From 31st March 2025, under the Simpler Recycling legislation, all businesses with 10 or more full time employees in the UK will have to present their waste for collection separated into:

• Dry mixed recycling
• Food waste
• General waste

Businesses with less than 10 FTE have until March 2027 to comply.

What goes in each bin?

DRY MIXED

• Plastic: clean empty food and drinks containers
• Metal: empty drinks cans; aluminium food trays, aluminium foils
• Glass: empty food jars and drinks bottles

FOOD WASTE

• Food leftovers
• Waste form food preparation (eg. peelings)
• Tea bags (where applicable) and coffee grinds

GENERAL WASTE

• Non-recyclable waste
• Food stained packaging that cannot be washed
• Hygiene products

Whose responsibility is Simpler Recycling?

Compliance for Simpler Recycling lies with the business itself. Companies must:

• Ensure waste is collected and presented correctly
• Arrange collections via a private waste collector or local authority

If your business provides bins for customers, this waste must also be separated accordingly.

What happens if you don’t comply with Simpler Recycling?

Non-compliance with Simpler Recycling may result in a Compliance Notice from the Environment Agency. Failure to act on this notice could lead to enforcement action against your business.

Review your waste management processes to ensure your business is compliant and ready for these upcoming changes. If you need advice or assistance on your business' waste management processes or strategies, we can help.