Autumn waste tips: preparing your home and business for seasonal changes

Autumn brings with it a noticeable shift in how we generate and manage waste. Whether you’re a homeowner clearing out the garden or a business preparing for the busy lead-up to winter, planning ahead can help you manage your waste more efficiently and keep your costs under control.

Here are our top autumn waste tips to help you stay organised, compliant, and environmentally responsible this season…

Why you should be proactive with seasonal waste disposal

Autumn is a transitional season, bringing with it some unique waste challenges. At this time of year, we see a huge increase in:

• Garden and green waste such as leaves, branches, and hedge cuttings. Without proper disposal, this waste can quickly clog up your garden bins or outdoor areas.
• Packaging waste including cardboard, plastics, and pallets as businesses begin stocking up for Christmas.
• Seasonal clear-outs in households and offices as they replace summer stock or equipment with autumn and winter alternatives.

If you prepare for these changes in advance, you’ll be able to handle this influx in waste much more efficiently, which will help you:

• Save money, thanks to reduced collection costs and avoiding charges for overfilled bins
• Ensure compliance with UK waste regulations and avoid penalties
• Prevent safety hazards caused by overflowing or misplaced waste 
• Reduce your reliance on landfill and support the circular economy 

By adopting smart waste management strategies now, you’ll lay the groundwork for a smoother transition into winter, leading to fewer disruptions later down the line.

Our top autumn waste tips for households

Follow these steps to keep your home waste-free this season:

1) Manage your garden waste responsibly

During autumn, fallen leaves can quickly pile up in your garden and create slippery paths or waterlogged lawns. Collecting them regularly helps to keep your outdoor areas safe and tidy. Composting is a great way to turn this natural waste into nutrient-rich soil that you can then use for spring planting. 

2) Plan for seasonal clear-outs

The change in seasons is the ideal opportunity to declutter your wardrobes, garages, and lofts. For any items that might still be useful to others, try donating them to a charity or selling them on. This is a much more sustainable option than sending your items to landfill. 

3) Stay on top of recycling

Packaging waste can quickly build up as you receive deliveries for your autumn projects. Make sure you separate your cardboard and plastics into different recycling streams to help reduce the amount of general waste produced at home. Always check your local council’s guidelines to make sure you’re recycling correctly.

Our top autumn waste tips for businesses

Businesses face very different waste challenges than households in autumn. Here’s how to stay on top of your commercial waste:

1) Create a business autumn waste checklist

Autumn is a great time to review your current waste streams and forecast what is likely to increase. Carrying out a waste audit will help you identify any areas that might need extra attention. For example, you might want to update your waste storage solutions (i.e. bins and containers) to ensure you have enough capacity to deal with extra waste volume. 

2) Manage your packaging and stock waste

Seasonal trading often means more deliveries, bringing with it an influx of packaging. Ensure you break down all cardboard boxes and stack them neatly to save space and make recycling much easier. You should also review your storage areas to ensure waste isn’t blocking important access routes or fire exits. 

3) Manage your commercial green waste

If your business produces green waste, whether that’s leaves, grass cuttings, or outdoor debris, make sure you keep it separate from your general waste so it can be recycled or composted efficiently. Set up a dedicated container for organic materials and schedule regular collections to prevent build-up. This not only keeps your premises tidy but also helps reduce disposal costs and supports your company’s sustainability goals.

4) Engage your team

Your staff play an important role in keeping your waste under control. Sharing an autumn waste management plan with your team ensures that everyone understands their responsibilities at this time of year. You should provide clear signage for recycling bins to reduce contamination, and also encourage the reuse of packaging and other materials.

Need help managing your waste this autumn?

At McCarthy Marland, we offer a wide range of waste management services to both domestic and commercial customers across the south of England, including skip hire, RoRo skip hire, wheelie bins, compaction systems, garden and park waste recycling, and grab/tipper hire. Once your container is full, we then tailor our collections around your schedule and bring your waste back to one of our recycling centres for sorting and processing, ensuring as much waste is diverted from landfill as possible.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your seasonal waste disposal needs.