The UK government has introduced ' ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation aimed at enhancing recycling efforts among business premises. In England, from 31st March 2025, all businesses with 10 or more full-time employees will be required to comply with several key requirements outlined in response to the Recycling Consistency consultation.
Under the new rules, businesses will need to separate “recycling relevant waste”, on site, prior to collection by a waste contractor.
We’re here to help you understand your business’ legal obligations, as well as the benefits to your business of better recycling, and what to look for when choosing your waste management systems. The countdown to new workplace recycling legislation in England is on.
The new England recycling legislation specifies that businesses must separate the following waste streams:
All businesses must manage food waste sustainably, regardless of quantity. Use of macerators and other food waste treatment equipment will be banned.
Includes recyclable materials like paper, cardboard, plastics, and metals. From March 2027 you’ll also need to recycle plastic film.
Not only will preparing your business to comply with these requirements mean you can meet your legal obligations, but your business will also benefit from reduced waste management costs and improved sustainability thanks to sending less waste to landfill. With landfill taxes set to rise by 20% in April 2025, the cost benefits of better recycling are only set to increase.
Step 1: Choose recycling stations suited to each area of your facility
Each area of your facility has different requirements when it comes to waste - from large capacity containers to handle back-of-house volume to narrow-footprint bins that maximise multi-stream recycling without getting in the way of operations, and attractive recycling stations designed with front-of-house in mind. Browse our range of durable waste and recycling containers, designed to help you recycle more waste with ease-of-use in mind.
For a simple off-the-shelf multi-stream solution that provides the containers you need to collect the three types of waste required under the new legislation – mixed recycling, food and general – our Slim Jim ® Recycling Station Bundle is here. Making compliance easy, the stations come with visible and colour-coded signage that makes recycling the right waste easy for your facility users.
Step 2: Build a culture of recycling with our free training and resources
Building a culture of recycling in your facility will help you recycle more and work towards your sustainability goals. Our free educational tools and resources are here to support businesses with understanding the importance of recycling, best practice and how they can contribute.
By taking these proactive steps, your business will be well-prepared for the new recycling mandates, ensuring compliance, improved sustainability, and significant reductions in waste management costs. This approach not only helps meet regulatory requirements but also enhances your bottom line by cutting down on disposal expenses.
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