In the UK, household food waste collection is a public function and is carried out by local councils. Each household is entitled to waste collection and is automatically enrolled on the council’s collection routes.

However, businesses are not automatically provided a waste management service by the government. Businesses in the UK must secure their own waste collection contracts and may pick a waste management company like Recycle Zone, who can efficiently handle their food waste.

Difference between household and commercial waste 

Household waste

Household waste is solid waste which includes bottles, cans, clothing, compost, disposables, food packaging, food scraps, newspapers, garden trimmings. 

Dealing with your household waste is fairly simple. Local councils have a legal duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to collect your household waste, – the cost is incorporated into your yearly council tax charges. The council will usually provide you with two bins, one for general waste and one for recycled waste. They are initially provided free of charge and are collected on a set schedule. 

Business Waste

Commercial or business waste, on the other hand, is defined as any waste produced from a commercial operation including waste from food, packaging, documents, works or repairs, alterations, construction, improvements or demolition.

Unlike household waste, your local council will not automatically collect your business waste for you. In fact, dealing with commercial waste is a lot more complicated to manage. It is law in the UK for businesses to take responsibility and manage their waste effectively. Businesses are also required by law to enter into a contract with a licenced waste carrier to collect and dispose of their wasted food.

There are multiple ways food from households and businesses are disposed of, not just landfill. Food can be composted to produce fertile soil, it can be fed to animals, or used to produce energy.

Landfill 

Depositing food waste in landfill sites causes many problems. One of the core issues is that food rots and creates horrendous odours which attract vermin. But it can also directly cause greenhouse gas emissions like methane.

Animal Feed

A lot of food including meats, fish and crops are thrown into landfill when they can actually be used for animal consumption. For example, grains, bread and cereals can be used to feed chickens on farms.

Composting 

Biological waste can be biodegraded by composting and reused to fertilise the soil. Composting is an aerobic process completed by microorganisms where bacteria breaks down food waste into simple organic materials which can then be used in soil. Plus it does not produce methane gas. 

In-vessel composting involves combining food and garden waste and using a tunnel or vessel to compost it in around six to eight weeks. Temperatures in these composting vessels reach up to 70 degrees Celsius to kill any harmful microbes. Typically, after one to three months of maturing, it can be used as compost, a soil conditioner.

Energy

Anaerobic digestion is an advanced and environmentally friendly way to treat food waste. During this process, microorganisms are used to break down food waste inside an enclosed tank in the absence of oxygen. As this happens, it releases biogas, which can be used to go into the gas grid or generate electricity, heat and transport fuel. It also creates fertiliser which can be used in farming. 

Commercial Liquid Food Waste

Businesses such as restaurants produce masses of conventional food waste. But they also produce food waste in the form of wastewater coming from sinks, dishwashers and floor drains. This wastewater is collected in holding tanks (grease interceptions) to minimise the amount of grease which makes it to the sewers. 

This wastewater contains both organic and inorganic matter such as cleaning chemicals as well as fats, oils, and grease, it is referred to as ‘brown grease’ whereas ‘yellow grease’ is fryer oil that is easily collected and processed into biodiesel. This ‘brown grease’ is a significant problem for our sewer systems. The grease causes severe blockages and overflowing. 

Our waste removal service in 3 easy steps:

1. Order your waste clearance service via our online booking portal.

2. We will come to your property and collect your waste.

3. We will dispose of your waste at the appropriate locations – ensuring everything is recycled where possible.

Get in touch if you require more information, or would like a free no-obligation quote.

Feature image photo by Sarah Chai / Pexels.

The post What Happens To Food Waste? first appeared on RecycleZone.

However, public awareness of the importance of waste management is rising due to the growing concern over environmental and climate issues, and fortunately, the UK has taken huge strides in combating the waste pile increasing year after year. 

In the UK, waste collection is supported by an efficient (made up of mostly private companies) service system, whereas local government authorities enjoy a certain degree of independence, and can offer solutions to specific local needs. So, let’s unpack what general waste is.

What is General Waste?

General waste, also called residual waste, is material that is produced by businesses and households that cannot be recycled. It includes materials such as non-recyclable plastics, polythene, some packaging and kitchen scraps. 

In the past, this waste had been disposed of at landfill sites and some general waste is still disposed of in this way. But advances in technology now mean that there are numerous alternative ways of dealing with general waste, which can ensure that value – usually in the form of energy – is recovered from it. 

Each individual property is entitled to present one general waste bin for collection on the relevant collection day. 

Materials you should place in your general waste bin are:

• Tissues, napkins and kitchen towels
• Polystyrene and polythene
• Carrier bags
• Soiled fast food containers, pizza  boxes and sweet wrappers
• Oil or fat from food preparation or cooking
• Cigarette ends
• Cat litter, animal faeces
• Nappies 
• Bedding
• Broken crockery or glasses
• Cotton wool and buds
• Contents of your vacuum cleaner 

What can’t go in your general waste bin:

• Medical caste
• Paint cans, motor oil, wax or petroleum
• Rocks, bricks and gravel
• Electrical goods (WEEE)
• Hazardous waste 

What colour bin is general waste?

The general waste bin is usually either black or brown, but colours can vary across the UK. Check your local council’s website to make sure. 

What can I put in a general waste skip?

Skips are versatile containers that can hold many types of waste. However, due to legal restrictions, there are certain types of waste that can’t go into a skip. They need to be stored in different containers so that they can be collected and disposed of separately and safely and in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Here’s a list of what can go into a skip:

• Wood
• Plastics
• Metals
• Paper and cardboard
• Bricks
• Rubble
• Concrete
• Non-contaminated soil
• Garden waste

What can’t go in a general waste skip includes fridges and freezers, plasterboard, asbestos, tyres, batteries, fluorescent tubes or WEEE waste items, aerosols and gas canisters, oil, liquids, contaminated soil. 

Can you take general waste to the tip?

If you have household waste that cannot be disposed of with your regular collection, you can take it to a tip. These tips are also known as Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs).

Tips can accept a range of waste types, including bulky waste and electrical items. However, there are restrictions and charges for some types of waste, for example, plasterboard and asbestos.

What you can take to the tip without restrictions or charges:

• Aluminium
• Baths
• Batteries
• Bedding, quilts, pillows and sleeping bags
• Car batteries
• Cardboard
• Carpets
• Clothing
• Foil
• Fridges and freezers
• Furniture
• Garden waste
• Mobile phones
• Scrap metal
• Textiles
• Wallpaper
• Wood

Why choose our general waste collection service?

• Same day rubbish removal services
• Excellent customer service 
• Fully trusted and vetted team
• Reliable and hassle-free collections
• Waste carrier licence certified 
• No call out charge
• Free no-obligation junk clearance quotes offered

Be sure to contact our team for more information.

Feature image photo by manfredrichter / Pixabay.

The post What Is General Waste? first appeared on RecycleZone.