Willshee’s Head Office kitchen food caddy, part of the company’s commitment to practicing what it promotes through Simpler Recycling.
Six months after the rollout of the UK government’s Simpler Recycling legislation for non-household premises, leading waste and resource management company Willshee’s is reporting a significant shift in customer behaviour, while cautioning that gaps in understanding still persist.
The new regulations, in force since 31 March 2025, require businesses and non-domestic organisations in England with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees to separate key recyclable waste streams, including plastics, paper & card, glass, metals, and food waste.
The move is part of the UK’s broader strategy to hit a 65% national recycling rate and accelerate progress towards a circular economy.
Compliance momentum, but uneven understanding
Since the introduction of the rules, Willshee’s has seen a 133% increase in food waste bin deployment and a 340% rise in food waste tonnage diverted to anaerobic digestion across its customer base. There has also been a marked increase in glass waste enquiries, indicating strong awareness in some sectors of the need for improved source segregation.
However, awareness and implementation are still uneven – especially among multi-site operators and sectors with seasonal or variable staffing levels.
“We’re seeing strong engagement from many clients, but there are still pockets of the market where the legislation hasn’t landed,” said Managing Director, Dean Willshee. “The regulations are live, yet some businesses haven’t adjusted their processes. That presents a risk – not just of penalties, but of falling behind in sustainability performance.”
Strategic implications for waste and resource management
Simpler Recycling is already shaping procurement strategies, bin infrastructure, collection models, and reporting practices. For service providers, it also underscores the importance of customer education, service flexibility, and compliance transparency.
Willshee’s has responded by scaling up its support services, including on-site waste audits, segregated collection systems, and compliance reporting tools. The company’s online portal provides customers with detailed data on waste volumes, recycling rates, and collection schedules, helping clients meet both regulatory and ESG reporting needs.
“The most effective implementations are those where waste is being viewed as a managed resource stream, not just as an extra cost,” Dean Willshee added. “The legislation offers a real opportunity to reduce residual waste and improve recycling yields, provided it’s approached strategically.”
Next phase: domestic rollout in 2026
While the current phase applies only to non-household premises, the next milestone arrives in March 2026, when household collections in England must also align with the Simpler Recycling framework. Local authorities will be responsible for enabling residents to separate materials in line with the new system.
For waste handlers and processors, this staggered rollout provides an opportunity to optimise infrastructure and educate stakeholders before the household element takes effect.
Advisory support available
Willshee’s continues to support businesses across multiple sectors in aligning with the new regulations. Its consultancy-led approach is designed to simplify compliance, reduce contamination, and increase the financial and environmental returns of higher-quality recycling streams.
Organisations looking to benchmark their current performance or validate compliance strategies are encouraged to book a free assessment.
For further information or to arrange a consultation, visit: www.willshees.co.uk/simpler-recycling