Celebrating Commercial Waste success

The Council is celebrating a successful first year of its Commercial Waste service. Launched in June 2018, the service offers Thanet businesses a flexible and cost effective solution to their trade waste needs.

Over the last year more than 170 businesses have signed up to have their general and recycling waste collected. Businesses vary in size, industry and collection requirements, but all benefit from the council’s local approach and flexibility. 

Cllr Ash Ashbee, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Operational Services said:

“Businesses that use public litter bins or fly tip their commercial waste are breaking the law. They are also contributing to overflowing bins and subsequent litter across our streets and open spaces. 

“The success of the Commercial Waste service demonstrates the steps that the council is taking to not only address this issue but also to find alternative revenue streams and build resilience in the face of increasing cuts. 

“The Commercial Waste service should be used as an example of how the council can develop future projects. The feedback received from our customers regarding the service and the staff is testament to what can be achieved.”

Feedback from customers has been positive. Testimonials include:

“Brilliant service. We had quite a complex process before we looked at the options the council can provide, not only are they a cheap alternative but so far they’ve been prompt, helpful and never miss a pick up. Really impressed, 5 stars all round.”

The Escapement, Cliftonville 

“As a charity, I was very loathed to pay for our rubbish to be removed from our charity shop in Margate, I relied on our staff from our Community Hub in Zion Place,  to collect it and transfer to the commercial bins they had there, however, this was proving too difficult and since signing up with TDC this has become so much easier at a very reasonable cost.  The service has been very efficient and although we decided to have fortnightly collections, there are no “hoops to jump through” if we needed to change to a weekly one.”

Age UK, Margate 

“The service has been great with reliable collections that suit our needs; They have also been flexible in creating a collection schedule to work around our unusual seasonal requirements which has taken the stress out of our waste disposal.”

Manston Mobility, Westwood

“Since we switched to TDC commercial waste our waste collection has been fuss free and efficient, with an excellent level of customer service. Also good to know our money is going back to the council rather than a private business. Highly recommended.”

Cliffs of Margate, Cliftonville 

“Using Thanet council for our waste management has simplified our life massively. We are a small business but the service takes the strain off us and the service is very reliable and efficient. We can’t remember how we managed before signing up to the service.”

Tom Thumb Theatre, Cliftonville

Due to the success of the Commercial Waste Service, Thanet District Council has just introduced a Commercial Clinical Waste collection.

For more information on the Commercial Waste service and the legal duty of care that businesses have when disposing of their waste please visit our Commercial Waste Service page. 

Any Thanet resident who suspects a business might be disposing of their waste incorrectly should contact our enforcement team on sse@thanet.gov.uk so they can investigate.