Small office business - commercial waste disposal fine

Hydro780

So I run a small office business with almost no waste. The main waste is only a few sheets of paper each week, so for that reason a waste disposal service wasn't needed, I also work from home so I dispose them there. But some weeks ago, the council issued a fine for not having a disposal service and not being able to produce duty of care waste transfer notes.

Is there any way around this? I didn't think a waste disposal service was needed for a few sheets of paper and now I have got a notable fine I am disputing, they said it has to be appealed with the court.

For other small office business/ other businesses with little waste produced, how do you dispose of your waste, and is there anything I can do about the fine?

Tucosalamanca

Might be helpful to you?

Dispose of business or commercial waste: Your responsibilities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Brie

Tucosalamanca said:

Might be helpful to you?

Dispose of business or commercial waste: Your responsibilities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The link starts off with this:

You must:

• keep waste to a minimum by doing everything you reasonably can to prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste (in that order) - get help to do this
• sort and store waste safely and securely
• complete a waste transfer note for each load of waste that leaves your premises

So if the OP has kept waste to a minimum (there's essentially none) why would they have to complete a waste transfer note?

I would suggest writing back and saying there's no waste and therefore no transfer notes.

Tucosalamanca

But what brought it to the council’s attention in the first place?
It seems unlikely that they would make enquiries and issue a fine for no reason?

Bookworm105

Brie said:

So if the OP has kept waste to a minimum (there's essentially none) why would they have to complete a waste transfer note?

I would suggest writing back and saying there's no waste and therefore no transfer notes.

impossible for there to be zero waste
- the premises is never cleaned and dirt disposed of?
- OP admits there is paper waste 

I agree the context of what OP says does make it seem very heavy handed, but fact remains any waste is commercial waste, not household waste. That said i know a one man band company that takes his waste home, so it appears OP has simply been unlucky.

tacpot12

If the only waste is paper, then converting it to briquettes and selling them would seem to satisfy the law. Once the waste has been converted to a new product it is no longer waste. 

born_again

Hydro780 said:

So I run a small office business with almost no waste. The main waste is only a few sheets of paper each week, so for that reason a waste disposal service wasn't needed, I also work from home so I dispose them there. But some weeks ago, the council issued a fine for not having a disposal service and not being able to produce duty of care waste transfer notes.

Is there any way around this? I didn't think a waste disposal service was needed for a few sheets of paper and now I have got a notable fine I am disputing, they said it has to be appealed with the court.

For other small office business/ other businesses with little waste produced, how do you dispose of your waste, and is there anything I can do about the fine?

So do you place other waste from the business in local bins? Such as waste from making drinks/food etc?

Brie

Bookworm105 said:

Brie said:

So if the OP has kept waste to a minimum (there's essentially none) why would they have to complete a waste transfer note?

I would suggest writing back and saying there's no waste and therefore no transfer notes.

impossible for there to be zero waste
- the premises is never cleaned and dirt disposed of?
- OP admits there is paper waste 

I agree the context of what OP says does make it seem very heavy handed, but fact remains any waste is commercial waste, not household waste. That said i know a one man band company that takes his waste home, so it appears OP has simply been unlucky.

That would make it seem like every time you dusted or hoovered you needed to report it.  If it's an small office with just a desk and a computer then it does seem a very heavy hammer to smack someone with. 

Hydro780

Bookworm105 said:

Brie said:

So if the OP has kept waste to a minimum (there's essentially none) why would they have to complete a waste transfer note?

I would suggest writing back and saying there's no waste and therefore no transfer notes.

impossible for there to be zero waste
- the premises is never cleaned and dirt disposed of?
- OP admits there is paper waste 

I agree the context of what OP says does make it seem very heavy handed, but fact remains any waste is commercial waste, not household waste. That said i know a one man band company that takes his waste home, so it appears OP has simply been unlucky.

It seems you're right. It's just unfortunate as it's hardly any waste. Do you think there's anything that can be done about it, or is it unlikely? The person you know in a one man band company, has he explained anything to the council or has he just never been asked?

Brie said:

Bookworm105 said:

Brie said:

So if the OP has kept waste to a minimum (there's essentially none) why would they have to complete a waste transfer note?

I would suggest writing back and saying there's no waste and therefore no transfer notes.

impossible for there to be zero waste
- the premises is never cleaned and dirt disposed of?
- OP admits there is paper waste 

I agree the context of what OP says does make it seem very heavy handed, but fact remains any waste is commercial waste, not household waste. That said i know a one man band company that takes his waste home, so it appears OP has simply been unlucky.

That would make it seem like every time you dusted or hoovered you needed to report it.  If it's an small office with just a desk and a computer then it does seem a very heavy hammer to smack someone with. 

I agree, it's an unfortunate situation.

ChasingtheWelshdream

I can’t help with the fine aspect, but going forwards, a trade waste agreement with your council may be very little.

In Wales we have to separate all recycling. My paper/card is <£5 per month for a dustbin and collection. General waste is twice that, and I don’t generate plastic or food waste, so I don’t require those dustbins.

We can also take trade waste to our household recycling centre for a charge, which may work out cheaper for you if you only have very little waste. 

We can also purchase labelled trade waste bin bags which can be put out with your domestic collection, but a roll of sacks is over £200! A dustbin/trade collection is cheaper for me. 

I think if you were to appeal the fine, you would need to prove you don’t generate waste, rather than say you dispose of it at home, so you might be on a sticky wicket.

Could something have been found in domestic waste linking back to your commercial property maybe?

penners324

Why didn't you treat as normal household waste?

Very weird from the council