Disposing of waste
3. Can I give my waste to someone else?
You can pay a waste management company to take your waste away.
Some waste management companies only handle certain types of wastes. For example there are a rising number of companies specialising in collecting farm plastics and hazardous wastes. Other companies are general waste contractors and will be able to take all of your wastes.
Before you employ a contractor to take your waste away, you should find out:
- whether they are a registered waste carrier or professional collector
- whether they handle all of the waste types you have
- how often they will come to collect your waste
- where they will take your waste
- whether the waste will be treated by them, before it is taken to a landfill site or if you need to do anything to the waste before they collect it, eg sorting, bagging or labelling
- how much you will be charged and how you can pay
- what paperwork you will need, eg waste transfer notes and consignment notes.
Even if you pay someone to take your waste away, you still have a duty of care to make sure that they are allowed to carry your waste (they are a registered waste carrier or professional collector) and that they dispose of the waste at a suitably permitted site.
Next section: How do I find a disposal site where I can take my waste?
