New rules on how businesses in England sort recycling and waste came into force at the end of March this year (2025).

The measures form part of the government’s “Simpler Recycling” plans and aim to restimulate recycling rates, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and incineration while providing cost savings for some businesses.

This will reduce carbon emissions, cut environmental and societal impacts from waste disposal, and support growth of the UK reprocessing industry. 

The rules also replace legislation which could have required businesses to have up to 6 bins and should help to end confusion over what goes where, enabling consistent, more streamlined collections. Businesses now need 4 bins.

The government described the new “Simpler Recycling” strategy is a “pivotal moment” and Steve Molyneux, deputy director of waste and resources regulation at the Environment Agency, advised that “it is a huge step forward, driving change in the waste market, optimising the use of our precious resources, and contributing to a circular economy.” (1)

He also assured businesses that the government was committed to supporting businesses with the new duties, taking pragmatic approach to implementation and working with stakeholders to support them in overcoming any difficulties they might face in relation to compliance. (1)

He said: ”Simpler Recycling in England is integral to the Government’s commitment to move to a circular economy in which resources are kept in use for longer and waste is reduced; the path to net zero is accelerated; and the economy prospers thanks to investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs.” (1)

Four waste streams

Businesses with 10 or more employees now need to separate waste into four streams:

• residual (non-recyclable) waste

• food waste

• paper/card

• dry recyclables (1)

All businesses should collect any food waste, even if the workplace does not serve food or have a kitchen. There is no minimum food waste weight.

This includes both public and private sectors, including businesses, charities, residential homes, universities and schools, hospitals and nursing homes.   

Micro-firms with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees have until 2027 to comply, and do not need to register or apply for the temporary exemption.

It’s important to bear in mind that any business with, for example, 3 locations and 5 employees at each, should comply with the new rules at all locations, because the total number employed is more than 10.

Workplaces will need to separate paper and card from the other dry recyclables unless their waste collector collects them together. They will also have the freedom to decide on the size of containers and frequency of collections based on the volume of waste they produce.   

Circular economy

The government advises that simplifying the recycling rules should mean that more high-quality recycled material can be sourced domestically, which can then be used by manufacturers to make new products as part of the transition to a more circular economy. (1)

Businesses can have separate bins for each type of waste or separate the waste before collection. If they provide bins for our customers or visitors, this will also need to be separated before collection.

If business or workplace generates garden waste, this should be recycled or composted if it delivers the “best environmental outcome” according to government advice. (2)

Scope of recycling rules

The rules apply to businesses, charities and public sector organisations including: 

• offices  

• retail and wholesale, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores, garden centres, and service station forecourts  

• transport, such as trains, train stations, buses and coaches, bus stations, domestic vessels and ports, and airports 

• hospitality, such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, take-aways, and hotels  

• holiday parks, campsites and short-term rentals such as cottages or lodges 

• entertainment and sports venues, such as cinemas, theatres, galleries, theme parks, zoos, stadiums and arenas 

• agricultural premises, including shows, showgrounds and markets 

• construction sites 

• warehouses 

• manufacturing facilities, factories, and workshops 

• venues for temporary events such as festivals and shows, including outdoor events 

• places of education, such as schools, colleges, and universities

• healthcare places, such as GP surgeries and hospitals

• care homes   

• charities and those registered as charities   

• places of worship  

• penal institutes  

• charity shops selling donated goods that came from a domestic property  

• residential hostels that provide accommodation to people with no other permanent address or who are unable to live at their permanent address only 

• premises used only or mainly for public meetings (2)

The government has provided full guidance for each sector on the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) website. (3) The website also includes a waste calculator, which can assess the potential cost of waste collection services and share ideas to improve waste efficiency.   

Dry recyclable waste

• glass (drinks bottles, rinsed empty food jars etc.)

• metal (drinks cans, rinsed empty food tins, empty aerosols, aluminium foil, aluminium food trays & tubes etc.)

• plastic (rinsed empty food containers and bottles etc.)

• paper and cardboard (newspapers, envelopes, boxes, cardboard food packaging etc.) (2)

Food waste

• leftovers from staff lunches

• banana skins and apple cores

• coffee grounds and tea bags

• waste from food preparation, such as onion skins etc.

Packaging labelled “compostable” or “biodegradable” cannot be recycled with food waste but caddy liners (including compostable liners) used to hold food waste can be collected.

Organisations  should provide clear information for your employees, customers and visitors about what can and cannot be recycled in each bin.

Items not collected include: (2)

Glass

• drinking glasses

• flat glass

• glass cookware (e.g. Pyrex)

• light bulbs and tubes

• microwave plates

• mirrors

• vases

• window glass

• ceramics, such as crockery or earthenware

• candles

Metal

• laminated foil, like pet food pouches and coffee pouches

• electrical items and batteries

• general kitchenware like cutlery, pots and pans

• kettles

• irons

• pipes

• packaging that has contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreeze

Plastic

• any plastic packaging or non-packaging items labelled as “compostable” or “biodegradable”, including coffee pods

• packaging that has contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreeze

• bulky rigid plastics such as garden furniture, bins and plastic toys

• polystyrene (expanded and high impact) packaging such as packing beads

• PVC packaging

Paper and card

• tissues or toilet paper

• absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) including nappies, period products and incontinence products

• cotton wool or makeup pads

• wet wipes

Organisations should make sure they are registered on the Public Register of Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers (4), and will need to continue paying for their own waste management services.

Failure to comply can result in compliance notices from the Environment Agency, and potentially hefty fines or civil sanctions. (2) 

Alongside extended producer responsibility for packaging and the deposit return scheme for drinks containers, Simpler Recycling in England is estimated to deliver greenhouse gas emissions savings equivalent to £11.8 billion and make a significant contribution towards meeting the ambition to recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035. (2)

Bibliography

1 “New Rules simplifying recycling for workplaces come into force” (Accessed April 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-simplifying-recycling-for-workplaces-in-england-come-into-force

2 “Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England” (Accessed April 2025 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england

3 “We’re all in the business of recycling” (Accessed April 2025) https://businessofrecycling.wrap.ngo/)

4 “Register of Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers” (Accessed April 2025) https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers