Privacy Policy

Last updated: 23 July 2026

Zero Wasters is operated by Mr James Cowles, trading as Save Some Green. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you visit zerowasters.co.uk, create an account, submit or manage a listing, contact us or otherwise use the Zero Wasters directory.

1. Who we are

For the purposes of UK data protection law, the data controller is:

Mr James Cowles, trading as Save Some Green
S7, Avonside Enterprise Park
New Broughton Road
Melksham
Wiltshire
SN12 8BT
United Kingdom

Email: mail@zerowasters.co.uk

2. Information we collect

The information we collect depends on how you use the website.

Information you provide directly

We may collect information including:

  • your name, username and email address;
  • account registration, login and password-reset information;
  • business names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and website details;
  • information entered into a listing submission or listing-update form;
  • photographs, logos and other files uploaded with a listing;
  • information about products, refill options, services, facilities and opening hours;
  • messages, corrections, enquiries or feedback sent to us;
  • your cookie and privacy preferences; and
  • any other information you choose to provide.

Guest listing submissions

Where guest listing submission is available, you may be asked to provide an email address when submitting a listing. The directory system may use that email address to create an account and send account or submission-related messages to you.

Information collected automatically

When you use the website, we may automatically collect technical information including:

  • your IP address;
  • browser type and version;
  • device type and operating system;
  • pages visited and actions taken on the website;
  • referring website or search source;
  • approximate geographical area;
  • dates and times of visits;
  • login, security and error information; and
  • cookie identifiers and similar technical information.

Information obtained from other sources

Zero Wasters is a public directory. We may obtain business information from:

  • business owners and authorised representatives;
  • directory users who suggest or correct a listing;
  • business websites and social-media pages;
  • publicly available directories, maps and databases; and
  • other legitimate public sources.

This may include business contact information that also identifies an individual, such as the name of a sole trader, a work email address or a business telephone number.

3. How we use personal information

We may use personal information to:

  • operate, maintain and improve the Zero Wasters directory;
  • create and administer user accounts;
  • receive, review, publish, amend or remove directory listings;
  • allow listing owners to manage their information;
  • verify listing details and prevent misleading or fraudulent submissions;
  • respond to enquiries, corrections, complaints and requests;
  • send account, security and service-related emails;
  • display relevant business information publicly;
  • understand how visitors use the website;
  • measure website performance and improve usability;
  • maintain website security and prevent abuse, spam or unauthorised access;
  • keep records of consent and privacy choices;
  • comply with legal and regulatory obligations; and
  • establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

4. Our lawful bases

Under UK data protection law, we must have a lawful basis for using personal information. Depending on the circumstances, we rely on the following bases:

Contract

We process information where necessary to create or administer an account, receive a listing submission, provide directory-management facilities or otherwise provide a service requested by you.

Legitimate interests

We process information where necessary for our legitimate interests or those of directory users, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights. These interests include:

  • operating a useful and accurate public directory;
  • publishing legitimate business information;
  • checking and improving listing accuracy;
  • responding to enquiries and correction requests;
  • protecting the website and its users;
  • preventing fraud, spam and misuse; and
  • improving the website and its services.

Consent

We rely on consent where required, including for non-essential cookies and Google Analytics. You may withdraw your consent at any time through the website’s cookie controls. Withdrawing consent does not affect processing that took place before consent was withdrawn.

Legal obligation

We may process information where necessary to comply with a legal, regulatory, tax, accounting or law-enforcement obligation.

5. Public directory information

Information submitted for publication in a directory listing is intended to be publicly accessible. This may include:

  • business or trading name;
  • public address and map location;
  • telephone number and email address;
  • website and social-media links;
  • opening hours;
  • listing descriptions, categories and facilities;
  • products and services available; and
  • photographs and logos.

Public listing information may be viewed, indexed by search engines, shared by visitors or referenced by other websites. Please do not submit private contact details or other information that you do not want published.

If you believe a listing contains incorrect, outdated or inappropriate personal information, contact us at mail@zerowasters.co.uk.

6. Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use Zero Wasters and to improve the website. Google Analytics may collect information about your browser, device, interactions, approximate location and use of the website.

Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies. Analytics will only be activated after you give consent through the website’s cookie controls. You can refuse or later withdraw consent without losing access to the essential functions of the website.

Google may process analytics information on our behalf. For UK visitors, Google uses IP-address information to derive approximate location information before discarding the IP address rather than logging or storing it within Google Analytics.

We do not use Google Analytics to obtain information that directly identifies you, and we do not intentionally send names, email addresses or other directly identifying information to Google Analytics.

Further information about the cookies used on the website will be provided in our Cookie Policy.

7. Cookies

Zero Wasters uses cookies and similar technologies.

Some cookies are strictly necessary for functions such as account access, security, form operation, session management and remembering privacy choices. Other cookies, including analytics cookies, are optional and will not be used unless you consent.

You can accept, reject or change your choices through the website’s cookie controls. Further details are available in our Cookie Policy.

8. Who we share information with

We may share personal information where necessary with trusted organisations that help us operate the website, including:

  • website hosting and infrastructure providers;
  • website software, directory and account-service providers;
  • email-delivery and communications providers;
  • website security, backup and maintenance providers;
  • analytics and cookie-consent providers;
  • professional advisers such as accountants, legal advisers or insurers;
  • regulators, courts, law-enforcement bodies or public authorities where legally required; and
  • a purchaser or successor if the website or business is sold, transferred or reorganised.

Service providers may only use personal information to provide services to us and must handle it appropriately.

We do not sell personal information.

9. International transfers

Some service providers, including Google, may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we take reasonable steps to ensure that an appropriate legal safeguard is in place. This may include:

  • transfers to countries recognised as providing adequate protection;
  • the UK International Data Transfer Agreement;
  • the UK Addendum to approved contractual clauses; or
  • another legally permitted safeguard.

10. How long we keep information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, security and record-keeping requirements.

Our usual retention periods are:

  • Account information: while the account remains active and normally for up to 24 months after closure, unless a longer period is required for security or legal reasons.
  • Published listing information: while the listing remains relevant, followed by a reasonable archival period where required to manage corrections, disputes or restoration.
  • Listing submissions and change records: normally for up to 24 months after the listing or request is resolved, unless required for longer.
  • Enquiries and correspondence: normally for up to 24 months after the matter is closed.
  • Security and server logs: normally for up to 12 months, unless required for an investigation or security incident.
  • Cookie-consent records: for as long as reasonably necessary to demonstrate the choices recorded.
  • Google Analytics user-level and event-level information: normally for up to 14 months.

We may retain information for longer where required by law, to resolve a dispute, prevent abuse or establish, exercise or defend legal claims. Information may also be deleted earlier where it is no longer required.

11. How we protect information

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, alteration, disclosure or misuse.

These measures may include access controls, secure passwords, encrypted connections, software updates, backups, security monitoring and restrictions on administrative access.

No website or electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You are responsible for keeping your account password confidential and should contact us if you believe your account has been compromised.

12. Your data-protection rights

Depending on the circumstances and the lawful basis being used, you may have the right to:

  • ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you;
  • ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
  • ask us to delete personal information;
  • ask us to restrict how personal information is used;
  • object to processing based on legitimate interests;
  • receive certain information in a portable format;
  • withdraw consent where processing relies on consent; and
  • complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

These rights are not absolute and may not apply in every situation. For example, we may need to retain information to comply with the law, protect the rights of others or defend a legal claim.

To exercise a right, email mail@zerowasters.co.uk. We may need to ask for information to confirm your identity before responding.

Your right to object: where we rely on legitimate interests, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal information. We will stop processing it unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds that override your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing is required for legal claims.

13. Automated decision-making

We do not currently use personal information to make solely automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects.

14. Children

Zero Wasters is not intended for children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us so that we can investigate and, where appropriate, delete it.

15. Links to other websites

Directory listings and other pages may contain links to third-party websites. We do not control those websites and are not responsible for their privacy practices. You should read the privacy information provided by any third-party website you visit.

16. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes to the website, our services, legal requirements or the way we use personal information.

The latest version will be published on this page and the “Last updated” date will be amended. Where a change is significant, we may provide an additional notice on the website or contact registered users where appropriate.

17. Contact us

Questions, requests or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our use of personal information should be sent to:

Mr James Cowles, trading as Save Some Green
S7, Avonside Enterprise Park
New Broughton Road
Melksham
Wiltshire
SN12 8BT
United Kingdom

Email: mail@zerowasters.co.uk

18. Complaints

Please contact us first if you have a concern about how we use your personal information so that we have an opportunity to resolve it.

You also have the right to complain to the UK supervisory authority:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
United Kingdom

Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Website: ico.org.uk