We're introducing a new standard for how commercial waste should be stored and how waste bins or sacks are presented on the highway and public land.
Bristol is a vibrant, bustling city teeming with independent shops, restaurants, venues and bars. As we look to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, we are changing our approach to waste collection to encourage visitors back to the city by creating a cleaner, safer, litter-free environment.
Streets that are free from trade bins and waste:
- are more pleasant and inviting for residents and visitors
- allow people more space to move around the city
- are better for people with mobility issues or with pushchairs
- have improved access and appearance which can also help businesses to attract more customers
- attract less vermin
- causes less litter
A new standard for Bristol
Under the new standards you are not allowed to store commercial bins on the street or pavement (on the highway or on public land), or to leave sacks for collection overnight.
These rules apply:
- commercial waste can only be stored in or on your business premises
- commercial waste can only be put out for collection during allocated time slots depending where you are in the city
Westminster, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh have all successfully employed a similar system with a significant improvement to the appearance of the city.
How you must present your waste for collection
Containers must:
- have a closed and locked lid
- contain all the waste
- have no side waste or litter left around them
- be placed in a suitable or agreed location
- be clearly labelled with the name of your business
Containers must not:
- be overfilled so that the lids wont close
- have lids left open or unlocked
- have side waste and litter left around them
- be easily accessible to the public or animals
- pose a health and safety risk
- block access to public highway
- pose a fire risk
These rules apply to all sizes of commercial waste containers.
Next area
From 8 April 2024, we'll be engaging with businesses storing bins along A38, from Stokes Croft to Gloucester Road and side streets.
The scheme will begin with a period of engagement, allowing businesses time to understand the new rules and get new collection arrangements in place.
Old City pilot area
We started with a pilot scheme in the Old City before rolling out the new standards to other parts of Bristol.
In the Old City waste can only be put out for collection and collected between:
- 5.30am to 10.30am and 5.30pm to 8.0pm, Monday to Saturday
- 8.30am to 10.30am and 5.30pm to 8pm on Sunday
There are no evening collections for the traffic restricted parts of King Street, Broad Street, and St Nicholas Street.
Map of the Old City area
This has resulted in 120 commercial waste receptacles being removed from public highway and council land.
Wider Central area
Starting from 11 July 2022, we engaged with businesses storing bins on the street in the following areas:
- Broadmead Business Improvement District
- City Centre Business Improvement District
- Redcliffe and Temple Business Improvement District
Map of the BID area
This resulted in 346 commercial waste receptacles removed from public highway and council land.
In the above areas, commercial waste can only be stored in or on your business premises. No commercial bins are permitted to be stored on the public highway.
Stapleton Road corridor
From 12 December 2022, we engaged with businesses storing bins on the street in Old Market, Stapleton Road and Fishponds Road (up to Muller Road Junction) and side streets. This resulted in 113 commercial waste receptacles being removed from public highway.
Further information
pdf Changes to your waste arrangements leaflet (1.66 MB)
pdf Frequently Asked Questions (169 KB)
pdf Commercial waste Duty of Care (169 KB)
What happens next
You should contact your commercial waste contractor to ask for changes to your collections.
Contact us if you have any questions or if you need additional evening collections, by email at waste.improvement@bristol.gov.uk