Advice for business on new recycling requirements
New regulations will soon require your business to separate recyclable materials from your general waste.
What is changing and why
From the 31st March 2025 businesses will need to separate the following groups of recyclable materials:
- Glass, metal and plastic
- Cardboard and paper
- Food waste as a dedicated collection
The new guidelines apply to all businesses, healthcare establishments and academic institutions but small businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees are temporarily exempt until the 31st March 2027.
There is also no minimum food waste weight before the new regulations apply.
It's compulsory for businesses to arrange a separate collection of these materials, so they can be recycled.
Why does my business/organisation need to recycle?
New legislation comes into force soon that will require all businesses, health and social care establishments and academic institutions to separate a number of recyclables from their general waste. These include glass bottles and jars, metal food and drinks cans, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, paper and cardboard, and food waste.
The new regulations will mean that in future, no waste from businesses can be sent for disposal unless it can be shown to have gone through a treatment process. The simplest way to provide this treatment is to separate your waste for reuse or recycling. The aim is to increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste we send for disposal. It will also help reduce your business costs, save energy, conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
When am I required to make the changes?
Businesses and organisations with ten or more full-time employees are required to make arrangements for the collection of:
- Dry recyclable materials (except plastic film) by 31 March 2025
- Food waste by 31 March 2025
- Plastic film by 31 March 2027
Businesses and organisations with fewer than ten full-time employees (classed as micro-firms) are required to make arrangements for the collection of:
- Dry recyclable materials (including plastic film) by 31 March 2027
- Food waste by 31 March 2027
Further information
Please speak to your waste collection service provider about how they intend to help you meet these requirements.
WRAP England has produced helpful information for businesses on this topic - WRAP England advice for business recycling.
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