Top 5 Commercial Waste Providers in the UK for Small Businesses

Running a small business comes with more than enough challenges, so your waste collection shouldn’t be one of them. We know that with dozens of commercial waste providers available in the UK, knowing who to trust, what you’ll pay, and which service suits your needs can feel more than overwhelming!

To help you make a smarter, quicker and cost-effective decision, we’ve compared five of our best-rated commercial waste providers in the UK for small businesses in 2025.

⭐ 1. BusinessWaste.co.uk

Trustpilot Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5)

Great for start-ups, sole traders, and high street retailers looking for affordable, no-fuss waste collection.

Pros:

• They offer free bins are included in most contracts
• They don’t have any hidden charges or rental fees
• UK-wide coverage
• Flexible waste types (general, food, glass, recycling)

Cons:

• Online-only support (no phone helpline)
• Monthly billing only (no pay-as-you-go)

Average cost: From £7.99 per 240L bin/week (general waste)

Why should you choose them: BusinessWaste.co.uk is known for its competitive pricing and transparency which we think makes them ideal for smaller businesses watching every penny. We also love their online booking and quote process as it is fast and easy.

⭐ 2. Biffa

Trustpilot Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.9/5)

We think they are great for medium-sized small businesses, as well as multi-site retailers, or even businesses needing robust recycling solutions.

Pros:

• They offer nationwide collections with high-capacity
• They also offer a wide variety of bins and containers
• And they have excellent sustainability initiatives
• Making them suitable for complex waste needs (clinical, hazardous, WEEE)

Cons:

• More expensive than smaller firms
• Long contract terms (12+ months)

Whats the cost? From £9.50 per bin/week (general waste)

Why should you choose them? As one of the UK’s biggest waste companies, we love that Biffa offers scalable solutions for small businesses with growth plans and their recycling-led approach also suits eco-conscious companies.

⭐ 3. First Mile

Trustpilot Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

We think they are great for urban-based SMEs, cafés, and businesses looking for eco-friendly services with flexible collections.

Pros:

• They have carbon-neutral collections
• And offer on-demand pickups
• They have strong sustainability credentials
• And offer recycling bins for mixed materials

Cons:

• Service area mainly focused on London and major cities
• Higher prices for one-off collections

What’s the cost? From £10.00 per bin/week (mixed recycling)

Why should you choose them? We think that First Mile is a great option for small businesses in cities, especially those wanting to enhance their green credentials with minimal effort.

⭐ 4. WasteManaged

Trustpilot Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)

We think they are great for independent retailers, offices, and service businesses needing reliable collections on a budget.

Pros:

• They have very competitive pricing
• They have a local focus with a national reach
• And their customer support praised in reviews
• They also offer flexible service plans

Cons:

• Bin sizes and availability vary by region
• Fewer options for niche waste types

What’s the cost? From £8.50 per bin/week (general waste)

Why should you choose them: Wew think WasteManaged is a trusted option for SMEs if you’re needing to balance low prices with strong customer service and they’re particularly popular among trades and local businesses.

⭐5. Divert.co.uk

Trustpilot Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.7/5)

We think they’re a brilliant choice for small businesses looking for flexible, low-cost waste collection with excellent customer service.

Pros:

• They have excellent Trustpilot reviews (4.7/5 from 1,500+ customers)
• We love their competitive pricing and flexible contracts
• They offer free bins included with most plans
• As well as general waste, dry mixed recycling, glass, food, and clinical waste collection

Cons:

• Coverage is growing but not fully nationwide yet
• Some services may be limited in very rural areas

What’s the cost? From £7.49 per 240L bin/week (general waste) with recycling options available at lower rates.

Why should you choose them? Because Divert.co.uk specialises in helping small businesses reduce waste costs and improve sustainability. We love their customer-first approach, transparent pricing, and that they offer a comprehensive, full range of waste types covered/ We think that all of this makes them ideal for retailers, offices, cafés, and local service providers.

📝 How to Choose the Right Commercial Waste Provider for Your Small Business

When choosing a waste provider, we recomend that you consider:

• Waste types – Do you generate food, cardboard, or hazardous waste?
• Collection frequency- Do you need collections daily, weekly, or on-demand?
• Contract length – you shoud look for flexibility, especially for seasonal or changing businesses.
• Extras & fees – Ask if bins are included /Are there contamination charges?

The easiest way to make the right call is to use a waste comparison tool that matches you with providers based on your location, waste type, and budget!!

Don’t Overpay for Waste in 2025

Commercial waste services shouldn’t be a drain on your business, and you can easily find cheap general waste collection, reliable recycling services, or an eco-conscious waste partner if you look into any of the providers above as we think they offer solid options with clear value for small UK businesses!

👉 Compare commercial waste quotes now to find the best fit for your business and start saving today!