Details
Last Updated: Thursday, 08 January 2026 10:13

Domestic waste

Domestic waste is waste that is generated as a result of the ordinary day-to-day use of a domestic household and is either:

  1. taken from the premises by or on behalf of the occupier who generated the waste; without consideration (e.g. payment, reward or other benefit); or
  2. collected by or on behalf of a local government as part of a waste collection and disposal system.

Commercial waste

Commercial waste can be defined as any waste other than domestic waste. It may be generated as a result of the operation of a not-for-profit organisation or carrying out a business, including associated lawn and garden clippings from normal maintenance of the business premises. Commercial waste also includes rubbish produced by a business’s customers (e.g. food wrappers and containers). Some waste facilities do not accept commercial waste. 

Commercial waste is generated as a result of carrying out any of the following activities:

  • manufacturing and industrial processes
  • mining
  • wholesale or retail trading
  • sorting, resource recovery, reprocessing and recycling operations
  • activities carried out at a domestic household under a commercial arrangement
  • accommodation services
  • hospitality services, including catering
  • primary industries, including agricultural, forestry and fishing
  • veterinary services
  • health services, including operating a nursing home
  • educational services
  • activities carried out by charities
  • activities carried out by churches
  • organising concerts and other entertainment events
  • other business activities, including administrative services
  • taken from a domestic household under a commercial arrangement (e.g. a commercial rubbish removal or skip bin service); or
  • generated at or removed from a domestic household as a result of a commercial arrangement (e.g. by a builder paid to perform renovations or a commercial lawn mowing or gardening contractor).

Please note: definitions are taken from the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 and Waste Reduction and Recycling Regulation 2011.