Almost a month in, how has your business adapted to the new Simpler Recycling Reform?

We’ve pulled together a quick round up of what’s what in the world of simpler recycling. As we all know the law in England around recycling recently changed, requiring businesses to recycle a core set of recyclable materials.

When did it happen?

• 31 March 2025 – for businesses with 10 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.

• 31 March 2026 – Local authorities must collect all dry recyclable materials and food waste from households.

• 31 March 2027 – if you have fewer than 10 FTE employees in total across all of your premises.

• 31 March 2027 – Inclusion of plastic film packaging and plastic waste streams.

What needs to be recycled?

You should be recycling the following materials.

• Food waste

• Paper and card

• Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, and cartons (cleaned for DMR)

• Metal tins and cans, foil and empty aerosols

• Glass bottles and jars

This is a legal requirement and ignoring the changes could result in compliance action being taken against your business.

Who should be following the new guidelines

All workplaces in England, including:

• Businesses

• Care homes

• Educational establishments

• Healthcare establishments

• Places of worship

• Penal institutes

• Charity shops

• Residential hostels

• Premises used for public meetings

Still unsure what you should be doing?

• Speak to Footprint Recycling or your waste collector to check if your current services meet the requirements or if you need to make any changes (waste audit).

• Tell your staff about any new processes and how to recycle correctly. This might include training sessions and internal campaigns, including signage on bins, posters, email footers, etc., as a reminder.

• Decide how frequently recycling and food waste collections should be, based on the amount of waste you produce.

Further information

You should check the government website for guidance.

Defra has funded the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to develop the Business of Recycling Website . This provides guidance and resources for specific business sectors and non-domestic premises, such as schools and hospitals, on making the required changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is changing? 

Recycling law has changed in England. All workplaces (businesses and relevant non-domestic premises) must recycle the same core materials.

Why is the UK Government making these changes? 

The UK Government want to move to a future where we keep our resources in use for longer and reduce waste to landfill. Increased recycling and separate collection of food waste will help to reduce carbon emissions associated with waste and will support the nation’s path to net zero.

What do I need to do? 

You will need to ensure that your waste collection service arranges for recyclable materials to be collected separately from your general waste and present your waste in accordance with Simpler Recycling requirements. The recyclable waste streams are plastic, metal, glass, paper and card, and food waste, and you can find more details on what materials should be recycled in the Environment Act 2021 

Do volunteers working at a premises count as Full Time Equivalent employees? 

Volunteers are not included in determining an organisation’s Full Time Equivalent employee count. This includes organisations that have volunteers across multiple premises.

Does the number of employees relate to per premise or the business? 

Employment is measured per business, not per premise. Thus, multi-branch enterprises with over 10 FTE across various units must implement the changes and are not exempt.

My workplace has a combination of full and part-time staff. How do I know whether I fit in the micro-firm definition? 

A business is a micro-firm if the number of full-time equivalent employees is less than ten. You can determine whether an organisation qualifies as a micro-firm by adding the number of full-time staff and a fraction based on pro-rata hours part-time staff members have worked in the qualifying 12-week period.

What will happen if I do not recycle correctly? 

The Environment Agency will be able to issue a compliance notice against anyone who is a party to arrangements for collection made under section 45AZA or section 45AZB (industrial or commercial waste) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 that is not compliant with the requirements.

Compliance notices can be issued against anyone not presenting the waste separately per the arrangements agreed with the waste collector. This will often be the waste producers (e.g. a business) but may also be, for example, landlords or facilities management companies presenting waste on behalf of the waste producer.

It is an offence to fail to comply with a compliance notice, and you may be liable to pay a fine on conviction.

 I do not produce much food waste – do I still need a separate collection? 

All workplaces producing food waste (including teabags etc.) will need to arrange for separate collection in accordance with the new Simpler Recycling requirements. This is regardless of the volume, and applies to all workplaces, not just those that serve/sell food or have catering facilities.

Workplaces have flexibility to decide on the frequency of collections to align with the volume of waste they produce, so it is possible to arrange for infrequent collections if this suits the needs of the workplace best. Workplaces could also consider sharing facilities with neighbouring premises where quantities are small, with the agreement of the neighbouring premises and the waste collector.

Do I need to provide recycling and food waste bins front of store for customers? 

Workplaces will be required to present their waste for collection in accordance with the new requirements, however businesses won’t be obligated to provide a bin for their customers. If businesses choose to provide bins, they will be required to separate out the waste collected where it is deemed to be relevant waste (waste which is similar in nature and composition to household waste) and present it according to their waste collection arrangement.

I’m a charity run by staff and volunteers. Do the new requirements apply to my organisation? 

Yes. Simpler Recycling requirements will apply to all premises that produce household-like commercial waste (similar in nature and composition to household waste). This includes charities, and all relevant non-domestic premises, including those registered as charities.

We use a compost system for food waste. Is this still allowed? 

You will be able to continue to compost your food waste. However, if you produce any additional food waste you do not compost yourself, you must arrange for this to be collected separately for recycling.

Businesses should take note of separate guidance on composting food waste at commercial premises, which can be foundon the Government website.

Is there any funding available for businesses to implement these changes? 

No, businesses are expected to continue to pay for their waste management services. However, we will be providing advice and guidance for workplaces as they transition to compliance with the new recycling requirements.