Duty of Care

If you run or own a business, then you’re probably already aware that you have a duty to ensure that any waste you produce is handled safely and legally. This is your ‘duty of care’ and it applies to any Company or individual that produces Commercial, industrial or household waste. Collectively, these waste types are known as ‘controlled waste’ and include hazardous materials.

As a skip hire and waste management Company, we have to comply to a number of regulations and hold certain licences to do what we do. And as a business, you must check that anyone you pass your waste on to is authorised to take it, including us! If you don’t check that they are a legitimate waste broker and your waste ends up fly-tipped or illegally disposed of, you could be held responsible and fined.

Remember, there may be more waste leaving your site than you think, parties you pass your waste on to can include:

- Secure waste disposal businesses
- Scrap merchants
- Skip hire companies
- Recycling companies
- Local council

Not every type of waste is controlled with explosives, animal by-products and most radioactive wastes are excluded from your duty of care. All in all, your duty of care requires you to conciously choose your waste handlers after knowing they are completely legitimate and responsible. You may also want to know where your waste ends up and how much of it is being recycled, because until it is either disposed of or recovered – it is still your responsibility.