Simpler Recycling legislation

Learn how the new Simpler Recycling legislation will transform recycling in England from 1st April 2025 by standardising the collection of waste, and introducing separate collections for recyclable material.

What is Simpler Recycling?

Simpler Recycling is legislation being introduced in England to reform households’ and business’ waste and recycling collections. 

It aims to increase recycling rates by:

  • Standardising and simplifying what is collected for recycling across England
  • Reducing confusion about what can and cannot be recycled
  • Removing recyclable material from general waste so it can be collected separately for recycling
  • Reducing contamination in recycling bins
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What is changing?

For most businesses, the biggest change will be that you can no longer use a general waste bin for all your waste. If you are currently disposing of any of the following recyclable materials in general waste, then you will need to separate them out and arrange for a collection:

Metal

Metal

  • Steel and aluminium tins and cans
  • Aluminium foil and food trays
  • Steel and aluminium jars and bottle lids
  • Aerosol cans
Plastic

Plastic

  • Plastic bottles
  • Pots, tubs and trays
  • PE and PP plastic tubs larger than 50mm x 50mm
  • Cartons for food, drink and other liquids
  • Plastic film packaging and plastic bags (from 31st March 2027)
Paper and card

Paper and card

  • Most paper and card
Food

Food

  • Plate scrapings
  • Tea bags
  • Coffee grinds
  • Peelings and off-cuts
  • Unusable food waste
Glass

Glass

  • Glass bottles
  • Glass jars

 

 

 

 

 

When is it changing and who does it affect?

Businesses

From 31st March 2025:

English businesses and organisations with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees will need to separate recyclable materials from general waste.

Households

From 31st March 2026:

The new legislation rolls out to households. Local Authorities will have to provide services that allow householders to separate recyclables.

Small Businesses

From 31st March 2027:

Lastly, it extends to businesses with less than 10 full-time employees. At this point everyone will also need to separate plastic film, packaging, and bags.

 

 

 

 

 

What do I need to do?

If you are a business with 10 or more full time or equivalent employees, you will need to start separating recyclable materials from your general waste and organise relevant collections. If you don’t know how to do this, we have a series of videos you can watch using the link below.

Here is what you need to know.

Food

Food must be separated into a food waste bin. If your business produces any amount of food waste – including your employees lunch leftovers – then you will need to separate it from general waste and arrange a collection

Specific recyclable materials

Specific recyclable materials can be collected together as dry mixed recycling. This includes paper, card, plastic and aluminium. This means you don’t need a separate bin for each of these materials.

Glass

Glass is on its own. If your business generates glass waste, then you need a separate bin and collection.

General Waste

General waste will be for what’s left. If your business still generates other non-recyclable waste, then you will need a general waste bin.

What does it practically mean?

As a minimum, businesses will need to have 3-4 separate bins for 3-4 different waste and recyclable streams.

  1. General Waste
  2. Food Waste
  3. Dry, Mixed Recycling
  4. Glass
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Simpler Recycling contact.

We’ve developed simple and flexible solutions to help our customers stay compliant, minimize disruption, and maximize recycling. Plus, for many businesses these solutions will help them save money in the long run.

 

Contact us to discover the best Simpler Recycling solution for your business!