Glossary of terms

Types of packaging or products most commonly found around the home, such as those used to protect food items, toiletries or cleaning products. Examples include; glass bottles or jars, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, cardboard packaging, cartons and metal food or drinks cans. 

A single use or reusable sack used to contain solid waste commonly made of plastic. Reusable sacks are more commonly used for the collection of dry recyclable materials such as paper or cardboard. The use of waste sacks maybe preferred by a waste or recycling service provider or by a workplace owner if their premise has no outdoor storage space to accommodate a waste bin. 

such as glass, metals, plastics, paper or card and food waste which should be kept separate from other waste streams such as general waste to enable recycling. We use this term to detail such materials from the point of production to their recovery, recycling or disposal. 

The presence of an unwanted item, material, or substance i.e. food residue on food packaging such as plastic tubs, which ‘contaminates’ recyclable materials making them unsuitable or unable to be recycled. Contamination generally occurs when an individual places items into a recycling container, despite these items not being collected or accepted for recycling.

the company or person employed by a workplace, organisation or business, to undertake regular collections of waste or recyclables from their premises and who then arranges for disposal of such waste or the recovery or treatment of the collected recyclables. Always check the public register to ensure your provider is authorised to collect (carry) your waste. 

The commercial act of transporting goods or products by road or rail. In this instance we mean the transportation of waste or recyclables from the place of production i.e. the workplace to the place of disposal or treatment. 

A storage area, which is usually external to buildings, but maybe internally located in some premises, which is suitable to accommodate the number and size of waste containers or bins which an organisation or business uses to contain its waste or recyclables. 

is non-clinical waste that’s non-infectious and does not contain pharmaceutical or chemical substances, but which may be unpleasant to anyone who comes into contact with it. Types of offensive waste include; soiled nappies, adult incontinence pads and sanitary protection.

Waste is considered 'hazardous' under environmental legislation when it contains substances or has properties that might make it harmful to human health or the environment. This does not necessarily mean it is an immediate risk to human health, although some waste can be. Examples include asbestos or chemicals such as brake fluid or print toner. A specialist waste collection service will be required to dispose of such waste.

the term used to describe waste produced from healthcare and similar activities that may pose a risk of infection, for example, swabs, bandages, dressings etc. or which may prove hazardous, for example medicines. A specialist waste collection service will be required to dispose of such waste.

are objects or instruments necessary for completing specific health care activities which are able to cut, prick or cause injury. The term usually refers to needles and scalpels. A specialist waste collection service will be required to dispose of such waste. 

Employers are required by law to protect their employees and others, from harm. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, requires employers to: 

• identify what could cause injury or illness in their business (hazards) 

• decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk) 

• take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn't possible, control the risk 

These risks, hazards and controls when recorded in a written document are referred to as a 'risk assessment'

or PPE as it is often commonly known, includes items such as; protective gloves, high visibility jackets or vests, hard hats or safety googles, which may be issued by employers to protect their employees from risks at work. 

The illegal disposal of household, industrial, commercial or other ‘controlled’ waste onto land that is not licensed to accept it, such wastes can be liquid or solid. ‘Controlled’ waste includes garden waste and larger domestic bulky items such as fridges and mattresses. Fly tipping is a criminal offence under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 

A document which records the transfer of waste or recyclables from the producer of the waste i.e. the workplace to the organisation or person employed to collect and or sort, treat or dispose of the waste or recyclables. As a minimum this document must detail the date, time, quantity of waste and location of where the transfer occurred. More information on waste transfer notes can be found here

Devolved matters are those areas of government where decision-making has been delegated by UK Parliament to the devolved institutions such as the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Government, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the London Assembly or to Local Authorities. Waste and recycling policies are examples of ‘devolved matters’.

The new regulations require the collection of the following material streams;  

Dry recyclable waste is:  

• glass - such as drinks bottles and rinsed empty food jars  

• metal - such as drinks cans and rinsed empty food tins, empty aerosols, aluminium foil, aluminium food trays and tubes  

• plastic - such as rinsed empty food containers and bottles  

• paper and cardboard - such as old newspapers, envelopes, delivery boxes and packaging  

You will need to separate paper and card from other dry recyclables (plastic, metal and glass), unless your waste collector collects them together. Waste collectors may also choose to collect other dry recyclable materials separately, like glass. You should discuss how your dry recyclable waste will be collected with your chosen waste collector.   

Cartons for food, drink and other liquids, including aseptic and chilled cartons, will also be included in the plastic recyclable waste stream.  

Tip: If your waste collector collects plastic separately from other dry materials, collecting cartons in the plastic recyclable waste stream will mean more cartons can be effectively sorted and reprocessed. 

Food waste is:   

• food leftovers intended for human or household pet consumption  

• waste generated by preparing food (of any volume, including if the workplace does not serve food or have a canteen). This includes biodegradable material resulting from the processing or preparation of food, including inedible food parts such as bones, eggshells, fruit and vegetable skins, tea bags and coffee grounds 

You must always separate dry recyclable waste, food waste and black bin waste from each other.  

according to the Energy Saving Trust the term net zero emissions means 'achieving a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it. This balance – or net zero – will happen when the amount of carbon we add to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed’. 

targets or commitments specified by organisations to achieve ‘net zero’ emissions, the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide or methane, produced and the amount that's removed from the atmosphere. 

The weight of the material stream or waste, once the weight of the container i.e. bin or sack, has been deducted. 

A full-time equivalent, sometimes abbreviated as FTE, is a unit to measure employed persons in a way that makes them comparable although they may work a different number of hours per week.

The unit is obtained by comparing an employee's average number of hours worked to the average number of hours of a full-time worker. A full-time person is therefore counted as one FTE, while a part-time worker gets a score in proportion to the hours he or she works. For example, a part-time worker employed for 20 hours a week where full-time work consists of 40 hours, is counted as 0.5 FTE.

Land, water and air transport operations including bus terminals, train stations, motorway service stations, ports and airports, warehousing providers, logistics and support activity providers, postal and courier services.

Food and drink product manufacturers including of alcoholic beverages such as brewers, wine producers distilleries.

Universities, further or higher education colleges and providers, private and public schools, nurseries, kindergartens.

Public and office administration providers, publishers, security providers, building and landscape service providers, TV, sound and film production companies, programmers and broadcasters, telecoms providers, financial service providers, legal and accountancy services, gambling and betting activities, advertising and market research organisations, travel agencies, libraries, archives and museums, arts and entertainment providers, sports, amusement and recreation providers, computer programming providers and repairers, consultants, architectural and engineering services, veterinary providers, employment providers and member organisations.

Wholesale and retail operations including convenience stores, grocery stores, supermarkets, non grocery stores and retailers or wholesalers in the trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

Includes online retailers and wholesalers as well as those from a fixed operating base.

Human health and social care activities provided by private or public providers including; hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists, opticians, ambulance and other medical transport services, pharmacies, physiotherapists, podiatrists, chiropractors, mental health services, residential, nursing and respite care home providers.

Hotels, restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, quick service restaurants, hostels, motels, serviced apartments, bed and breakfasts, self-catering accommodation, catering businesses, bars, public and private sector canteens, school meals kitchens.