Commercial Waste and Recycling for Holiday Lets, Airbnb Properties and Guest Accommodation

Managing Waste from Your Holiday Accommodation Business

If you operate a holiday let, Airbnb, self-catering accommodation, guesthouse, bed and breakfast or other visitor accommodation in Merthyr Tydfil, you have legal responsibilities for managing the waste produced by your business.

Waste generated as part of a business activity should be managed through appropriate commercial waste arrangements. This applies regardless of whether the accommodation is operated full-time, seasonally or only for part of the year.

Waste arising from paying guests is generated as part of a business activity and should be managed accordingly.

Why Can't Business Waste Use Household Collections?

The Council's household waste and recycling service is funded through Council Tax and is intended for domestic household waste generated by residents.

Where a property is used to generate income through holiday accommodation, appropriate arrangements should be in place for the storage, collection and disposal of waste arising from that business activity.

Under the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, waste produced by holiday lets and self-catering accommodation is classed as commercial waste and is not eligible for collection through the Council's household refuse and recycling service. As a result, these properties must have appropriate commercial waste arrangements in place.

The Council has identified instances where waste from holiday accommodation has been presented through residential collection services. This places additional pressure on services intended for residents and may lead to further enquiries regarding a property's waste management arrangements.

Your Legal Responsibilities

As a business operator, you have a Duty of Care under Section 34 Environmental Protection Act 1990 to ensure that your waste is managed responsibly.

This includes:

Storing waste securely.
Preventing waste from escaping or causing pollution.
Ensuring waste is collected by an authorised waste carrier.
Keeping relevant Duty of Care documentation.
Retaining Waste Transfer Notes where required.
Being able to demonstrate that suitable waste management arrangements are in place.

If requested, you may need to provide evidence showing how waste produced by your business is being managed and disposed of. Presenting business waste via the residential household service fails to comply, as this service is not authorised to collect non-domestic waste and cannot provide the required documentation, putting you in breach of duty.

Workplace Recycling Requirements in Wales

The Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023 require all non-domestic premises—including businesses operating from homes—to separate and present separately for collection the following recyclable waste streams:

Food waste
Paper and card
Glass
Metals, plastics and cartons
Unsold textiles
Small waste electrical items

Holiday accommodation providers are encouraged to ensure that guests have suitable facilities to separate recyclable materials during their stay. Clear waste-sorting instructions should be provided for the guests.

Merthyr Tydfil Commercial Waste Service

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council offers a fully compliant, reliable and professional commercial waste and recycling collection service.

Our service includes:

Containers supplied and delivered

Scheduled waste and recycling collections that mirror residential collections for short term lets in residential areas
Duty of Care documentation that also allows you to deposit some permitted recyclable material at our Household Recycling Centres
No hidden charges
No VAT

Using Another Waste Contractor

You do not have to use the Council's commercial waste collection service.

If you choose an alternative provider, you must ensure that:

The company is authorised to collect and transport waste.
Appropriate Duty of Care documentation is available.
Waste Transfer Notes are retained where required.
You can demonstrate that suitable collection arrangements are in place.

Businesses may be asked to provide evidence of these arrangements if requested.

Properties Registered for Business Rates

If your property is registered for Non-Domestic Rates (Business Rates), this does not include waste and recycling collections.

Separate arrangements should still be made for the collection and disposal of commercial waste and recycling.

Compliance and Enforcement

Natural Resources Wales is responsible for the regulation of waste management activities in Wales.

The Council may investigate situations where business waste is believed to be presented through household waste collection services.

Businesses should therefore ensure that they can demonstrate compliance with their waste management responsibilities and retain appropriate documentation relating to waste collections and disposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

I only let my property for a few weeks each year. Do I still need waste arrangements?

Yes. If you are operating paid holiday accommodation, you should have appropriate waste management arrangements in place for the period during which the property is being used for business purposes.

Can guests use the bins provided at the property?

Yes, provided those bins form part of your appropriate waste management arrangements and are being collected through a suitable service.

Do I have to use the Council's commercial waste service?

No. You may use any appropriately authorised waste contractor. However, you should retain evidence showing that suitable waste management arrangements are in place.

What documents should I keep?

You should retain any relevant Duty of Care documentation and Waste Transfer Notes supplied by your waste collection provider.

Contact Us

Merthyr Tydfil Commercial Waste Service

wasteservices@merthyr.gov.uk

01685 725000

Our team can provide advice on waste and recycling services for holiday lets, Airbnb properties, self-catering accommodation, guesthouses and other visitor accommodation businesses within Merthyr Tydfil.