Leeds City Council encourages all businesses to reduce, reuse and recycle their commercial and industrial waste.
Although the council does not provide collection facilities, in partnership with Recycling Action Yorkshire a database of recyclers for commercial and industrial waste in the local area is available for business to access. Searches for specific waste materials can be done via the Recycling Action Yorkshire website. Resource Efficiency Yorkshire run a fully interactive database giving you details of recyclers and collectors in your area plotted on a dynamic map. For more information please follow the 'find recyclers near you' link.
Business responsibilities
All businesses have a ‘duty of care’ for the disposal of commercial and industrial waste.
They must ensure that:
- Waste is stored and disposed of responsibly
- Waste is only handled or dealt with by people or businesses that are authorised to do so
- Records of all waste that is transferred or received is stored for at least two years.
Businesses also have an obligation to ensure commercial and industrial waste is treated prior to disposal at landfill. From 30 October 2007, the landfill directive requires businesses to reduce the impact of their waste through the separation of specific waste materials for reuse or recycling.
In addition to the legal obligations, businesses will be able to save money, improve their profile with customers, employees, and shareholders, and improve the environment through an effective waste management plan.
The final option is the disposal of waste to landfill. The public may only dispose of trade waste at the Kirkstall Road transfer station off Evanston Avenue LS4 2HR. Trade or commercial customers are not currently able to use East Leeds household waste sorting site for disposal of their waste or to use the public weigh bridge. For further details please read the Notice to trade customers using East Leeds Household Waste Sorting Site. The minimum fee for trade waste is £47.89 (inclusive of landfill tax and VAT). Lower fees apply to charities and for certain types of waste.
Special wastes, such as asbestos and chemical waste are not be accepted. The public can dispose of tyres at all household waste sorting sites except Calverley Bridge and East Leeds. Please see the recyclers’ database published by Recycling Action Yorkshire for the disposal of commercial tyres.
Future plans
A business waste handbook is being developed to encourage small and medium sized businesses in Leeds to reduce, reuse and recycle their commercial and industrial waste.
Advice will be available on:
- waste audits
- specific sectors such as offices and the construction, food & drink, leisure, motor and retail industries
- waste reuse and recycling opportunities
- legal regulations and
- useful contacts for other organisations.
For further information, please contact the environmental contact centre or e-mail us