From 31 March 2025, Government legislation requires businesses to separate dry mixed recycling and food recycling as part of the Environment Act 2021 (Commencement No. 9 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024, ensuring recycling across England is standardised

What does this mean for your business?

All mixed recycling, including cardboard, plastics, glass, and metal, should be carefully separated and disposed of in accordance with the new guidelines to ensure that each material is recycled appropriately and to minimise environmental impact.

If a business produces more than 5kg of food waste per week, it must arrange a separate collection by licensed waste carriers. This includes biodegradable materials from processing or preparing food, such as inedible parts like bones, eggshells, fruit and vegetable skins, tea bags, and coffee grounds. The new legislation excludes micro-firms (businesses with fewer than ten full-time equivalent employees).

According to the official government response, food waste collected must undergo anaerobic digestion treatment. This process generates biofuel, which can be used for energy, while digestate is a nutrient-rich substance produced by anaerobic digestion that can be used as a fertiliser, helping to form a circular economy.

Commercial food waste legislation has been in place in Scotland since 2014 and was introduced in Wales in April 2024. 

To comply with the new legislation, your business must implement the new waste requirements including storage and collection processes by 31 March 2025.  Businesses that fail to comply with the new regulations will face fines, enforcement actions, and potentially prosecution. Compliance ensures that your business will not only avoid financial penalties but also demonstrate corporate responsibility and improve sustainability credentials. It’s also an opportunity to review your services and save costs.

How can Footprint Recycling help?

1. Footprint Recycling will conduct a thorough waste audit, evaluating your current processes, staff awareness, equipment, sustainability, waste streams, volumes, service frequency, bin types, and costs.
2. We will ensure compliance with new regulations and identify the best solutions for your business. We will help establish suitable systems to maintain compliance and prevent business disruptions.
3. Our team will provide training to ensure employees understand the importance of new practices and know how to separate food waste correctly.
4. We will provide food waste collection services and arrange appropriate collection schedules.
5. We can assist you in achieving significant cost savings by reducing general waste volume and the associated costs of waste removal and recycling.
6. We will generate reports that showcase your sustainability efforts, demonstrating your dedication to reducing environmental impact.
7. We will support your efforts to comply with regulations, enhance your company’s brand reputation, particularly among environmentally conscious consumers and investors, and explore partnerships with local charities to donate surplus food.

By embracing these innovations, businesses can comply with regulations and turn food waste management into a competitive advantage. 

Get in touch today if you’d like support navigating the new legislation.