Simpler Recycling – coming to a bin near you
From 31 March 2025, the new Simpler recycling/Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025 come into force. The Regulations mean that the new default position for businesses will be 4 containers for :-
- General waste
- Food waste
- Paper and cardboard
- All other dry recyclable materials (plastics, metals and glass)
Micro-firms (ie. businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees) have until the 31st March 2027 to arrange for recycling of core recyclable waste streams.
The aim of the regulations is to ensure waste can be better recycled or composted. This is why food waste is separated out – so it can be composted or sent to an anaerobic digester; and also why paper and cardboard is separated. Paper and card are particularly vulnerable to ‘cross-contamination from food and liquids often found on other recycling. This contamination significantly reduces to capacity for card and paper to be recycled.
What is required? The default will be for 4 containers
Food waste
e.g. Scrapes, tea bags, coffee grounds
Mandatory separate collection — use designated food caddies. It means waste food should be scraped from containers.
Paper and Cardboard
e.g. Notices, plans, cardboard wrappers on food
Paper and card are particularly vulnerable to contamination from food and liquids which reduces recyclability and hence it is to be separated completely.
Dry mixed recycling
e.g. Plastic bottles, metals, cans
Glass Waste
e.g. Bottles, jars
Glass should be separated as a separate waste stream BUT most of the waste contractors have opted for permission to co-mingle glass with other dry mixed recycling (DMR) so if there is no glass container it should be put in the DMR one.
General Waste
Non-recyclable items only e.g. certain plastics, contaminated paper
No recyclable materials allowed
Common mistakes to avoid
- Single use Coffee cups (e.g. Costa) belong in general waste – Not in Dry Mixed Recycling
- Food waste belongs in the food caddies – It will now be illegal to put food waste in in general waste bins.
- Batteries belong in specific battery hazardous waste containers.
Exemptions
As always there are ‘exemptions’ that can be applied to allow for local flexibility and needs. Importantly, while the regulations require actions to separate waste by the waste producers, the ‘exemptions’ are in the control of the collectors. For this reason, if you are going to have a problem adhering to the separation requirements you must talk with your waste collector.
The exemptions allowable fall into TEEP – ie. if separate collection is not technically or economically practicable or provides no significant environmental benefits. If the waste collector wishes to claim an exemption on these grounds they would need to submit a TEEP Assessment.
What to do now
If you’ve not already done so, contact your waste collector to confirm the arrangements they are putting in place for your organisation and whether or not they are applying TEEP Exemptions that will impact on our requirement to separate your waste.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england
