Understanding the UK's New Recycling Rules: A Guide for Business Owners
On October 21st, 2023, the UK government introduced the new ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation to reform waste collections and recycling across England. This new regulation aims to standardise recycling, ensuring the reduction in landfill waste and contributing to a more sustainable future.
Under the new legislation, all businesses with 10 or more employees are required to separate their waste into specific categories: plastic, paper and card, glass, metals, and food waste. This means that businesses must have at least three separate bins for food waste, glass, and recyclables by March 2025.
Businesses must be aware of upcoming deadlines they need to meet:
- 31st March 2025 – Businesses with 10 or more full-time employees must separate food waste and dry recyclables for collection.
- 31st March 2027 – Micro-firms (businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees) must separate food waste and dry recyclables for collection. All businesses will also need to separate plastic film packaging and plastic bags in the plastic waste stream.
The legislation requires businesses, schools and hospitals and other non-household municipal premises to separate dry recycling from general waste collection.
Materials for separate collection including their details and exceptions:
Paper and card – all paper and card except:
- Paper and card that contains glitter or foil
- Paper that is laminated
- Stickers and sticky paper
- Padded lined envelopes
- Paperback and hardback books
- Wallpaper
Plastics:
- Plastic bottles (PET), polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
- Pots, tubs and trays made of PET, PP and PE
- PE and PP plastic tubes larger than 50mm x 50mm
- Cartons for food, drink and other liquids
Glass:
- Glass packaging including bottles and jars
Metal:
- Steel and aluminium tins and cans
- Steel and aluminium aerosols
- Aluminium foil and food trays
- Steel and aluminium jars and bottle lids
- Aluminium tubes
Food waste:
- All food intended for human or household pet consumption
- Biodegradable material from the processing or preparation of food, including inedible food parts such as bones, eggshells, fruit and vegetable skins, tea bags, and coffee grounds.
Our experienced and professional Waste Service Team offers a wide range of waste collection services tailored to suit your business needs. With our ‘zero to landfill’ target, we can guarantee that your waste will be processed responsibly and sustainably.
We have been providing reliable Waste Management Services to local business for over 60 years – make this a smooth transition with Shorts Group by your side.
If you have any questions or need assistance with these updates, please contact us at 01344 624 968 or email Michael.wigley@shorts-group.co.uk
