Report a food trade waste issue
If you run a food business or charity, you must store and dispose of your waste safely. You must use an authorised, licensed waste company to collect it.
What counts as food trade waste
Food trade waste is waste produced by a food business or charity. Waste from your home does not count unless you also use your home to run a food business or charity.
Food trade waste includes:
- cooking oil
- cardboard
- plastic
- vegetable matter
- scraps of meat, skin, or bone
How to store and dispose of food trade waste
Cooking oil
Do not pour cooking oil down a drain or into a waterway.
Read the fats, oils and grease best practice guide (PDF)
Packaging waste
Some businesses produce large amounts of cardboard packaging. This may also include plastic trays, crates, and pallets.
Store used packaging away from food. Make sure birds, foxes, and other pests cannot reach it or spread it to nearby properties.
Waste containers and collections
You must have enough waste containers to store the amount of waste your business produces. The containers must also be a suitable size.
Many businesses use large, movable wheelie bins and arrange regular collections with a waste company. This prevents waste from building up.
You can use smaller skip-style containers, but you must still:
- arrange frequent collections
- protect the waste from pests
Meat and animal scraps
A licensed company that specialises in animal by-products must collect meat and animal scraps. This makes sure the waste is disposed of safely and correctly.
Recycling and animal feed
Recycle waste wherever possible.
Some food waste can be used as animal feed. You need special permission, and a licensed animal feed company must collect it.
Report a food trade waste problem
Use our online form to report a food business that is not following the rules.