New waste reforms for businesses in England
The national Simpler Recycling reforms will come into force on 31 March 2025 which will require all businesses and public service buildings with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees to separate recyclables from general waste.
Businesses and organisations with less than 10 full time employees (classed as micro-firms) will have to make arrangements for separate collections of recyclables from general waste by 31 March 2027.
The recyclable materials required to be separated from general waste include:
- paper
- cardboard
- metal
- plastic (plastic film and flexibles to be included by 31 March 2027)
- glass
- food waste
There are currently no exemptions, and separate collections of the above materials are required no matter the amount of recycling being produced.
The Business of Recycling website has been developed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) who have been provided with funding from the Department of Environment & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The website provides guidance and resources for specific business sectors and non-domestic premises such as schools and hospitals on how to make the changes required. The website also includes a waste calculator, that gives businesses the potential costs of their waste collection service, and ideas to improve waste efficiency.
Why are these regulations coming into force?
The new regulations mean that going forward, no waste from businesses can be sent for disposal unless it can be proved to have gone through a full treatment process. The easiest treatment method is to separate your waste for reuse or recycling.
The reason for the introduction of these reforms is to increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste businesses send for disposal. It will also assist in saving energy and protecting our environment.
The regulations apply to organisations or workplaces which includes the public sector, that produces waste that is similar in nature to household waste, this includes:
- glass made packaging
- metal
- plastic
- paper or cardboard
- food waste
Find out more information on the legislation
It will be mandatory for all registered public or private sector waste collection companies in England to collect business waste in following the new reforms. These waste service providers will therefore be reviewing their services and promoting that businesses recycle as much as possible to reduce waste sent for disposal.
Council business recycling collection services
We can help you keep on top and manage these upcoming changes to legislation by providing all the recycling services businesses will be required to have.