North Devon Trade Waste Ending March 2026 — What Businesses Must Do | GWR Waste Management
From cafés in Barnstaple to shops in Bideford and holiday parks along the coast, businesses across North Devon are being asked to prepare for an important change to their waste collections.
The North Devon Council has confirmed it will stop providing its trade waste and recycling service for businesses from 31 March 2026. That means any business currently using the council for refuse or recycling collections will need to arrange a private commercial waste contractor instead.
If you run a business locally, this is something worth sorting sooner rather than later, just to make sure there’s no disruption to your collections.
Why Is the Council Stopping Its Trade Waste Service?
The decision follows a detailed review, which found the service was costing more to operate than it brought in. Trade waste collections aren’t something councils are legally required to provide, and any losses would have to be covered by local taxpayers.
The North Devon Council outlined several challenges behind the decision, including:
- The need to replace specialist collection vehicles at a cost of around £260,000, with new vehicles not expected until 2027
- Hiring vehicles in the meantime at more than £100,000 per year
- Recruiting additional staff
- An estimated 25% increase in charges to businesses to make the service viable
- A government requirement to introduce separate food waste collections, which the council says it doesn’t currently have the fleet or depot capacity to deliver
Councillors described the decision as difficult and said affected businesses are being contacted directly with further information and details of private providers operating locally.
What This Means for Your Business
In simple terms, if you currently rely on the council for trade waste collections, you’ll need a new provider in place before 31 March 2026. While that might feel like another job on the to-do list, getting ahead of it now can save stress later.
Here are the main things businesses should be thinking about:
Keeping Collections Running Smoothly
Missed collections and overflowing bins are the last thing any business needs, especially in customer-facing environments like cafés, shops, offices, or hospitality venues.
Staying Legally Compliant
Businesses have a legal Duty of Care for their waste. That means making sure it’s collected by a licensed carrier and that the correct paperwork, such as Waste Transfer Notes, is in place.
Food Waste Separation
Many businesses, particularly in hospitality, catering, and food retail, now need to separate food waste. Having one provider that can handle general waste, recycling, and food waste makes life much easier.
The Right Bin Sizes and Collection Frequency
Every business is different, and the amount of waste produced will vary. A small office won’t need the same setup as a busy restaurant or holiday park in peak season. Nevertheless, preparing early will prevent any waste management headaches closer to the time. If you are unsure what bin size is right for your business, this handy
commercial bin size guide can help you make an informed decision.
What to Look for in a New Trade Waste Provider
As businesses in North Devon start reviewing their options, it helps to look for a provider that offers:
- Reliable, scheduled
commercial waste collections
- Clear pricing without unexpected extras
- Support with Duty of Care documentation
- Collections for general waste, recycling, and food waste
- Experience working specifically with businesses
Many local businesses are already using this change as a chance to review their current setup and make sure it still suits how they operate today.
Supporting Businesses Across North Devon
GWR Waste Management provides commercial waste collections for businesses across the South West, including North Devon. We work exclusively with businesses, so we understand how important it is that collections are dependable, compliant, and easy to manage.
We’re already speaking with organisations in the area who want to get ahead of the changes and make sure everything is in place well before the March 2026 deadline.
Our team can help you:
- Set up the right bins and collection schedule
- Ensure all Duty of Care paperwork is covered
- Arrange food waste collections where needed
- Switch over smoothly with no interruption to service
Need to Arrange Trade Waste Collections Before March 2026?
If your business in North Devon needs to replace its current trade waste service, now’s a good time to start exploring your options.
Getting things set up early means one less thing to worry about as the deadline approaches, and peace of mind that your waste collections will continue without disruption.
Speak to our team today and get a quote for reliable commercial waste collections.
- Call us now on 0300 303 4856
- Get a Quick Quote
- Email us at
enquiries@gwrwaste.co.uk
