3.2. Recycling
WHY RECYCLING MORE MATTERS
New Simpler Recycling Legislation means that from March 2025 all businesses and non-domestic properties with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees are required to separate:
- Glass,
- cardboard,
- paper,
- plastic,
- metals and
- food.
Food waste must be presented separately from other recyclables. Paper and card must also be separated from other recyclables.
Businesses with less than 10 employees will have until March 2027 to introduce this change.
Please see the tables below and contact your local District and Borough Waste management service to ask about introducing a commercial waste collection.
In addition to legislation, The UK produces around 200 million tonnes of waste every year. Recycling helps keep this waste out of landfill sites which emit methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
For further information about recycling and reducing waste visit Keep Britain Tidy.
3.2. AWARD ACTIONS AND WAYS TO ACHIEVE THEM
YOU CAN: Improve recycling practices
To increase recycling on your premises, it needs to be easy for staff and customers to separate materials to avoid contaminating the waste. Contaminated waste cannot be recycled so you should create an area with space for separate bins.
These bins should also have some additional labelling to make sure it is clear which items can go in which bin. If all your food packaging and utensils etc can be recycled this will reduce the chances of contamination as everything can go in one mixed recycling bin. Find advice on disposing commercial waste.
Most district and borough councils in Hertfordshire offer business waste collection services for a fee. We've listed some provider information and the types of waste they do/don't collect:
Broxbourne
Provider: BEST Environmental
Contact: Request quote via provider website
Types of business waste they collect:
Types of business waste Best Environmental collect
General waste
|
Recyclables
|
Food waste
|
Yes
|
Plastic, glass, paper and cardboard
|
Contact for details
|
Dacorum
Provider: Dacorum Borough Council
Contact: commercial.waste@dacorum.gov.uk or 01442 228025
Types of business waste they collect:
Types of business waste Best Environmental collect
General waste
|
Recyclables
|
Food waste
|
Contact for details
|
Contact for details
|
Contact for details
|
East Herts
Provider: East Herts and North Herts District councils via a waste contractor
Contact: commercial.waste@north-herts.gov.uk
Types of business waste they collect:
Types of business waste Best Environmental collect
General waste
|
Recyclables
|
Food waste
|
Yes
|
Mixed recycling of plastic, cartons, mixed glass, tins, cans, aerosols and cardboard
|
Contact for details
|
Hertsmere
Provider: Hertsmere Borough Council
Contact: trade.waste@hertsmere.gov.uk
Types of business waste they collect:
Types of business waste Best Environmental collect
General waste
|
Recyclables
|
Food waste
|
Yes
|
No
|
Contact for details
|
North Herts
Provider: East Herts and North Herts District councils via a waste contractor
Contact: commercial.waste@north-herts.gov.uk
Types of business waste they collect:
Types of business waste Best Environmental collect
General waste
|
Recyclables
|
Food waste
|
Yes
|
Mixed recycling of plastic, cartons, mixed glass, tins, cans, aerosols and cardboard
|
Yes
|
Stevenage
Provider: Stevenage Borough Council
Contact: waste.trade@stevenage.gov.uk
Types of business waste they collect:
Types of business waste Best Environmental collect
General waste
|
Recyclables
|
Food waste
|
Yes
|
Paper, glass, plastics, cans and cardboard
|
Contact for details
|
Three Rivers
Provider: Three Rivers District Council
Contact: tradewaste@threerivers.gov.uk
Types of business waste they collect:
Types of business waste Best Environmental collect
General waste
|
Recyclables
|
Food waste
|
Yes
|
Paper, glass, plastics, cans and cardboard
|
Contact for details
|
Watford and St Albans
Provider: Veolia St Albans
Contact: 0345 60 60 460
Types of business waste they collect:
Types of business waste Best Environmental collect
General waste
|
Recyclables
|
Food waste
|
Yes
|
Dry mixed recycling and commercial glass recycling
|
Yes
|
Welwyn Hatfield
Provider: Urbaser
Contact: commercial@urbaser.co.uk or 01242 248 880
Types of business waste they collect:
Types of business waste Best Environmental collect
General waste
|
Recyclables
|
Food waste
|
Yes
|
Mixed recycling – paper, plastics, glass, cans and cardboard
|
Yes
|
If you arrange for a private contractor to take your recycling, you must ensure they are a registered waste carrier.
- 3.22. Bonus action
Has your business introduced recycling of any items which can't be recycled within typical waste streams?
YOU CAN: Manage hard to recycle items
Some companies also offer collection services for hard-to-recycle items. For more information on such services, visit Terracycle or Veolia.
- 3.23. Bonus action
Has your business introduced a scheme where customers can bring in their own reusable cups for a discounted price?
YOU CAN: Encourage reusable cups
Offering customers a slight discount if they bring their own reusable cup for drinks such as coffee and tea is also environmentally friendly and can save you money in procurement costs.