About this policy
This policy sets out how Bubble Fresh (Bubblefresh Limited, company number 12691029) manages waste generated by our cleaning and clearance operations. We work with vulnerable adults, families, and local council partners across Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes, Bedford, and Norfolk. Our work regularly involves removing large volumes of household waste, bulky items, and sometimes hazardous materials. We take our legal and ethical responsibilities seriously and manage all waste lawfully, safely, and with respect for the people we work with. This policy applies to all Bubble Fresh employees, contractors, and anyone involved in waste handling on our behalf.
Legislation we follow
We comply with all relevant UK waste legislation, including the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (duty of care for waste), the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, and the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. Where our work involves substances that fall under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, we follow the procedures set out in our COSHH Policy.
Waste carrier licence
Bubble Fresh holds a valid Upper Tier Waste Carrier, Broker and Dealer licence registered with the Environment Agency. We carry proof of registration in all vehicles used for waste collection and clearance. We provide our licence details to council partners and clients on request. We renew our registration before it expires and keep records of all renewals.
The waste hierarchy
We follow the waste hierarchy as required by the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011. This means we apply the following approach to every job, in order of priority: prevent waste where possible by careful planning and avoiding unnecessary removal of items; reduce waste by working with clients and councils to keep items that are still needed or wanted; reuse items by donating serviceable goods to charity or community organisations, with client consent; recycle materials by separating recyclable waste (paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, glass) and sending it to appropriate recycling facilities; and dispose of remaining waste responsibly through licensed facilities, with landfill as a last resort. We brief our teams on the waste hierarchy during induction and reinforce it through regular training.
Waste classification
We classify waste before disposal, using European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes where required. The main types of waste we handle include general household waste, recyclable materials (paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, glass), bulky items (furniture, mattresses, appliances), hazardous waste (chemicals, sharps, clinical waste, certain batteries), and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). We transfer WEEE items to Authorised Treatment Facilities in compliance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013. Our teams are trained to identify and segregate each waste type correctly on site.
Site waste management plans
For larger clearance jobs, we prepare a site waste management plan before work begins. This plan identifies the types and estimated volumes of waste expected, sets out how waste will be segregated on site, specifies which items require client consent before removal, notes any hazardous materials that may be present (including potential asbestos-containing materials), and records the licensed facilities where waste will be taken. The plan is shared with the client or referring council before work starts and updated during the job if conditions change.
Client consent and item disposal
We never remove or dispose of a client's belongings without their clear consent. Before starting a clearance job, we agree with the client (or their representative, social worker, or referring council) which items are to be kept, which can be donated, and which should be disposed of. We record these decisions in writing. Where a client lacks mental capacity to give informed consent under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a best-interests decision is made in consultation with the referring council or an appropriate adult, following the procedures in our Safeguarding Policy. If there is any doubt, we do not remove the item.
Sentimental and valuable items
We take particular care with items that may have sentimental or financial value. Our teams are trained to watch for photographs, personal documents, jewellery, keepsakes, and other items that a client may want to keep, even if these are found among waste. When we find such items, we set them aside, show them to the client or their representative, and ask whether they should be kept. We never throw away items of possible sentimental or financial value without explicit confirmation from the client or their appointed representative. We photograph items of value before removal as an additional safeguard.
Duty of care
Under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, we have a legal duty of care for all waste we handle. We meet this duty by storing waste safely and securely before collection, describing waste accurately on all transfer documentation, transferring waste only to authorised carriers and licensed disposal facilities, and checking the waste carrier licence or permit of any third party we pass waste to. We never leave waste in a location where it could cause harm to people or the environment.
Hazardous waste
We handle hazardous waste with particular care. This includes clinical waste from biohazard cleaning, sharps, chemical waste, certain batteries, fluorescent tubes, and any materials classified as hazardous under the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005. We segregate hazardous waste from general waste at the point of collection, store it in appropriate sealed and labelled containers, and dispose of it through licensed specialist waste carriers. We complete a hazardous waste consignment note for every transfer. For biohazard waste, we follow the procedures in our Infection Control Policy and COSHH Policy.
Asbestos awareness
Some properties we work in, particularly older homes, may contain asbestos in materials such as floor tiles, textured coatings, insulation boards, or pipe lagging. Our teams are trained in asbestos awareness so they can recognise materials that may contain asbestos. We do not remove or disturb asbestos-containing materials. If we suspect asbestos is present, we stop work in that area immediately, secure the area to prevent disturbance, report it to management, and inform the client and referring council. We arrange for a licensed asbestos contractor to assess and, if necessary, remove the material before we continue our work. We comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and follow Health and Safety Executive guidance. See our Health and Safety Policy for our wider approach to managing workplace hazards.
Fly-tipping prevention
Fly-tipping is a criminal offence under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. We take active steps to prevent fly-tipping of any waste in our care. We only use licensed waste disposal sites and transfer stations. We verify the credentials of any third-party waste carriers we work with. We keep waste transfer notes as proof that waste was disposed of lawfully. We never dump waste on roadsides, in fields, on vacant land, or in any unauthorised location. Any employee found to be involved in fly-tipping faces immediate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, in line with our Employee Code of Conduct.
Reuse and donation
Before disposing of items, we assess whether they can be reused or donated. With client consent, we donate items in serviceable condition to local charities, community organisations, or furniture reuse schemes. We keep a record of items donated, including the date, description, and receiving organisation. Where council partners have preferred donation routes, we follow their guidance. Our aim is to divert as much waste as possible from landfill and to support the communities we work in.
Documentation and records
We maintain accurate records of all waste transfers. This includes waste transfer notes for non-hazardous waste (kept for a minimum of 2 years), hazardous waste consignment notes (kept for a minimum of 3 years), WEEE documentation, and records of items donated for reuse. We also keep site waste management plans and records of client consent for disposal decisions. All records are available for inspection by regulatory bodies and council partners on request.
Waste targets
We are committed to reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill. We track the volume of waste we handle by type (general, recyclable, reuse, hazardous) and monitor our recycling and reuse rates. We set annual targets for improving our diversion rate (the proportion of waste diverted from landfill through recycling, reuse, or donation). We report waste performance to council partners where required by our contracts. We review our waste data quarterly and use it to identify areas for improvement. Our waste reduction efforts form part of the broader commitments set out in our Environmental Policy.
Training
All employees receive training on waste management during induction. This covers the waste hierarchy, waste segregation, how to identify hazardous waste, asbestos awareness, correct use of waste transfer notes, fly-tipping law, handling sentimental and valuable items, and the importance of client consent. We provide refresher training annually and whenever regulations or our procedures change. Waste management training forms part of each employee's minimum 20 hours of annual training (see our Training and Development Policy for full details).
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, or our working practices. Where we make material changes, we will notify our council partners and ensure all employees are briefed on the changes before they take effect.
Review
The Director, Lance James, reviews this policy annually and whenever changes to waste regulations or our operational practices require it. Last reviewed: February 2026. Next review due: February 2027.
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