Waste duty of care: a plain-English checklist

Businesses are responsible for the waste they produce until it is properly disposed of. Rules differ across the UK nations, so check what applies to you.

A starting checklist

• Use a registered waste carrier, and check its registration.
• Keep waste transfer notes, and know how long you are expected to keep them.
• Store waste securely so it cannot escape or be tampered with.
• Separate recyclable waste where you are required to.
• Check you are not paying for collections or bin sizes you do not need.

What is changing in England

• Simpler Recycling: workplaces in England with 10 or more employees have had to separate recycling since 31 March 2025. Micro-firms, with fewer than 10 employees, must do so by 31 March 2027.
• England is moving waste carrier, broker and dealer registration into the environmental permitting regime, with a transition period. If you use a waste broker, ask how it is registered.

The last point on the checklist is where many businesses find easy savings: collections that are too frequent, bins that are too big, or recycling treated as general waste. General guide only.