Section Overview

The following asset pages provide insight and information into some of the various costs associated with different categories of waste across the regions. More in-depth information can be found in the Category Tools area of the playbook (Benchmarking Tool, Supplier Selection Tool, Category Pricing Calculator).  

Ver 1.0 (May 23)

Confidential & Proprietary | 2023 CBRE Inc.

Commercial Waste Collection Costs -101

The prices below and the more in-depth accompanying information are estimated prices for commercial waste collection and disposal in the UK.  Depending on regional and local regulations the methodology can be applied to assist waste buyers with information that will help them through the Bid and Contracting process.  

Summary Info:

• Bin hire costs around £40-£140 annually
• Landfill tax costs are £98.60 / tonne
• Admin fees include gate fees (£6/tonne), congestion charges (£15), and waste transfer licence (£154 for a high-tier licence, lower-tier licenses are free)

Whilst these serve as a rough guide, pricing can change depending on the following:

Type Of Waste

Construction and demolition debris, bulky and heavy waste, disposal of hazardous matter (oils, pesticides, batteries, and asbestos) comes with more fees than other waste, such as recyclable materials. 

Food waste, standard and light wastepaper, glass, and cardboard all attract significantly lower waste transfer fees than wood, or general waste.

Amount Of Waste

Roll-off containers / standard containers. 

Dumpsters / industrial dumpsters. The more waste the client site generates, the more costly the services.  Bin hire and collection is charged based on the size and capacity of the bins chosen.

Location Of Business

Outside of 15 miles / single location + If your client is based centrally in a city, there may be congestion fees for your waste management company’s collection trucks, or in the case of London even the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge for high-emission vehicles.  Low emitting ICE / Hybrid or full EV dumpster trucks will incur less of these charges or non at all.

Municipal buyer / many locations / within 15 miles of disposal facility.

Sources: CBRE Preferred Supplier

                                                        Page 2: Waste Disposal Cost Journey

                                                                                       Page 3: Wage Rates

Page 1 of 3

CBRE Supplier  Collection Costs

The following indicative costs are from a CBRE preferred supplier in the UK and show the various waste categories and their prices for disposal, depending upon the size of the waste disposal container:

Source: Expertmarket.com 

Ver 1.0 (May 23)

1. Bin Hire

2. Collection Costs

4. Landfill Tax

The same 1,100 litre bin may cost around £1000 / $1200 annually, for weekly collections

Range of bins and different sizes can be hired for an annual fee.  A 1,100 litre bin (15 to 20 sacks) may cost £250 / $300 annually

Landfill tax, payable to the government is based on how much garbage we are getting rid of. The amount of landfill tax is also dependent on the type of waste involved. Inert or inactive waste (like soil or rocks) qualifies for a significantly smaller charge than standard or hazardous waste.

Confidential & Proprietary | 2023 CBRE Inc.

Waste Services & Circular Economy

How To Price Waste & Circular Services

Suppliers / Pricing

Ver 1.0 (May 23)

Confidential & Proprietary | 2023 CBRE Inc.

Waste Disposal - Cost Journey

The diagram below breaks down the costs of commercial waste disposal into five key components - bin hire, collection, waste transfer, landfill tax and admin fees.  The waste services company will provide all of these services combined into one service charge, but its useful to know the breakdown and the potential costs of each of the activities.

5.  Admin Fees

• A Waste Transfer Note (WTN)A WTN is a legal document that records the transfer of waste from one party to another. It contains a description of the waste (quantity and / or weight) along with the time and date of the transfer. It confirms that the waste  has been received by the waste services company
• Gate fees are paid every time garbage is dropped off at landfill or a recycling plant. In the UK its currently set at around £6 per tonne, although it could be £7-£9 as larger waste companies are looking to increase this fee
• Congestion charge – there is a daily £15 charge for driving within the capital’s congestion zone between 7am and 6pm on weekdays. This fee was recently joined by the ULEZ, an even stricter daily fine of £12.50 for high-emission vehicles (£100 for lorries or large vehicles)
• Waste Transfer License - a waste transfer license (also known as a waste carrier license) is a legal requirement if you're transporting or disposing of your business' rubbish yourself. A higher tier license costs £154, while a lower tier license can be obtained for free

3. Waste Transfer Costs

Refuse needs to be sorted, before continuing on its way to a recycling plant or landfill. These fees will be covered by the waste management company.  The more we can minimise our clients' general waste output, the cheaper the commercial waste solution will be (UK pricing below as example):

• Mixed general waste £150 to £250 tonne
• Dry mixed recyclables £50 tonne
• Cardboard and paper Free
• Mixed glass £12 tonne
• Green waste £50 tonne
• Wood £100 to £200 tonne
• Inert / inactive waste £50 tonne
• Food  £70 tonne 

Sources: Procurement IQ Procurement Research - 50806767 Solid Waste Collection & Disposal Services & Expertmarket.com 

                                                               Page 3: Wage Rates                                                                                       

Page 2 of 3

Ver 1.0 (May 23)

Confidential & Proprietary | 2023 CBRE Inc.

Waste Services & Circular Economy

How To Price Waste & Circular Services

Suppliers / Pricing

Geographical Wage Rates - USA Example 

Buyers can generally expect price transparency from Waste providers. They will examine prevailing prices on the open market (or other suppliers’ prices when available) while considering changes in waste transfer and transportation costs.  Having access to regional pricing information is advantageous for buyers because it allows us to evaluate our options more effectively.  For instance there are wide state variations in the average hourly rates for refuge workers, largely determined by living costs, availability of skilled resources, logistical costs and levies for the disposal of different types of waste.  The below is a complied snapshot of average hourly rates by state, from multiple state locations.

Ver 1.0 (May 23)

Confidential & Proprietary | 2023 CBRE Inc.

Further Occupational Breakdown - USA Example 

Hazardous Materials Removals Workers

Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.

Wages per Hour ($)

$17.82

$22.26

$28.56

Source: Procurement IQ Procurement Research - 50806767 Solid Waste Collection & Disposal Services

Page 3 of 3