21 January 2025

Simpler Recycling Requirements in England

In order to increase recycling rates the government has introduced measures to simplify workplace recycling in England.

From 31st March 2025 (or 31st March 2027 for micro-firms), all workplaces in England have a legal duty to present the following wates separated in accordance with the arrangements with their waste collector:

• Dry recyclable materials- plastic, metal, glass, paper and card
• Food waste
• Residual waste (non-recyclable waste)

Workplaces that generate garden waste have a legal duty to manage it in accordance with the waste hierarchy and arrange for it to be recycled or composted if it delivers the best environmental outcome.

Workplaces can decide on the size of the containers and frequency of collections based on the volume of waste they produce.

Companies will need to separate paper and card from other dry recyclables, unless the waste collector collects them together. Waste collectors may also choose to collect other dry recyclable materials separately like glass and companies need to discuss how this will happen with their chosen waste collector.

Dry recyclable waste is:

• Glass- such as drink bottles and rinsed empty food jars
• Metal- such as drinks cans and rinsed empty food tins, empty aerosols, aluminium foil, aluminium food trays and tubes
• Plastic- such as rinsed empty food containers and bottles
• Paper and card-such as old newspapers, envelopes, delivery boxes and packaging

Food waste is:

• Food leftovers
• Waste generated by preparing food

Residual waste 

• Absorbent hygiene products
• Highly contaminated materials like food packaging

Companies need to discuss their requirements with a waste collector and arrange separate dry recycling, food waste and residual waste collection. The waste collector can be a private waste collector or the local authority but must be able to offer the full range of collection services. The waste collector needs to be registered on the public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers:

Register of Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers

Micro-firms with less than 10 employees in total do not need to comply until 31st March 2027.

Workplaces have a legal duty to take all reasonable steps to apply the waste hierarchy and the duty of care in line with Simpler Recycling. If a landlord employs a waste company, or a waste contractor is used, they have a legal obligation to make sure any separately collected dry recyclables are sent for recycling and that any residual waste is correctly managed.

Failure to comply with the regulations leave companies at risk of receiving a compliance notice from the Environment Agency. Compliance notices can also be issued against anyone not separating waste in agreement with their waste collector.

If you have any further questions in Simpler Recycling Requirements in England please contact Steve Walker today.