Office Food Waste - Waste Collection Changes March 25

[MrRK]

Hi All,

Just looking for some suggestions on the upcoming changes in Business Waste Management.

As a business, we already have strict general and recycling processing + collections. The new one for us, is the requirement to have food waste collected separately.

Our waste collection company is offering us a wheelie bin for food waste, collected fortnightly with our other waste collections.

Here's the kicker... We had a two week trial in December; Our office team produced a small sandwich bag, consisting of 3 egg shells, 18 tea bags, and 3 bread crusts. The wheelie bin seems an ever slight overkill.

Is anyone aware of any smart alternative solutions, to stay in line with the requirements? The additional space, potential smell, and cost of a wheelie bin seems very 'wasteful'.

 

[Jprandss]

Yes- Take your own food waste home at the end of the day.

Problem solved!

 

[NickZ]

No homeless people in the neighborhood?

 

[David Griffiths]

No homeless people in the neighborhood?

For eggshells tea bags and bread crusts? Your generosity obviously knows no bounds,

 

[fisicx]

No homeless people in the neighborhood?

It's a big problem. They see the food waste wheelie bin is empty and use it to sleep in. But this means they are in danger of being collected by the waste removal operatives. On the other hand this does mean fewer homeless people sleeping on the streets.

 

[ecommerce84]

My understanding of the new law is that it only applies if you produce more than 5KG of food waste per week so it may not apply to you yet (I say ‘yet’ as the governments aim is to see businesses sending zero food waste to landfill by 2030).

 

[NickZ]

For eggshells tea bags and bread crusts? Your generosity obviously knows no bounds,

you don't seem to know what hunger is.
No one is forced to eat that.

 

[WaveJumper]

My understanding was it's currently (for business) 50kg a week but the new legislation coming in on 31st March is all food waste, both business and household has to be segregated. If like here most councils already make us separate food waste with special little green bins so some maybe ahead of the game

 

[WaveJumper]

Just found this for anyone wishing to do some light reading

Prepare Your Business for New Food Waste Legislation in the UK

From 31 March 2025, most UK businesses must arrange separate food waste collections. Learn and prepare for the new food waste legislation in the UK.

www.businesswaste.co.uk

 

[pentel]

Just found this for anyone wishing to do some light reading

I think the following exert from you link will apply to most here.

"For micro businesses (firms with fewer than 10 full-time employees), they must comply with the new food waste law by 31 March 2027."

 

[fisicx]

you don't seem to know what hunger is.
No one is forced to eat that.

Except that’s the food waste you suggested should go to the homeless. It’s as if you didn’t bother to read the whole post.

 

[MrRK]

Just to clear up a few things here from what has been posted...

It applies to all, except Micro businesses . There are no weight exemptions.

Asking staff to 'take the food waste home' isn't an option from a compliance point of view.

 

[NickZ]

No homeless people in the neighborhood?

Except that’s the food waste you suggested should go to the homeless. It’s as if you didn’t bother to read the whole post.

Where did I say it should go to them, I asked "No homeless people in the neighborhood?"
Interpretation is not necessary, nor desired.

 

[Ozzy]

Interpretation is not necessary, nor desired.

An interpretation of a statement like your first comment is obviously required. If you did not mean it to imply the waste should go to the homeless, then why would you ask such an unrelated question in this thread? Alongside some others above, I interpreted your comment exactly the same as they did.

 

[DontAsk]

Where did I say it should go to them, I asked "No homeless people in the neighborhood?"
Interpretation is not necessary, nor desired.

Try reading it again, in the context of what you were replying to.

Never say anything that can be understood. Always say what cannot be misunderstood.

 

[PaulCHB]

Anyone know if on-site composting can be presented as compliant method of managing your food waste?

 

[DontAsk]

Anyone know if on-site composting can be presented as compliant method of managing your food waste?

If it means you have no food waste, where's the problem?

 

[DontAsk]

Hi All,

Is anyone aware of any smart alternative solutions, to stay in line with the requirements? The additional space, potential smell, and cost of a wheelie bin seems very 'wasteful'.

Have you asked if there is an option for a smaller food caddy, as used for domestic food waste collections?

 

[PaulCHB]

Have you asked if there is an option for a smaller food caddy, as used for domestic food waste collections?

A food caddy service is already available. We have been offered a 23litre caddy by Veolia for small sites that are going to produce very small amounts of waste. In theory this service can be 4 weekly (so 13 collections per year) although that low frequency may be no good in the summer months.

 

[MrRK]

Anyone know if on-site composting can be presented as compliant method of managing your food waste?

The idea, as I understand it, is that the food waste is going to be used to generate energy through anaerobic digestion. I doubt they would want onsite composting, as this would release the gasses, just like it would if it went to landfill.

 

[MrRK]

A food caddy service is already available. We have been offered a 23litre caddy by Veolia for small sites that are going to produce very small amounts of waste. In theory this service can be 4 weekly (so 13 collections per year) although that low frequency may be no good in the summer months.

What sort of pricing have they offered you? I’m at £370 per year with our current supplier, and £280 with an alternative supplier offering a monthly wheelie bin. The benefit of the cheaper supplier is that they’re happy for the food to be wrapped in bin bags first, so the monthly collection during summer months won’t be so disgusting.

 

[WaveJumper]

Save money eat your crusts (as my mother used to say) and take your food waste home

 

[Socio South West]

Anyone know if on-site composting can be presented as compliant method of managing your food waste?

I would suggest that this would open a whole new can of worms (proverbial!) in terms of vermin control, pollution and potential for smell nuisance.

 

[BizWaste]

Hi All,

Just looking for some suggestions on the upcoming changes in Business Waste Management.

As a business, we already have strict general and recycling processing + collections. The new one for us, is the requirement to have food waste collected separately.

Our waste collection company is offering us a wheelie bin for food waste, collected fortnightly with our other waste collections.

Here's the kicker... We had a two week trial in December; Our office team produced a small sandwich bag, consisting of 3 egg shells, 18 tea bags, and 3 bread crusts. The wheelie bin seems an ever slight overkill.

Is anyone aware of any smart alternative solutions, to stay in line with the requirements? The additional space, potential smell, and cost of a wheelie bin seems very 'wasteful'.

You’re definitely not the only one finding the food waste rules a bit tricky to navigate, especially for low-waste office setups. A full-size wheelie bin seems like overkill for the volume you’re describing.


Some businesses in a similar position are looking at small-scale composting as an alternative, especially if you have a bit of outdoor space and it’s just tea bags, eggshells, and bread crusts. It can be a compliant and eco-friendly way to manage minimal food waste.


We help businesses explore practical options like this, as well as whether there are smaller or more flexible food waste collections available in your area. If you want to look into alternatives, happy to point you in the right direction.