The Council manages both commercial and household waste & recycling across the islands.
The Council is required ensure that all commercial waste and recycling is paid for by the commercial waste producer. A list of all commercial waste fees and charges can be found on our Commercial fees and charges page.
The Council cannot subsidise the cost of businesses waste disposal.
Your responsibilities as a business:
Dispose of business or commercial waste: Your responsibilities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- keep waste to a minimum by doing everything you reasonably can to prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste.
- sort and store waste safely and securely
- check that your waste carrier is registered to dispose of waste
What counts as business/commercial waste:
Any waste that comes from a commercial activity is business waste.If you use part of your home to run a business then any waste from that part is business waste. Business waste includes waste generated from self-catering holiday lets.
Government is clear that “any waste that comes from a commercial activity is business waste.” This means that if you use part of your home to run your business, then any waste from that part is business waste.
This covers, for example:
- self-catering properties
- Bed & Breakfast lets
- home offices for small businesses
It also captures any waste that comes from any of the following activities:
- construction
- demolition
- industry
- agriculture
Your Legal Obligations Regarding Commercial Waste
Any waste produced from a business is classified in law as commercial waste. The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 details how was is classified, including waste generated by farms, pubs, self-catering accommodation, hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses when occupied by paying guests.
A commercial business must arrange waste collection with the Council, or another licenced waste carrier. It is the responsibility of the trader to dispose of their waste in accordance with the Duty of Care Act 1990.
Please note that businesses have a Duty of Care to ensure that all waste is stored and disposed of responsibly.
The Environment Agency has produced a useful guide to help businesses to manage their waste called Right Waste, Right Place. www.rightwasterightplace.com
Council Commercial Waste Services
All small-medium sized businesses, including all self-catering holiday lets and B&Bs, that wish to receive a weekly kerbside collection service from the Council, or bring waste to a Council managed waste site on an off-island, will need to sign up to the Council's Commercial Waste Service. Further details can be found on our Commercial Waste Services page.
Businesses on St Mary's can also instruct a 3rd Party Waste Haulier to collect their waste, or deliver their waste themselves to the Porthmellon Waste Site. Further information on can be found on our Visiting Porthmellon Waste Site: Commercial Waste page.