How long can waste bags be stored on site?

Waste bags can be stored on site indoors for as long as they are sealed, dry and not a nuisance; on the street, only in the window your collector has agreed with the council. The duty of care requires a business to keep its waste secure, so bags must not split, leak, attract rats or be reachable by the public. General waste with food in it should go within a day or two in summer, and dry recycling can wait for a weekly collection. Several boroughs limit how long bags may stand on the pavement: the City of London allows waste out only between 18:00 and 08:00. Put bags out close to collection time.