Responding to the government announcement on Simpler Recycling, Margaret Bates, Executive Director at OPRL, described the statement as a prompt and clear message that will make planning more efficient for brands and retailers.
Bates is a previous president of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and visiting professor at the University of Northampton, who has worked with local authorities and waste managers for over 35 years. She said: “Defra has clearly worked hard to clarify the detail of Simpler Recycling as quickly as possible, and this statement should be a welcome assurance for packaging producers and wider industry. By March 2026, householders in England will all have the same materials collected by their council, which will reduce confusion and increase recycling.
“Without consumer buy-in, the system will fail even with our best efforts, so we need consumers to trust the information we give them. OPRL research shows that confusion is the greatest barrier to recycling1. Consistent collections across England will enable brands to not only design for recycling, but also to communicate recycling instructions to consumers across the entire country.”
Saturday’s announcement clarified Defra’s legislative plans for local authority collections. From 2026, household collections for metal, glass, plastic, paper, card, garden waste and weekly food waste will become mandatory. Non-household municipal premises such as schools and hospitals will come under the new regulations in 2025.
Bates concluded: “After listening to industry and tackling concerns around consistency, Simpler Recycling represents another important building block in England’s EPR system. We are gaining momentum now and, once in place, we can hope to have a world-class system that will bring about a real step change in recycling.