins under a roof in a solid structure such as a commercial bin store also prevents them from blowing over in high winds and rubbish escaping into the environment. And looking after bins in summer presents additional challenges as exposure to warm weather can speed up the decomposition process for organic waste that quickly emits a foul smell.
Commercial bin stores with locks on also reduce the risk of damage and theft of your bins. It can make your outside area look tidier and keep bins out of sight of customers and guests. Having a bin store should also reduce the risk of attracting pests such as rats.

Bin store design factors
The best bin store design for your business will be based on your facilities and waste management needs. Building a bin store from scratch (or paying an expert to do it) should mean you get a structure that’s efficient and protects your bins properly. Good planning is important for the best results.
When coming up with your bin store plans there are a few design factors to consider before you start the build:
- Space – measuring the available floor space helps determine if there’s enough room to fit your bins in and determine the amount of materials you’ll need.
- Roof – whether you want a roof or not will impact the bin store design, and any additional materials required.
- Materials – common materials for making a bin store are wood or brick. You’ll need to decide this to source appropriate materials before you start.
- Bin sizes – consider the sizes and number of bins you use as well as whether you’ll need bigger and more bins in the future.
- Access – as well as having enough space you should ensure there’s easy access and the ground around it is smooth enough to wheel bins in and out.
How to build a bin store
There are many ways to build a bin store, which can vary depending on the materials you use, features you want, and where it’s going to be at your business or home. To help make the process of building a bin store easier we’ve pulled together the main steps that should turn your plans into reality.
Follow these stages to build a bin store for your business or home:
- Draw up bin store plans – sketch the shape, structure, and dimensions of your bin store and the materials required. Make sure the design slots into the desired space with enough room for the bins and is achievable to build.
- Collect tools and materials – gather the wood, timber, screws, saw, workbench, and other equipment.
- Cut the timber – if you’re making a bin store from wood then cut the pieces of timber to the dimensions outlined in your plan.
- Create the frame and panels – attach the timber with screws or nails to create a frame for your bin store. Use slats and wood to form panels for the end and sides of it too.
- Make a roof – this stage is optional if you want a roof. Make sure it meets the dimensions, is slanted so rainwater will run off, and has a waterproof lining to avoid the wood rotting quickly.
- Put it together and paint – attach the panels, frame, and roof and check it’s secure. Finish by painting or staining the wood to protect it against the elements. Then wheel in your bins for a test run.
Once your bin store is built you’ll need something to put in it. We provide free bins for businesses across Yorkshire – you only pay for collections. These can store everything from general waste to food waste, glass recycling, cardboard, and more. Call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online today for your free quote.
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Does your business produce ANY food waste every week? Then you’ll soon have to comply with the new food waste legislation set to be introduced in 2025 across England. You’ll need dedicated food waste bins to separate it from other materials and manage your food waste legally.
If you run a company in Scotland or Wales then you should already comply with their existing food waste regulations. This new food waste legislation is being introduced across England to prevent large amounts of waste food from going to landfills or incineration facilities.
At Divert, we already dispose of all commercial waste we collect away from landfill (including waste food). Understand what the new food waste legislation in the UK means for your business and how to plan for the changes effectively – or speak to us for a free quote for food waste collections from your business by calling 0333 444 0118 or contacting us online.

What is the new food waste legislation
for 2025 in the UK?
The new food waste legislation in the UK for 2025 is part of Defra’s simpler recycling plans. It aims to help eliminate sending waste food to landfill from commercial organisations. This food waste regulation applies to all non-municipal premises in England – which includes businesses, the public sector, and third-sector organisations.
The legal regulation that will enforce the changes to commercial food waste management is the Environment Act 2021 (Commencement No. 9 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024. It makes mandatory food waste separation a legal requirement for businesses that produce more than 5kg of waste food per week.
This means diverting food away from general waste streams to ensure it’s disposed of via anaerobic digestion, composting, and other more sustainable methods, rather than rotting in landfills. It’s hoped these legal changes will benefit the environment by ensuring food waste is used to create the likes of renewable energy and liquid fertiliser.
When does the new UK food waste law
come into force?
The new food waste legislation comes into force on 31 March 2025 across England. By this date, any business that generates more than 5kg of waste food per week must have arranged separate commercial food waste collections.
For micro businesses – those with fewer than 10 employees – they don’t need to comply with the new regulations until 31 March 2027. This means micro businesses can continue to throw away food scraps with general waste until then. However, it’s advisable to separate waste food as soon as possible to help the environment and prepare for the legislation changes.
Scotland introduced regulations that made mandatory food waste separation a legal requirement for businesses in 2014, while Wales announced similar with their own simpler recycling measures in April 2024. These new regulation changes aim to align England’s food waste management with its neighbours.

How can my business prepare for
food waste regulation changes?
The new food waste regulation applies to all types of waste food. This includes plate waste from customers in restaurants and cafes, food scraps thrown away from lunches in offices, and that produced during preparation processes – such as fruit and vegetable peelings, egg shells, and coffee grounds.
It will affect any company that creates more than 5kg of waste food a week, especially impacting restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, and shops. To prepare for these food waste regulation changes, your business must have separate food waste bins and collections in place before the end of March 2025.
Conduct an audit of your current food waste production to see how much your business produces daily and weekly. Use this information to first identify any opportunities to reduce food waste levels in your organisation. Then determine how many food waste bins you’ll need, what sizes, and how frequently you’ll want them collected.
Speak to one of our experts at Divert and we can assess your needs and advise on the best bins and collection schedule for your commercial food waste. We provide free bins with no delivery or rental costs – you only pay for collection. Call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online today for a free quote and help preparing for the new food waste legislation.
Will the new food waste law
affect households?
As part of Defra’s simpler recycling scheme, all households in England should have weekly food waste collections by 31 March 2026. Arranging this is the responsibility of local councils and authorities. Most homes will likely receive a small bin, box, or container for waste food to separate it from their general waste.
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The UK government aims to achieve net zero by 2050 but to reach this target it needs businesses, industries, and individuals to all cut carbon emissions. Achieving net zero is about more than hitting government goals though. It should have a positive environmental impact and can save many companies money too.
You’ve probably heard the term net zero used a lot. Here we make clear what it means and why it’s important for businesses of any size, industry, and location to have their own net zero plans. It’s a great way to uphold your environmental responsibilities and have a clear plan of action to go greener.
Understand more about what is meant by net zero, why it’s important for businesses, and how to achieve it with the following tips.

What is net zero?
Net zero is a balance of greenhouse gases. The amount of greenhouse gases produced must be equal to or less than that removed from the atmosphere to achieve net zero. Reducing and offsetting carbon emissions are common strategies used to work towards achieving net zero within many organisations.
The UK government aims to achieve net zero by 2050. This means that the country’s greenhouse gas emissions will have reduced by 100% compared to the levels in 1990. To achieve net zero the greenhouse gases the UK produces must be equal to or less than those removed from the environment.
Many businesses are setting their own net zero goals. This is to help combat climate change, improve their environmental impact, and save money. There are various strategies businesses use in an effort to reach net zero status – from planting trees to recycling more and adapting processes to operate more sustainably.
What are the benefits of
net zero for companies?
The main reason why achieving net zero is important is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change. Many governments are introducing carbon emission regulations and targets that apply to businesses, such as the UK’s 2050 net zero goal. Running a net zero business helps you stay on track with any new regulations.
Businesses have a responsibility to help protect the environment but there are also benefits of net zero to help companies grow. Adopting a net zero plan can improve your organisation’s green reputation. Many customers are more eco-conscious and look to work with companies with strong environmental practices. This can boost investor and stakeholder confidence too.
Further benefits of net zero for companies are that it can save your business money. Many actions to achieve net zero involve reducing waste and improving energy efficiency for daily operations. These both lead to reduced costs for waste management and energy consumption, which has a financial and environmental benefit for your business.

How to achieve net zero
for your business
Start by creating a net zero plan for your business that makes it a company policy for everyone to follow. Conduct an audit or enlist the help of professionals to identify where you can cut down on carbon emissions and realistic targets to put in place. There are various things your organisation can then do to try and achieve net zero:
- Improve energy efficiency – reducing energy use can have a big environmental and financial impact with just a few small changes. Switch to LED lights in offices, minimise business travel, and set low but comfortable temperatures (not too high).
- Reduce waste – creating less waste means less goes to landfill, which is a significant cause of greenhouse gas emissions. Assess your waste production and look for ways you can cut back or reuse any waste materials.
- Use renewable energy – find renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydropower to run your company. You could even look into installing solar panels on your site if appropriate.
- Recycle and recover waste – recycling paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, metals, and other materials to avoid them going to landfill. It saves resources and energy required to source new materials, which can produce carbon emissions too.
- Partner with sustainable suppliers – put together a green supply chain and work with suppliers who have their own net zero goals. It could be by using recyclable packaging or electric vehicles in their fleets, for example.
- Review, report, and improve – regularly assess your net zero plan and how close you are to achieving your goals. Adapt the plan and your practices where necessary to stay on track.
Partner with Divert and work
towards net zero
Improving your commercial waste management should be a key part of your net zero plan and at Divert we can help. As our name suggests, we divert all waste away from landfill. This saves you money and reduces the greenhouse gases and carbon emissions produced from your waste to help achieve net zero.
Regular recycling collections are available for glass, paper, cardboard, plastic, and more. We provide free bins for your waste in a wide range of sizes with daily, weekly, and fortnightly removals to suit your schedule. There are no delivery or rental charges – you only pay for collection.
All waste is diverted away from landfill so the likes of garden and green waste go for composting while general waste may be sent to energy from waste plants or incinerated. Get in touch with our friendly team for a free no-obligation quote today – call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online.
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The 5 Rs of waste management are steps to help businesses reduce and handle all rubbish they produce sustainably. It breaks down the waste lifecycle into five separate stages, so companies can determine when and where they can act to reduce waste and divert it away from landfill.
Each stage aims to reduce waste at the source and find ways to minimise the environmental impact of its final disposal. The 5 Rs of waste management are a waste hierarchy or pyramid that should be followed in order to form a more environmentally friendly and sustainable workplace.
Improve your commercial waste management and act sustainably by following the 5 Rs, whatever industry and business size you run anywhere in Yorkshire or the UK.
These are the five Rs of waste management:

1. Refuse
The first stage of the 5 Rs of waste management is to refuse materials, items, and products that create avoidable waste. A prime example is refusing single-use plastics and seeking reusable or biodegradable alternatives. This is because most single-use plastics create waste quickly and end up rotting in landfill.
Refusing non-recyclable products such as packaging is another key consideration at this stage. Switch to suppliers that use recyclable or reusable packaging such as paper and cardboard instead of certain types of plastic that are challenging to recycle. Some suppliers may offer returnable packaging and containers, which eliminates potential waste.
Audit everything that comes into your business and work out what types and volumes of waste it all generates. Then think about what’s necessary and what could be cut out (or alternatives that will produce less waste or materials that can be reused or recycled). Refusing to create waste is a great start.
2. Reduce
The next step is to reduce the waste your business produces at the source. Methods of waste reduction vary depending on the type of business and industry. A common example is for offices, shops, and other companies to go paperless by switching to online document storage systems.
Restaurants can work to reduce food waste by reviewing portion sizes and finding ways to make soups and stock from unused meat and vegetable parts. Keeping a tight control over inventory helps cut back on waste for pubs, bars, and shops by minimising the chance of overordering.
Reducing commercial waste means less energy and resources are required to process it, which cuts back on pollution produced when moving and disposing of waste. It also saves your organisation money, as you’ll pay less landfill tax for disposal and need fewer waste collections or can use smaller bins to manage it.

3. Reuse
Finding ways to reuse items that would otherwise become waste is the third step. Certain materials such as glass bottles and jars can be cleaned and reused quite easily. Not all waste is reusable though – the likes of clinical waste must be incinerated for legal and safety reasons.
Some common items you can reuse in businesses to avoid creating waste include:
- Ink cartridges – offices can refill ink cartridges rather than replacing them, which avoids plastic waste and saves money.
- Batteries – switch to rechargeable batteries for use in battery-powered devices to avoid creating battery waste.
- Cutlery and cups – provide metal cutlery, mugs, and glasses in office kitchens for reuse and to discourage buying disposable coffee cups.
- Cardboard boxes – reuse delivery boxes for storage, whether it’s for files or products. You can also reuse to send out your own items.
- Containers – wash and dry food containers made from glass, plastic, and metal and reuse to store dry goods.
4. Repurpose
Not all waste items can be reused for their original intention but repurposing them to prolong their life is another great way to minimise waste. This is often referred to as upcycling and may require a little creativity. All sorts of waste items can be repurposed for various uses.
Old clothing like t-shirts makes great towels or cleaning cloths, empty wine bottles can be converted into candle holders or lighting ornaments, and wooden pallets make decent outdoor furniture. Tin cans could be used to as planters while any type of box is suitable as a storage solution.
Repairing broken items to their original state or for a new purpose is also good. It prevents the items from becoming waste and saves money as you won’t need to buy a replacement. Think of ways to repurpose any waste items your organisation produces to manage waste better.

5. Recycle
The final step of the 5 Rs of waste management is to recycle waste. If there’s no way to reduce, reuse, or repurpose waste then it should be recycled where possible. For any businesses that only produce small amounts of waste a dry mixed recycling bin might suffice. Otherwise you should separate and recycle waste by their materials:
- Glass recycling
- Paper recycling
- Cardboard recycling
- Plastic recycling
- Metal recycling
At Divert we ensure all waste is recycled and kept away from landfill. We provide free bins to help companies recycle with no bin hire or delivery fees – you only pay for collection. Call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online today for a free quote for recycling collections from your business anywhere across Yorkshire.
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