Commercial Food Waste Collection

Food waste includes any edible or biodegradable material discarded by businesses. This includes everything from peelings and leftovers to expired or unsellable items.

Food waste is normally disposed of and recycled through Anaerobic Digestion (AD) or In-Vessel Composting (IVC). Both methods keep food out of landfill and turn it into something useful.

• Anaerobic Digestion: Food waste is placed in sealed tanks with no oxygen. Microorganisms break it down to produce biogas, which is used to generate renewable energy, and a nutrient-rich digestate that’s used as fertiliser for farmland.
• In-Vessel Composting: Food waste is mixed with other organic materials and composted in temperature-controlled units. This creates high-quality compost for agriculture, landscaping, and horticulture.

Both routes help keep food waste out of general waste and turn it into something useful, such as energy, fertiliser, or compost.

Learn more about Anaerobic Digestion here.

Use dedicated food waste bins and bags with a secure lid. We provide free bins to help keep food waste separate from other materials.

WRAP estimates that the UK hospitality and food service sector throws away 1.1 million tonnes of food every year. Around 75% could have been eaten, costing businesses and organisations £3.2 billion. This is why reducing food waste before collection matters as much as arranging the right bins.

Read more food waste facts here.

Start by tracking what you buy, use, and throw away. Menu planning, better stock control, and clear food waste separation can help reduce waste and control costs.

Reducing food waste can lower purchasing costs, reduce disposal bills, and make compliance easier.

Not sure where to begin? A free waste audit can help identify what you throw away and which collections you need.

After collection, it’s weighed, transferred to an authorised facility, and recycled into renewable energy or compost, keeping unnecessary waste away from landfill.

Yes, if your workplace in England has 10 or more full-time staff. The rule has applied since 31 March 2025 under Simpler Recycling. Micro-firms with fewer than 10 full-time staff have until 31 March 2027. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Several UK regulations govern how food waste must be handled and disposed of safely:

• Environment Act 2021: Introduced Simpler Recycling, requiring separate food waste collections.
• Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011: Sets the waste hierarchy, prioritising prevention and recycling over disposal.
• Animal By-Products (ABP) Regulations: Defines strict rules for handling food containing animal products (Category 3).
• Environmental Protection Act 1990: Establishes the legal Duty of Care for all waste producers.
• The Controlled Waste Regulations

Food waste includes discarded food intended for human consumption, such as plate waste, prep waste, expired stock, coffee grounds, tea bags, and spoiled ingredients. Bones, eggshells, and fruit stones are also included. Packaging is not food waste and should go in the right recycling stream where possible.

Commercial food waste collection prices depend on bin size, number of bins, collection frequency, location, and volume. Business Waste Ltd provides free bins with no delivery or rental charges, so you only pay for collections. Get a free quote within one hour.

Collection frequency depends on your business type and output volume. Restaurants and food manufacturers typically require daily or twice-weekly collections. Offices and schools may need weekly or fortnightly collections. We’ll recommend the right schedule when you get a quote.

YES:

Food prep waste (peelings, scraps, off-cuts), plate waste (leftovers, unfinished portions), expired and spoiled food, coffee grounds and tea bags, eggshells, bones, and bread.

NO:

Packaging (cardboard, plastic, foil should be put in DMR or cardboard recycling), liquids and cooking oil (separate oil recycling), paper towels and napkins, general waste, or recyclable materials.