Waste and Recycling
Waste and recycling
Every business that produces waste carries a legal duty of care for it, from the moment it is created to the moment it is finally disposed of. That duty does not leave with the bin. Kairos arranges the collections and keeps the documentation that proves where the waste actually went.
What is included
Every item below is quoted on its own, or bundled into a single monthly contract with the rest of the building's services.
The paperwork is the compliance
Under the duty of care in the Environmental Protection Act 1990, a business has to describe its waste accurately, transfer it only to an authorised person, and keep the transfer notes. Waste transfer notes are kept for two years and hazardous waste consignment notes for three.
Almost every business does the first two by accident, simply by using a licensed collector. The one that gets missed is the third, and it is the only one an inspector can check from a desk.
Separate collections are now the default
Workplaces in England with ten or more employees have been required to separate dry recyclables and food waste from general waste since 31 March 2025, with smaller businesses following from 31 March 2027. In practice that means bins, signage and a housekeeping routine that people will actually follow, not just a different collection contract.
Getting the segregation right on site also stops recycling loads being rejected as contaminated, which is where the cost usually reappears.
Who this is for
- Offices and serviced workspaces
- Restaurants, cafés and hospitality
- Retail and commercial units
- Residential blocks and communal areas
- Landlords, letting agents and property managers
waste and recycling questions we are asked most
What is the duty of care for waste?
It is the legal responsibility a business has for the waste it produces, set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The waste has to be stored safely, described accurately, handed only to an authorised carrier, and evidenced by a transfer note that is kept on file.
How long do the records have to be kept?
Waste transfer notes for two years and hazardous waste consignment notes for three years. Kairos keeps copies for clients on a waste contract, so the file exists even when the original is lost.
Can you reduce what we spend on waste?
Often, yes, and usually not by changing supplier. Most sites are on the wrong bin size or the wrong collection frequency, and are paying for air being collected twice a week.
Other services
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