March 31st 2025 is fast approaching as the first Simpler Recycling deadline for businesses and non-household premises. Research has shown that many businesses aren’t aware of these upcoming changes or how they will need to comply. We have put together this short blog as a guide to Simpler Recycling changes for your business. Below is a quick infographic with the changes and the dates they must be implemented by.
By March 31st, 2025, all businesses with over 10 full time employees[1] need to have implemented the new mandatory collections for recycling. This means collecting glass, paper, card, metals, plastics for recycling and having a separate collection for food waste.
By March 31st, 2027, all business with under 10 full time employees need to follow the mandatory collection of all recyclables as stated above.
By the same date, it is mandatory that all businesses no matter the size, must collect and separate plastic films and bags into the plastic recycling stream.
Who must follow this guidance?
This legislation relates to any business that generates waste similar in nature to household waste, such as: offices, retail, wholesale, transport and storage, hospitality, educational settings, healthcare establishments, charities, places of worship, penal institutes, charity shops (selling donated domestic property), residential hostels and premises for public meetings.
If you are unsure if these rules apply to your business, please see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england
How can you prepare your business?
There are a number of steps you can take as a business to ensure your compliance with the new Simpler Recycling regulations.
Firstly, undertake a review of your current waste management practice. Consider how or if you separate, where your bins are located on your premises, how often they fill up space constraints, and practicality around collections such as the best collection times and frequencies. Consider what materials you are currently collecting and compare this to the new requirements.
Secondly, speak to your waste service provider over how best to present your waste streams in your circumstances. You will need to separate paper and card from other recycling (plastic, metal and glass) unless your waste contractor only collects these together.
Having all the information from a waste review and a discussion with waste contractors to find the best compliant solution for you, is key to a smooth transition to simpler recycling.
Finally, take your staff with you on the journey. Ensure all employees are aware of the new requirements and aware of how to correctly recycle (this is key for reducing contamination!). Where possible, ensure front end separation of your materials from the general waste for employees and customers (where provided). Educating employees and providing the right bins, in the right places, and with helpful signage will allow for greater separation of the wastes in the first instance and improved recycling performance.
By complying with the Simpler Recycling regulations, you reduce rubbish (residual waste), reduce contamination and could lower your overall waste disposal / treatment costs. You can also reduce and offset some of your businesses carbon emissions by sending segregated materials for recycling, food waste for anaerobic digestion, and reducing your general waste.
For further information, see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england
If you would like support to undertake a waste audit, our specialist sustainability team at Credibly Green are on hand to support. For more information see www.crediblygreen.com , tel. 01746 552423 or email beth@crediblygreen.com
[1] Full time employees calculated using full time equivalent (FTE)
