Get Your Business Ready For Simpler Recycling
On 31st March 2025, Defra’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation will come into force for businesses and relevant non-domestic premises standardising the collection of dry recyclable waste. Smaller businesses with less than 10 full time employees will have until 31st March 2027 to make these changes.
What waste needs to be separated?
From the end of March 2025, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises in England will need to separate their waste into four streams:
- Residual waste (non-recyclable)
- Food waste
- Paper and card*
- Other dry recyclables:
- Glass bottles and jars
- Metal food and drinks cans
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
Please note plastic film will also need to be collected by 31st March 2027
*paper and card needs to be separate from other dry recyclables unless your waste collector collects them together. Please see the guidance for more information on the requirements. Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England - GOV.UK
Who will be affected by Simpler Recycling in 2025?
All businesses in England and non-domestic premises (there is a list of these on the link below) will need to comply.
Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England - GOV.UK
What happens if you don’t separate your dry recyclables and food waste?
Businesses who do not comply are at risk of receiving a compliance notice from the Environmental Agency. It is an offence to fail to comply with a compliance notice and enforcement action may be taken inline with the Environment Agency Enforcement and Sanctions Policy.
How can I prepare?
1. Check your waste collection
Your business must make arrangements to have the correct set of recyclable waste streams (except for garden waste and plastic film) collected for recycling or composting. Even if you produce small quantities of a material you will still need to separate it from the residual waste stream.
2. Complete a waste audit
Check what waste streams you are producing and consider the best way to capture these for recycling. Where are they being produced and by who?
3. Label your waste streams clearly
Clear bin signage and appropriate apertures for each waste stream will encourage your staff to recycle correctly and quickly adapt to the Simpler Recycling changes.
4. Tell your staff
Once you have your waste collections service and bins in place, make sure all staff know about the changes and how to correctly separate their waste. Try and motivate your staff to recycle more at work through staff communications – you could even try a staff competition.
What about households?
Simpler recycling will apply to households from 31st March 2026. This means you may notice your local authority making changes to your collections depending on your current scheme.
Useful links:
