Bexley businesses urged to check their waste collections as new rules introduced

Image shows a recycling sign with different types of recycling

Bexley businesses and organisations are being reminded of their new responsibilities as the government brings in important new legislation around waste and recycling from 31 March 2025.

‘Simpler Recycling in England’ is the new set of regulations designed to make recycling easier, by standardising recycling and waste collection systems nationwide.

In Bexley there are no immediate changes for residents as we already meet the required waste and recycling collections to households and have been collecting separate food, paper plus glass and plastics recycling for many years. 

But businesses and other non-household municipal premises (e.g. schools, hospitals, village halls, churches etc) with 10 or more full-time employees will need to check they are following the new rules when they become law on 31 March 2025. 

This means they will need to have separate collections for glass (bottles and jars), metal (tins, cans, foil etc.), plastic, paper and cardboard, and for food waste. These items will no longer be accepted when mixed in one general waste bin or bag.

Most organisations will only need three or four bins:

  • Paper / Cardboard Recycling
  • Plastic/ Cans/ Glass Recycling 
  • Food waste
  • General waste (anything that cannot be recycled)

Although small micro-businesses (those with fewer than 10 full time employees) have until 31 March 2027 to become compliant all businesses are being urged to review their current waste collection practices. 

Bexley’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods Cllr Richard Diment said:

Bexley businesses need to be ready for the Simpler recycling changes. If you don’t currently have separate recycling and food waste collections arranged, you’ll need to get these in place before the new rules kick in. 

If you need help to manage these changes the Council offers very competitively priced waste and recycling services for businesses which you can find out more about on our website.” 

Find out more about the Councils waste and recycling business services

Find out more information on the Simpler Recycling reforms on the government website