How To Choose The Best Business Waste Collection Service

It’s your duty of care (and a legal requirement) to ensure that the waste your business creates is disposed of responsibly and ethically by a legal waste carrier. With a number of business waste service providers in the market, how do you go about choosing the right business waste partner?

Here’s our Smarter Business Waste guide to choosing the best waste management company to improve your business’ waste and recycling.

Location

Your location will likely impact your selection of suppliers, as many waste suppliers offer regional services. To narrow down your list of potential business waste collection services, start by finding out which suppliers service your area.  

If you have business premises across multiple locations, it’s easier to find one company that can service all of them. Bear this in mind if geographical expansion is part of your business strategy.

Timeframes 

Think about how frequently you need your waste to be collected and check whether the potential provider is able to deliver on this. Do they offer one-off or ad-hoc collections when you need them?

Type of waste

Consider the type of waste your business produces. Does it need specialised treatment and disposal as hazardous waste? Can it be recycled? Whatever the type of waste you generally produce, check that potential business waste collection service providers are able to address your specific waste disposal needs. 

Simplify your business’ waste and recycling systems by finding a waste management supplier that can manage all your different waste streams. 

Reliability

It’s imperative that your waste management contractor offers a reliable service. Having overflowing, smelly bins is not ideal!  If your provider misses collections, this can also become a health and safety risk. Look for a business waste collection company with a good track record of completing jobs as expected.

Environmental credentials

Your business should be aware of where the waste you produce is going and how it’s being treated. When choosing a business waste collection company, you should get a Waste Transfer Note (WTN) – a legal document that details the transfer of waste from business to another. 

Along with a WTN, there are many other credentials (not necessarily legally required) that a waste provider can obtain to prove their dedication to the environment and best-practice waste management. 

Clarify the contract terms

What contract terms will you be required to sign up to? Check the contract length, fees and any extra charges. 

Check reviews

Read up on reviews and ask for word-of-mouth recommendations from other businesses about different waste collection suppliers. Too many bad reviews should be a red flag! 

Price

Of course, the cost of business waste collection services will be a factor when choosing a service provider. Once you’ve narrowed down a list of preferred waste suppliers, you’ll need to compare quotes to see how much you’re paying for the services that will be provided.

Comparing quotes isn’t always straightforward. With different providers offering varied services and line items, it’s not always easy to make an ‘apples-to-apples’ comparison. 

DIY disposal? 

You do have the option of taking your business waste directly from your location to a commercial waste disposal site. This could save you money and allow you greater control over your business waste disposal process. However, you’ll need to ensure you’re using the correct method and facilities and register as a waste disposal carrier. It’s free to apply for a licence online.

However, taking care of your own waste adds more responsibility to business operations, and is not always worth the time and effort required. 

Questions to ask a potential waste supplier:

  • Does the company have modern trucks (meaning fewer fleet-related service issues and less harmful emissions)?
  • Does the company invest in its people? Does it have longstanding employees with a wealth of knowledge and experience? 
  • What does their service success look like?
  • What added benefits do they offer? 
  • What happens to the waste and recycling once collected? 
  • Is the supplier registered on the government Environment Agency website?
  • Can the service provider scale with your business?

The easiest way to choose the best business waste collection service

The points above should help you find the best waste management companies that are most suited to your business’ waste disposal needs. If it sounds like a lot of work, it can be! That’s why many businesses choose to use the services of a business waste management consultant like Smarter Business. We’ll take your specific business waste disposal needs into consideration to help you find an efficient and cost-effective waste management solution. 

With our relationships with an extensive network of suppliers across the UK, we’ll get you the best deals and the most competitive prices.

Speak to our Smarter Business Waste team today.

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