5 Simple Ways To Save On Your Waste Collections

Can you save money on waste collections whilst reducing your environmental impact?

Effective waste management is more crucial than ever for businesses looking to save costs and boost their environmental credentials in 2025. With evolving regulations and rising disposal costs, optimising your commercial waste collection strategy isn’t just good for the planet, it’s essential for your bottom line.

Bywaters understand the need for a responsible, efficient and sustainable waste management system, that doesn’t pull on your pocket strings. To help, we have put together a guide of 5 simple ways you can save money on your waste collections whilst improving your environmental impact.

Utilise the space on site

Making the most of your available space for waste segregation is a fundamental step towards cost-effective waste management. By installing more bins for different waste streams directly on your premises, you can reduce the frequency of collections needed.

The UK’s “Simpler Recycling” regulations, coming into full effect by March 31, 2025, for businesses with 10 or more employees, mandate the separation of dry recyclables (paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, metals) and food waste from general waste. Adhering to these new rules by effectively segregating waste at the source will lead to fewer general waste collections, which are typically more expensive due to rising landfill taxes and incineration costs.

The standard landfill tax rate in the UK has increased to £126.15 per tonne from April 1, 2025. Additionally, the expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to cover waste incineration is expected to generate over £1 billion in annual costs, likely passed down to businesses. By reducing your general waste collections and increasing recycling, you directly mitigate these rising disposal fees.

Re-assess your space on site.

Maximising the use of space will allow for more bins to be installed – reducing the number of collections required, and your costs and emissions in the process. 

Bywaters offer multi-bin discounts to their customers, so the more bins onsite, the more you save. We’ve already crunched some numbers, and by reducing your collection frequency, you could reduce disposal costs by as much as 20%. Not only that, but a reduction from 7 pick-ups per week to just 1, reduces your Co2 production by 100 kgCO2e per year. That’s enough to charge your smart phone 12,753 times.

Make sure you have the right sized bins on site

An often-overlooked aspect of waste management efficiency is using appropriately sized bins for your commercial waste. Incorrectly sized bins can lead to overinflated costs or, conversely, overflowing waste that incurs additional charges.

If your bins are consistently underfilled, you’re paying for unused capacity. Conversely, if your bins are too small, they may overflow between collections, leading to unsightly mess, potential compliance issues under the new 2025 regulations, and additional charges for excess waste.

We regularly come across sites that use the wrong sized bin for the waste being produced, which in turn, impacts their ability to effectively manage waste, and leads to overinflated costs. The below guide highlights the different wheelie bins and their uses:

Invest in machinery

For businesses generating significant volumes of specific waste types, investing in machinery like balers and shredders can lead to substantial long-term savings. These machines compact waste, reducing its volume and thus decreasing the number of collections required.

• Balers: Ideal for cardboard, plastic film, and other recyclable materials, balers compress waste into dense bales, making storage more efficient and transport less frequent. This not only saves on collection costs but can also create a revenue stream if your baled materials are of sufficient quality for recycling.
• Shredders: Useful for paper, confidential documents, or certain types of plastics, shredders break down waste into smaller, more manageable pieces, reducing volume and facilitating easier recycling or disposal.

While there’s an initial outlay, the return on investment can be considerable, especially as waste disposal costs continue to climb in 2025. By reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill or incineration, these machines also significantly improve your environmental impact and support a circular economy model.

Bywaters work with several industry-leading manufacturers and a team of expert in-house engineers, to help give our customers the best equipment for the job. We offer everything from miniature compaction units, ideal for space-squeezed properties, to tailor-made compactors made entirely to your needs. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Of course, when it comes to Waste Management a key target  will always be increasing your recycling rates. The majority of businesses now have a Sustainability strategy which includes moving waste up the hierarchy; Reducing, Reusing and Recycling where possible. We all know the environmental benefits of Recycling, however, circular economy initiatives can have a big impact on your waste costs.

While the overall UK recycling rate for all waste streams was 46% in 2025, and plastic packaging recycling stood at 51.4% in 2022/23, there’s significant room for improvement. The upcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in 2025 aims to recover 85% of recyclable beverage containers, demonstrating the national push towards higher recycling targets.

Businesses should:

• Implement clear and accessible recycling stations throughout the workplace.
• Educate staff on proper waste segregation and the new recycling rules.
• Continuously monitor waste streams to identify opportunities for increased recycling.

Bywaters have worked alongside organisations dedicated to fighting needless waste, such as Reyooz, an online application used to redistribute furniture and equipment to charities, the NHS, and schools throughout the UK. Together, Bywaters and Reyooz have saved over 161,105kg of quality furniture from going to incineration;  providing a more cost effective and environmentally friendly solution to our clients.

Work with the right service partner

It goes without saying that getting a solution right is a partnership approach. The right advice, at the right time, can ensure that costs are kept to a minimum whilst meeting your targets. Bywaters continue to work with our clients to support their goals and ambitions, whilst exploring cost-effective solutions.

If you think that Bywaters could help, or need advice on the best way to minimise your waste costs, get in touch today to speak with one of our waste experts.