More than 2,000 businesses trust Bedford Borough Council with their waste management and recycling needs. We handle more than 85 thousand tonnes of waste from households and businesses each year.
We offer:
Request a quote for our business waste service
We also provide a grounds maintenance and cleansing service to businesses. There is a 3% discount if you buy more than one of the three services available, with all options selected to be over the same three-year period.
As of 31 March 2025, all businesses in the UK with more than 10 full-time employees are be required to separate the following recyclable materials from general waste:
The new "Simpler Recycling" legislation applies to all businesses, including offices, schools, garages, restaurants, takeaways, cafes, retail, leisure centres, doctors surgeries, dental surgeries, prisons, care homes, hairdressers, tattoo parlours, hotel etc.
The Council offers the following services to its customers to ensure they are compliant with the new Simpler Recycling rules.
Businesses in Bedford Borough are now able to take advantage of the following services:
We can also offer compliant collections for reuse and recycling for customers outside of the Borough.
For further information about how we can help your business be compliant with the new Simpler Recycling rules, please contact us at commercialservices@bedford.gov.uk and we will be happy to provide you with free advice.
Food waste includes:
Please ensure all food waste is removed from its packaging before placing it in the bin.
Benefits to your business include:
All the food waste we collect will go to an anaerobic digestion plant operated by BioGen near Rushden. The anaerobic digestion process turns food waste into biogas, a renewable fuel used to generate electricity.
Anaerobic digestion is a process in which bacteria break down organic matter, such as food waste, without oxygen. These bacteria convert organic wastes into biogas which rises to the top of a digester. This consists mainly of methane and CO2. The solid matter left behind falls to the bottom of the digestion chamber. This nutrient-rich residue can be used as an organic fertiliser.
The extracted biogas is used to generate renewable electricity which is exported to the National Grid.
Before March 2025, we will be launching our commercial food waste collection service for our customers within Bedford Borough.
We can arrange a free waste audit to assess what types and quantities of food waste your business currently produces.
We can also provide handy posters showing which items can be recycled in your food waste bin to assist your staff in separating food waste effectively.
For further advice regarding our commercial food waste service, please contact us at commercialservices@bedford.gov.uk.
Bottles, tubs, trays and pots.
Glass packaging including bottles and jars.
Tins, cans, empty aerosols, food trays, aluminium jars, bottle lids and clean aluminium foil.
Cartons for food, drink and other liquids including aseptic and chilled cartons.
All paper and card, except:
| Bin Type | Materials accepted in this container | Sizes available |
|---|---|---|
| General waste | Non-recyclables | 240 litre, 360 litre, 660 litre, 1100 litre and pre-paid sacks |
| Mixed recycling | Tins, cans and foils, plastic, glass (from March 2025), paper | 240 litre, 360 litre, 660 litre, 1100 litre and pre-paid sacks |
| Cardboard | Dry, clean cardboard | 360 litre, 660 litre, 1100 litre |
| Food waste | Meat and fish , dairy products, fruit and vegetables, bread, cakes and pastries, rice, beans and pasta, coffee grounds, leftovers | 180 litre |
| Bin | Height | Width | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180 litre | 1100mm | 490mm | 755mm |
| 240 litre | 1060mm | 570mm | 720mm |
| 360 litre | 1115mm | 580mm | 870mm |
| 660 litre | 1215mm | 1370mm | 770mm |
| 1100 litre | 1465mm | 1370mm | 1073mm |
Pre-paid sacks hold approximately 50 litres.
If you are a smaller business and do not generate sufficient waste for a regular collection service, you can book an appointment to take your waste to the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Barkers Lane in Bedford (charges apply).
Find out more about our clinical waste service for businesses such as dental practices, nursing homes, beauty salons and tattooists.
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