Trade/business waste

Reading Borough Council provide a range of waste services that are locally unrivalled.

Reliable, responsive and local

Our dedicated and professional team of local staff have over 20 years’ experience in providing trade waste services.

With a local base of operations, we deliver unrivalled response times and deliver excellent after sales care.

Simpler Recycling 

According to the government’s overview on managing business and commercial waste, any waste that comes from a commercial activity is business waste. If you use part of your home to run your business then any waste from that part is business waste.

Please note that If you operate a business with more than 10 employees, you will likely be affected by the changes to business waste management in 2025. 

From 1 April 2025 your business will need to segregate your business waste into the following materials:

1. Dry Mixed Recycling*
2. General Waste
3. Food waste

*Unlike changes to household recycling (Scheduled for April 2026), which are still currently under review, businesses will be able to choose how they manage dry mixed recycling. 

Businesses can choose to separate more of their recycling waste at source, or they can choose co-mingled recycling, where all recyclable materials are mixed together and separated by their waste management partner.

Reading Borough Council currently provide the following to business/trade customers: 

1. Co-mingled mixed dry recycling service (excluding glass) 
2. General waste 
3. Food waste
4. Glass waste

We also offer prepaid trade waste and recycling sacks as a practical alternative, for those with limited waste storage space.

Other commercial waste service providers may offer enhanced segregation of mixed dry recycling, but the use of these services is a business choice, not compulsory, the minimum requirement is for a co-mingled collection, which is satisfied by the council’s provision.

From 1 April 2025 businesses must subscribe to a minimum of three waste collection services, if they generate waste that:

1. is recyclable
2. is non-recyclable
3. contains a volume of food in excess of 5kg per week

Competitive pricing

We understand that one size does not fit all. Our comprehensive range of competitively priced services are tailored to meet the specific business needs of each of our customers. We strive to ensure customers only pay for the services they require and receive the best possible value for their money.

No hidden costs

Unlike many national waste service providers, we do not charge additionally for:

• bin hire – bins are loaned free of charge and remain the property of the council
• waste duty of care documentation

Our service offer

Bin type	Sizes	Frequency of collection	Waste collected
General waste	240ltr 360ltr 660ltr 1100ltr	Daily, weekly or fortnightly	Takes all forms of general business waste. We do not permit the disposal of the following items in our general waste bins: Building renovation and construction materials – rubble, ceramics, metalwork, plaster, window glass, UPVC, wood etc. Industrial and household white goods and electrical appliances. Automotive items – oil filters, oil, vehicular parts, tyres, body panels etc. View classified hazardous waste items.
Mixed dry recycling	240ltr 360ltr 660ltr 1100ltr	Daily, weekly or fortnightly	For all forms of recyclable packaging materials, excluding glass.
Food waste	240ltr	Weekly	For general kitchen waste, excluding packaging materials.
Glass waste	240ltr	Weekly or fortnightly	Glass bottles and drinking vessels of any colour.
Green waste	240ltr1100ltr	Fortnightly	General garden waste – grass cuttings, foliage and untreated wood to a diameter of 100mm.

Bin sizes, weight limits* and dimensions

Bin size	Weight limit*	Dimensions	Capacity
240ltr	16kg	H:1062 x W: 556 x D: 715	Holds approximately 4 bags
360ltr	24kg	H: 1098 x W: 601 x D: 880	Holds approximately 6 bags
660ltr	45kg	H: 1215 x W: 1370 x D: 764	Holds approximately 8-10 bags
110ltr	70kg	H: 1295 x W: 1370 x D: 1118	Holds approximately 12-15 bags

*Weight limits apply to general waste only.

Trade sacks

For businesses that are unable to have a container on site, we offer prepaid trade waste and recycling sacks as a practical alternative.

• Trade general sack in multiples of 50 – £167.50 per 50
• Trade recycling sack in multiples of 50 – £115.02 per 50

Sacks can be purchased Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm by calling: 0118 937 3787.

Your service can be up and running in as little as one week from the date of enquiry