Business Waste and Recycling

Under the Environmental Protection Act, businesses have a Duty of Care to ensure that any waste they produce is handled safely and within the law. Commercial and industrial wastes (including hazardous/special wastes) are classified as controlled waste. The duty applies to businesses who produce, import, transport, store, treat or dispose of controlled waste.

Companies have a duty to ensure that waste is managed properly, recovered or disposed of safely, does not cause harm to human health or pollution of the environment and is only transferred to someone who is authorised to receive it (e.g. suitably licensed/permitted waste contractor or waste management site). The duty of care requires businesses to keep documentary evidence of their waste management and potentially requires environmental permits depending on quantities, types of wastes produced and how they are managed by the business.

Information and support to comply with the duty of care as well as general resource efficiency advice is available to businesses from a number of organisations. Business Link is Governments central point of contact offering impartial business support and advice. The Business Link website includes advice and guidance on sustainability and waste management with links to other relevant Government departments and third party organisations.

Working with Business Link, the re3 Councils (Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham) have conducted local business waste research and jointly developed a business waste strategy and action plan. The research report, strategy/action plan and details of business waste services at the Smallmead and Longshot Lane Household Waste Recycling Centres can be found on the re3 website.

Article		Description
	Hazardous Waste	Certain materials and chemicals can be hazardous to health or to the environment, the Council may be able to help you dispose of hazardous substances
	How Reading Borough Council Manages Waste	Reading Borough Council is responsible for the disposal of Household Waste from within Reading, and operates the Household Waste Recycling Centre
	re3 - Zeroing in on Waste	A waste management partnership between Bracknell Forest Borough Council, Reading Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council.
	Business Waste and Recycling Links	A list of useful contact details and websites for organisations providing environmental services or information
	The Streetcare Team	Streetcare Services provide many of the essential council services including street cleansing, refuse collection and waste disposal

External Links

Reading Borough Council does not necessarily endorse or recommend any of the links or services below. Please note: when you follow these links you will leave this site.

Link	Description
re3	The re3 site hosts the local business waste research report, strategy/action plan and details of business waste services at the Smallmead and Longshot Lane Household Waste Recycling Centres. It also provides answers to some frequently asked questions about business waste (including why its collection is not included in business rates) and additional guidance/local case studies produced by Reading Council.
Business Link	Business Link is the Government's central point of contact offering impartial business support and advice. The Business Link website includes advice and guidance on sustainability and waste management with links to other relevant Government departments and third party organisations.