The UK government has introduced ' ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation aimed at enhancing recycling efforts among business premises. In England, from 31st March 2025, all businesses with 10 or more full-time employees are required to comply with several key requirements outlined in response to the Recycling Consistency consultation.
Under the new rules, businesses need to separate “recycling relevant waste”, on site, prior to collection by a waste contractor.
We’re here to help you understand your business’ legal obligations, as well as the benefits to your business of better recycling, and what to look for when choosing your waste management systems.
The new England recycling legislation specifies that businesses must separate the following waste streams:
All businesses must manage food waste sustainably, regardless of quantity. Use of macerators and other food waste treatment equipment are banned.
Includes recyclable materials like glass, plastics and metals. From March 2027 you’ll also need to recycle plastic film.
Waste that does not fall into one of the recyclables categories can be presented for general waste disposal.
With these new regulations now in effect, ensuring your business complies not only helps you meet legal obligations but also brings financial and environmental benefits. By reducing waste sent to landfill, you can lower waste management costs and enhance sustainability. Now with the 20% landfill tax rise, the savings from improved recycling will become even more significant.
Step 1: Choose recycling stations suited to each area of your facility
Each area of your facility has different requirements when it comes to waste - from large capacity containers to handle back-of-house volume to narrow-footprint bins that maximise multi-stream recycling without getting in the way of operations, and attractive recycling stations designed with front-of-house in mind. Browse our range of durable waste and recycling containers, designed to help you recycle more waste with ease-of-use in mind.
With four different waste streams to collect, your facility will require different bins in different areas. Our recycling systems are designed to be all-in-one solutions that allow you to capture multiple waste streams in one location, but with the variety of streams you are required to collect, you may need to bundle in different ways, or even utilise different bin styles. We have many options for you to choose from, and are on hand should you require advice or support.
Step 2: Build a culture of recycling with our free training and resources
Building a culture of recycling in your facility will help you recycle more and work towards your sustainability goals. Our free educational tools and resources are here to support businesses with understanding the importance of recycling, best practice and how they can contribute.
By taking these proactive steps, your business will comply with the new recycling mandates, improve sustainability, and significantly reduce waste management costs. This approach not only helps meet regulatory requirements but also enhances your bottom line by cutting down on disposal expenses.
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