Simpler Recycling Legislation for Businesses In England

Make sure you comply by 31st March 2025

To comply with this, businesses must separate and dispose of their waste, as outlined in the new legislation, to avoid potential fines.

Businesses in England

This legislation applies to businesses operating in England only. Scotland and Wales have already implemented their own similar waste management policies for businesses.

10+ Employees

If your business or organisation has 10 or more full time equivalent employees, then you need to be compliant by 31st March 2025.

How do businesses comply with the Simpler Recycling Legislation?

Businesses much separate their waste into these 3 categories:

Food Waste

All food intended for human or household pet consumption

Food leftovers and waste generated by preparing food

Tea bags and coffee grounds

Dairy products, eggs and eggshells

Out-of-date or mouldy food

Dry Mixed Recycling

Glass - such as drinks bottles and rinsed empty food jars

Metal - such as drinks cans and rinsed empty food tins, empty aerosols, aluminium foil, aluminium food trays and tubes

Plastic - such as rinsed empty food containers and bottles

Paper and Cardboard

General Waste

Anything that doesn’t fall into the other categories

In general, anything that is contaminated and cannot be washed and dried

What are the consequences if businesses do not segregate and recycle their waste?

If you do not comply with these requirements by 31 March 2025, you are at risk of receiving a non-compliance notice from the Environment Agency.

It is an offence to fail to comply with a compliance notice and enforcement action may be taken against you which could lead to prosecution and/or fines.