Brewery & Distillery Waste Disposal

We can arrange waste collections around your production volumes, storage space and the materials produced on site. This can include:

• Production waste collections for suitable spent ingredients, hops, yeast and other agreed organic residues.
• Liquid waste collections for suitable process liquids and residues that require off-site removal.
• Packaging and recycling collections for glass, cardboard, plastic, metal and pallets.
• Bins and specialist containers including wheelie bins, larger static containers and compatible IBCs where appropriate.
• One-off or scheduled services for routine production waste, seasonal peaks or accumulated materials.
• Waste Transfer Notes at no extra charge for eligible non-hazardous collections.

Brewing and distilling creates many specialist waste products, such as:

• Spent grain, malt, and potato (draff)
• Trub (solids from liquid wort)
• Waste yeast and apples
• Spent hops
• Pot ale (liquid distillation residue)
• Spent lees (liquid distillation residue)
• Used kieselguhr (filter material)

Most brewery waste products are organic production residues and liquid waste streams that must be removed, stored, and disposed of responsibly. Distilleries and breweries generate a wide range of other waste types that vary depending on their size and operations. Brewery and distillery waste products can include:

• Liquid waste – wastewater from brewing and distilling processes, cleaning, and other liquids used.
• Food waste – waste apples from creating cider, leftover fruits added to flavour beers and spirits, waste potatoes from distilling processes.
• Cardboard recycling – packaging waste such as boxes used to deliver ingredients for brewing and distilling.
• Wood waste – wooden pallets used for shipping large items and quantities of ingredients and goods.
• Glass recycling – broken bottles from the bottling line, any empty bottles if there’s a taproom or shop on site.

Depending on the material and whether it has become waste, brewery and distillery residues may be suitable for:

• Reuse as a by-product, such as suitable spent grain supplied for animal feed where the relevant feed rules are met.
• Biological treatment, such as composting or anaerobic digestion for appropriate organic waste.
• Material recycling, including clean glass, cardboard, metals and suitable plastics.

Breweries and distilleries should store any waste alcohol in an IBC container, barrel or drum onsite. Then arrange removal by licensed waste carriers who will transport it to a waste management facility for treatment and disposal. To dispose of alcohol in the UK in smaller amounts you can contact your water company to check if it can be poured down the drain.

At home, you can dispose of small amounts of spoiled, expired, or waste alcohol down the drain. Dilute the waste alcohol with water first and only pour a maximum of two or three bottles away. Should you have many bottles of waste alcoholic drinks check if your local household waste recycling centre (HWRC) accepts them.

Arrange one-off or scheduled waste collections for your brewery, distillery or cidery.

Tell us the waste streams, the volumes produced, site postcode and how often collections are required. We’ll confirm suitable containers and provide a tailored quote.

Waste Transfer Notes are included at no additional charge for eligible non-hazardous collections. Specialist and hazardous waste use the appropriate documentation.