Council commercial waste services in central London: how the five boroughs compare

Business waste is not collected free with business rates, as Camden's business waste page states. Each council either runs a paid commercial service or contracts one out. A business can use the council or any registered waste carrier, as long as it meets its duty of care.

Council commercial waste in the five boroughs

The table compares who runs each service, what it offers, how to sign up and one street rule. Each section below gives the detail and source.

City of London

The City of London Corporation does not provide a commercial waste service. Its commercial waste page says the service can be arranged through its partner, Veolia, and points to the list of registered waste carriers on GOV.UK. The page restricts businesses from putting out waste and recycling bags and loose cardboard on the public highway and footpaths between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Sunday. It does not say when waste may go out outside those hours, and it does not list what the Veolia service includes or costs. We found no penalty figure for business waste on the page. Businesses can also use any registered carrier.

Westminster

Westminster's commercial waste service is run by the council. Businesses buy pre-paid commercial bags, and bags are for premises where bins are not possible. The council's bag page says commercial waste cannot be presented in black bags. Each street has its own collection time, which applies to businesses and residents alike. Cardboard bundles follow the same times. Bags may go onto the highway no earlier than 30 minutes before collection, under the council's enforcement policy. Failing to produce a waste transfer note carries a penalty of £300, or £180 if paid within 10 days, according to the council's transfer note page.

Camden

Camden contracts its business waste collection to Veolia. Businesses sign up through an online form about their business and current collections, and existing customers use the Veolia customer hub. Businesses are charged for their duty of care each year. Bags should be tied securely before they go out. Presentation times depend on the street. In Camden Town, the council's Camden Town page lists put-out times of 5:30am to 6am, 5:30pm to 6pm and 11:30pm to midnight. In time-banded areas, waste goes out no more than 30 minutes before the agreed time. The council's waste page warns that fly-tipped business waste can bring a fine.

Islington

Islington Council runs its own business waste service. It supplies grey sacks for general waste, clear sacks for recycling, and containers from 240 to 1100 litres. The business waste page describes no online sign-up, so you ask by phone or email. Waste may only go onto the street at the times set for each road, listed in the council's time-band table. Streets without a time band should present waste between 6pm and 6am, and roads not on the list need an email for a collection time. Waste must go out no more than 30 minutes before collection. The council's fly-tipping page says: "If you're caught, you could be fined £800."

Hackney

Hackney's council service collects commercial rubbish, recycling and food waste. Its commercial waste page says businesses do not get free collections. To sign up or get a quote, phone the commercial team. To show you pay, put rubbish or recycling in council bins or bags, or use council tape. Bins usually go out before 6am, though sometimes later in the day. On busy streets, or streets without room for bins, the council collects twice a day, and bags must go out only in the slots set for that street on the timebands page. The council's enforcement page says that failing to provide waste transfer notes covering two years may lead to prosecution or a £300 penalty notice.

Separating dry recycling and food waste

Under Simpler Recycling, businesses with 10 or more employees must separate dry recycling and food waste from their general waste. Islington's business waste page says those businesses must separate all dry recyclables and keep food waste separate whatever the amount. Smaller firms have until 31 March 2027. Hackney's commercial waste page gives the same 10-employee threshold and says businesses with fewer than 10 employees must separate from March 2027.

Council service or a private carrier

A council contract suits regular bagged or binned waste that goes out at your street's set times. A registered carrier van suits one-off clear-outs, bulky items, refits, end-of-lease work, and premises where waste cannot go on the street. In Westminster, street times apply whichever collector takes the waste. For more on comparing options, see choosing a waste management company.

Commercial Rubbish, run by Rid Junk Ltd, holds an Environment Agency upper tier waste carrier licence. Our crew loads business waste into vans for one-off clearances and scheduled repeat collections, and each job comes with a waste transfer note and an invoice. We cover the five boroughs, with a page for each: City of London, Westminster, Camden, Islington and Hackney.

Duty of care for either option

For each load that leaves your premises, complete a waste transfer note, and keep a copy for two years. GOV.UK's business waste guidance also says to check that your carrier is registered. The GOV.UK carrier check points to the Environment Agency public register, where you can search for any carrier. Our waste transfer note guide explains what the note must contain.