Free tool
Commercial waste cost calculator
Commercial waste is priced per lift, not per kilo — so a half-full bin emptied weekly costs exactly the same as a full one. This works out what you are paying a year, and how much of it is spent moving air.
Work out what your bins actually cost
It is on your invoice, usually as a lift or collection charge. Enter it for a figure based on your actual contract rather than a market range.
Estimated annual cost
£572 – £1,144
52 lifts a year at typical market rates.
This looks about right
This is roughly the right shape. A bin that is between three quarters and completely full at collection is what you are aiming for — you are paying per lift, so a full bin is a lift well spent.
Estimates only. Commercial waste is quoted per site on volume, waste type, access and location, and prices vary by carrier and region. Market ranges here are the same £5–£30 per lift figures published in our commercial waste cost guide. Duty of Care obligations sit with you as the producer regardless of who collects.
Questions about commercial waste pricing
How is commercial waste collection priced?+
Per lift, not per kilo. You pay a charge each time a bin is emptied, regardless of how full it is. That is why a half-empty bin emptied weekly is one of the most expensive ways to buy waste collection, and why the fix is usually fewer or smaller lifts rather than a lower price per lift.
What is a good price per bin lift?+
Typically £5–£30 per bin per collection depending on size, frequency, waste type and location. But the price per lift is the wrong thing to optimise on its own — a cheap lift on an over-sized bin still costs more than a fair lift on a right-sized one. Aim for a bin that is roughly three-quarters to completely full when it is emptied.
Can I just reduce my collection frequency?+
Often yes, and it is usually the single biggest saving available. The constraint is storage space, odour and hygiene — food waste in particular cannot sit indefinitely. Segregating food waste and flattening cardboard usually frees up enough general waste capacity to drop a collection without any of those problems.
What happens if my bin is overflowing?+
Most carriers charge for side waste, and some will refuse the collection entirely if the lid will not close. Those charges routinely cost more than simply going up a bin size would have. If your bin is overflowing before every collection, you are under-serviced and paying for it twice.