In the past year, searches on Google for ‘new business recycling legislation’ have increased by 148% [1]. This coincides with the upcoming 'Simpler Recycling' legislation, effective in England from March 31st, which mandates businesses with 10 or more employees to sort waste into six distinct recycling bins. Businesses are seeking information regarding the new legislation, and Google searches for ‘Simpler Recycling legislation’ have risen by 1,614% year-on-year [1].
Commercial waste experts at Direct365 have provided five top tips for businesses to prepare for the new legislation:
- Check whether your business will be affected: Businesses with 10 or more full-time employees, whether operating at a single location or multiple sites, will need to comply with the new recycling policy by March 31st. All other businesses will be expected to meet these requirements by 2027 [4].
- Invest in colour coded bins for each required material: Ensure that there are adequate facilities for separating recyclable materials from other waste streams. Clearly labelled bins and designated recycling areas can help improve segregation.
- Educate your team: Educate employees about the new recycling policies and the importance of compliance. Conduct training sessions to help staff understand changes in recycling procedures and how they can contribute.
- Collaborate with waste management providers: Evaluate current waste management contracts and services to ensure that they align with the new policies. Work with waste management providers who offer services that comply with the updated regulations.
- Develop a recycling policy: Establish clear recycling targets based on the new regulations. Monitor progress regularly to ensure that your business is on track to meet these goals.
Businesses risk being fined for non-compliance
Until the 31st March, businesses are not required by any specific law to recycle waste in a specific way. However, they are required under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to have a “duty of care” to manage waste responsibility. However, if a business is caught breaching the Simpler Recycling policy, they could face a fine or other penalty, as well as damage their reputation [3].
The goal of Simpler Recycling is to increase the amount of recycled material used in products businesses purchase and to ensure that high-quality recycled materials can be sourced domestically within the UK. This initiative aims to enhance the circularity of packaging within the country. The new requirements are expected to significantly contribute to the national target of recycling 65% of municipal waste by 2035 [4].
What businesses will be affected by new recycling rules?
While the Simpler Recycling legislation will not affect all businesses in the UK at once, almost 291,000 businesses will be affected from the 31st March 2025 [2]. This is because they have 10 or more employees.
The industries in the UK that will be most affected by the legislation in the first instance include: accommodation & food services, health, production, scientific & technical and business administration and support services.
Source: ONS data collected in 2023
Karl Bantleman at Direct365 commented, “It is positive to see that policies are being put in place to ensure that businesses across the UK follow the same process when it comes to recycling different materials. At the moment, there are different processes in places across businesses and councils making it confusing to follow, especially if you run a business with locations across different counties. Hopefully the new streamlined policy coming into effect at the end of March will solve this issue.
While businesses are now required to split waste materials up into multiple different bins, this should not cause much extra work for them. By partnering with a waste management provider that is Simpler Recycling compliant, they will ensure that your waste is disposed of correctly.”
To find out more about Commercial Waste Recycling services, visit the Direct365 website.
Sources
[1] keywordtool.ao
[2] ONS data on size of businesses in different sectors throughout the UK
[3] Penalty enforcement for non-compliance of Simpler Recycling policy