Butchers Waste Disposal & Meat Waste Collection
Business Waste arranges meat waste disposal and collections for butchers, meat retailers and other businesses handling fresh meat across the UK.
We can arrange collections for unsold or expired meat, suitable animal by-products and other agreed food-production waste, alongside packaging, cardboard, residual waste and recycling.
Tell us the types of meat waste you produce, average volumes, postcode and how often collections are needed, and we’ll help confirm suitable storage and collection arrangements.
Collections last 7 days
Get a quote for meat waste disposal
Get a fast FREE quote for your butchers waste
- Free quote within 1 hour
- Collections for agreed meat and butcher waste
- One-off and scheduled services
- Waste Transfer Notes at no extra charge
Waste services for butchers
We can build the service around the meat products you handle, the amount of waste produced and the space available on site. This can include:
- Meat waste collections for agreed unsold, expired or discarded meat and other suitable animal-derived waste.
- Everyday commercial waste services for cardboard, packaging, recycling and residual waste.
- Suitable bins and containers for keeping food, animal by-product and recyclable waste streams separate before collection.
- One-off or scheduled collections depending on how regularly each stream is produced.
- Manage all your waste through one account, rather than arranging separate suppliers for each stream.
- Support reviewing containers and collection frequencies if stock levels, production or waste volumes change.
- Waste Transfer Notes at no extra charge for eligible non-hazardous collections, with any additional documentation used where the waste route requires it.
How does butchers waste collection work?
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Tell us about your butcher shop
Provide the meat and other waste streams, approximate volumes, postcode and available storage space.
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We confirm suitable containers
We’ll identify appropriate bins or containers for meat waste, packaging, recycling and other agreed streams.
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Separate and store the waste
Keep former foodstuffs and other animal-derived waste separate from routine recycling and residual waste according to the agreed setup.
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We arrange collection
Registered waste carriers remove the waste on the agreed schedule and transfer it to an authorised facility.
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Keep the paperwork
We provide the relevant waste-transfer documentation for your records.
Meat waste disposal for butchers
Unsold or expired meat that is no longer intended for human consumption can become a former foodstuff and Category 3 animal by-product. Its collection and disposal route then depends on the material and its risk group. There are high, medium and low-risk butcher waste categories.
- Higher risk: raw meat, raw sausages/burgers, bacon, gammon, poultry, raw eggs and partially cooked meat.
- Medium risk: fully cooked meat products or products containing cooked meat (such as pies), fats or dripping that came from cooking meat or poultry.
- Lower risk: animal fats and fish oils, eggs or egg products, milk or milk products.
Higher-risk former foodstuffs cannot normally be sent to landfill. A specific exemption exists for retail businesses producing less than 20kg of raw or partially cooked meat, fish or shellfish waste per week, subject to record-keeping requirements. You should ensure:
- All meat is stored in the appropriate containers, ideally in its original packaging.
- Meat waste and animal by-products are collected regularly by an authorised waste carrier.
- Staff are aware of the proper storage procedures for waste meat at your butcher shop.
Tell us the type and amount of meat waste produced so the appropriate collection and treatment route can be confirmed.
What waste do butchers produce?
Beyond waste meat, a butcher’s shop can create other waste during its daily operations that require proper storage, collection, and disposal.
Other types of butcher waste include:
- General waste: non-recyclable waste that does not belong in food, recycling or specialist streams.
- Dry mixed recyclables – paper, card, and plastic (often used for packaging).
- Packaging waste – plastic trays, cling film, and other packaging used to store products and ingredients.
- Clinical and anatomical waste: blood and other animal-derived residues should be classified and handled according to the applicable animal by-product route.
- Butchers equipment: broken or damaged knives, meat slicers, and mincing machines or WEEE products like fridges and freezers.
Bins and containers for butcher waste
Suitable containers for meat and animal-derived waste depend on the material, volumes and receiving facility requirements. We can provide a wide range of bins in different sizes so you can get the ideal solution for your butchers.
Explore the types of butchers bins available:
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Wheelie bins
Lockable, colour coded wheelie bins are available in various sizes. 120L and 240L are suitable for purely food waste, while others can hold used butchers’ equipment, paper, cardboard, and plastic products.
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Anatomical waste bags
Butchers often use red anatomical waste bags to safely store anatomical waste such as animal body parts and blood before collection.
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Waste compactors
For large butchers and those that generate a high volume of dry mixed recyclables, waste compactors provide a space-saving solution.
Read Our Customer Reviews
Efficient communication
We have worked alongside Business Waste for quite a few months now, and their efficiency with communication and resolving queries is great. Allie especially is a pleasure to liaise with. Great company from a B2B perspective
Flo Bolton-Smith
The real definition of service
The service received was simply outstanding. Business Waste gave good advice and a demonstration of a willingness to help and get me a solution.
Gregory Harrand
Great company
Great company to deal with, special thanks to Danielle who is always on the ball and sort any issues out instantly with proactive involvement with follow up phone calls and emails. I would recommend her to be the next PM to get things done, oh and as a company to deal with all the waste needs for your business.
Top Deals Online
Excellent service set up process
I was impressed by the speed of setting up the service. I made a single phone call to Business Waste and all the necessary paperwork was done efficiently.
Yahya Saeed
Supporting waste management for a traditional high street butchery
Backyard Bacon LTD is a traditional British butchery, combining fresh meat preparation with baked goods for daily customers. Operating from a busy high street unit, waste handling needs to keep pace with food production while maintaining a clean, professional environment.
The business produces a mix of general waste alongside recyclable materials such as plastic packaging and cardboard from deliveries and product prep. With food handling at the core of operations, waste must be managed carefully to avoid build-up and maintain hygiene standards.
We introduced a 240-litre bin setup supported by fortnightly collections, covering both general waste and recyclable materials. This gives the business enough capacity to manage daily output without overfilling or disrupting workflow.
The result is a simple, reliable system that supports day-to-day operations. Waste is kept under control and recyclable materials are separated correctly, supporting the business’s day-to-day waste management and Duty of Care responsibilities.
Meat waste and animal by-product rules
The two main regulations that apply to waste from butcher shops are:
- The Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013: This legislation splits animal waste into three separate categories. Former foodstuffs of animal origin that are removed from sale for commercial reasons or because they are no longer suitable for human consumption are generally Category 3 animal by-products. As such, butchers must ensure any products unsafe for consumption are stored securely before collection. They should also ensure that high-risk materials, such as raw or partially cooked meat, are not sent to landfill sites.
- The Environmental Protection Act (1990): Under waste Duty of Care requirements, businesses must store waste securely, provide an accurate description and transfer it only to an appropriately authorised person.
How to reduce butchers’ waste
Here are some simple ways you can reduce the waste your butcher shop produces:
- Better manage your stock – ensure meats are stored correctly to give them the best possible shelf life or are sold within an appropriate time frame.
- Keep track of best-selling products – produce or purchase these more often to meet demand.
- Monitor consumer behaviour – track common trends to predict a rise or drop in sales at certain times and adapt your stock levels to reflect this.
- Deliver appropriate staff training – ensure that all staff receive the appropriate training when it comes to meat waste management and disposal.
- Provide relevant bins and containers – allow access to various bins and containers to store and segregate meat and other waste before collection.
- Donate meat waste to charity – local animal shelters or zoos may take your meat waste for feed (animals are a bit more relaxed when it comes to best before dates, after all).
Waste meat FAQs
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Can you compost meat waste?
No, composting meat waste is not advised. It’s organic material that will decompose over time but if you put it in a compost bin at home or the workplace it can smell and attract pests, such as rats and flies. Raw and cooked meat waste also contains harmful bacteria that may spread in compost and contaminate nearby soil and water.
If you do want to try composting meat, then placing the scraps in the centre is best. This is known as hot composting, which means it’s surrounded by as much other material as possible to speed up the process and reduce the risk of contamination.
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Can you put meat in food waste?
Yes, you can put meat in a food waste bin. Raw, cooked, and partially cooked waste meat and meat products class as food waste so can be thrown away with other leftover foodstuffs, such as fruit and veg, cereals, grains and more.
Use a dedicated food waste bin such as a Small business bin or 240 litre wheelie bin – as meat waste cannot go in general waste.
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Is meat organic waste?
Yes, meat waste is a form of organic waste – as it comes from an animal and is biodegradable (even though composting is not advised). As organic waste this means it breaks down over time but during the process meat waste can release lots of methane. This greenhouse gas is harmful to the environment, so proper disposal is important.
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Is rotting meat hazardous waste?
Rotting meat isn’t classed as hazardous waste, so you can throw it away with other food waste. However, you may want to put it in a separate waste bag to avoid contamination. This is because in some cases, rotting meat can be contaminated with something pathogenic – such as bacteria and toxins.
There are no specific bins or bags for rotting meat – though we do provide dedicated hazardous waste bags for clinical waste.
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How much meat goes to waste every year?
Around the world 53 million tonnes of meat goes to waste every year. That works out at around 20% of global meat production being lost or wasted. In the UK alone, households throw out a staggering 570,000 tonnes of fresh meat (including pork, beef, poultry, seafood, and more) annually.
Get a quote for meat waste disposal
Get a fast FREE quote for your butchers waste
- Free quote within 1 hour
- Collections for agreed meat and butcher waste
- One-off and scheduled services
- Waste Transfer Notes at no extra charge
Published 20th April 2022 by Mark Hall. Last modified 23rd October 2026