Nursery Waste Disposal & Collection

We arrange bins and collections for the main waste streams produced in nurseries and childcare settings. Each stream can have its own container and collection frequency depending on the volume produced.

Regular collections can be arranged for nappy waste, food, general waste and recycling, with occasional collections available for items such as confidential records, electrical equipment or expired products.

Nursery waste disposal depends on the material and its classification. Clean paper, cardboard, glass, plastics and metals can follow the agreed recycling route, while food waste is collected separately for appropriate biological treatment.

Nappy and other offensive hygiene waste follows a dedicated treatment or disposal route, while medicines and any genuinely clinical or hazardous materials require their own specialist service.

Confidential documents are securely destroyed, with suitable shredded paper sent for recycling where appropriate.

Various laws and regulations cover waste management in the UK that apply to nurseries. At Business Waste, we ensure all rubbish from your nursery is removed by licensed waste carriers and disposed of at authorised facilities. We can also assess and advise on your operations to ensure they’re compliant with the relevant regulations.

These are the main laws and regulations that cover waste management and what they require that nursery owners should familiarise themselves with:

• Environmental Protection Act 1990 – this places a duty of care on waste producers (such as nurseries) to ensure their waste is managed responsibly. That includes only using authorised waste carriers and ensuring waste is disposed of at authorised sites to prevent illegal dumping. Use licensed waste carriers and get a waste transfer note/duty of care certificate for compliance.
• Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 – these regulations establish the waste hierarchy that nurseries should follow. This means taking steps to prevent, reuse, recycle, recover, and dispose of waste in that order. Nurseries should take steps to eliminate and minimise waste, then focus on recycling and recovery before disposal.

Reducing waste at the source helps nurseries operate sustainably and save on waste management costs. It also aligns with the waste hierarchy. There are many actions you can take to minimise waste production within your nursery across different areas.

Consider these ideas to reduce your nursery waste:

• Switch suppliers – choose products with less or zero packaging (or that’s recyclable/biodegradable). This includes any food items, craft supplies, furnishings, and any other items you regularly order.
• Create compost piles – if your nursery has a garden or outdoor space, consider adding a compost bin for food waste. This reduces how much waste food you need collecting and the associated costs. Plus, it can teach children about the importance of composting early on.
• Bulk buy – a great way to cut down on packaging waste is to purchase items like paper towels, nappies, and food in bulk.
• Go paperless – switch from physical letters to parents and record keeping to online and digital alternatives such as emails and secure digital storage. This reduces paper and confidential waste in your nursery.
• Reuse items – there are many things you can reuse in nurseries, such as food containers, plates and cups, and scrap paper for crafts and activities. Even damaged clothing and furnishings can be reused as cleaning cloths in some cases.