Pub Waste and Glass Collection: Costs and Recycling Rules
Pubs produce a lot of glass, cardboard and, if you serve food, food waste. How you separate it and how often it's collected has a big effect on what you pay. This guide covers how pub waste collection is priced, the recycling rules in England and how to cut the cost.
How pub waste collection is priced
Most waste contractors charge based on:
- Bin size. From small wheelie bins up to large 1,100-litre bins.
- Number of bins. One for each type of waste you separate.
- How often they're collected. Weekly, fortnightly or more often in busy periods.
- Waste type. General waste usually costs more to dispose of than recycling, because of landfill tax.
- Extras. Bin rental, duty of care paperwork, and charges for overweight or contaminated bins.
The recycling rules for pubs in England
Under the Simpler Recycling rules, businesses in England with 10 or more full-time-equivalent employees have had to separate their waste since 31 March 2025. Smaller businesses with fewer than 10 employees must do the same from 31 March 2027.
That means keeping these streams separate:
- Food waste
- Paper and card
- Dry mixed recycling, including glass, plastic and metal (glass can often be collected on its own)
- General (residual) waste
For pubs, the main ones are glass, cardboard from deliveries and food waste from the kitchen.
Glass collection for pubs
Glass is heavy and noisy, so most pubs have it collected separately. A few things to check:
- Collection times. Local licensing conditions may stop you emptying bottle bins late at night or early in the morning. Check yours.
- Bin size. A full glass bin is very heavy. Smaller bins collected more often can avoid overweight charges.
- Bottle crushers. These can cut the volume of glass, meaning fewer collections.
How to cut your pub's waste costs
- Separate properly. Recycling is usually cheaper to collect than general waste, so the more you take out of the general bin, the less you pay.
- Right-size your bins. Don't pay for half-empty collections. Review bin sizes and frequency at least once a year.
- Flatten cardboard. It takes up far less room.
- Avoid contamination charges. Train staff on what goes in each bin.
- Check your contract. Many waste contracts auto-renew with price rises. Know your end date and notice period.
- Compare contractors. Prices vary a lot between contractors in the same area.
Frequently asked questions
Do pubs have to recycle glass?
Under Simpler Recycling in England, businesses must separate recyclables, including glass, from general waste. Larger businesses have had to do this since March 2025, and smaller ones from March 2027.
Do I need a waste transfer note?
Yes. Businesses have a legal duty of care for their waste. Your contractor should give you waste transfer notes, and you should keep them.
Compare your pub's waste collection
We compare waste contracts as well as energy and water. Compare business waste or call 0151 541 6767. Running a pub? See pub energy.