Simpler Recycling Legislation for Businesses in England: What You Need to Know

If you’re a small or medium-sized business (SME) in England, you may have heard about new recycling requirements rolling out in 2025. Officially referred to as “Simpler Recycling” this legislation is designed to streamline and standardise how businesses (and other non-domestic premises) manage their waste. The ultimate goal is to reduce confusion, improve recycling rates, and help the UK move towards a more circular economy. With deadlines approaching, understanding your obligations and making the right preparations can save you both time and money. Below, we break down the key points of Simpler Recycling and what it means for SMEs. We’ll keep things straightforward, focusing solely on business requirements—and leaving out the residential side of things—so you can feel confident in the steps you need to take.

What Is “Simpler Recycling”?

The government’s Simpler Recycling legislation aims to make recycling more consistent across England, so businesses (and other organisations like schools and hospitals) can collect and recycle the same core materials, no matter where they are located. This marks a shift away from the patchwork of local rules that often left business owners confused about which items could be recycled and how to sort them.

Key Objectives

• Streamline waste collection to reduce confusion for businesses.
• Encourage higher recycling rates by ensuring the correct materials are captured and not contaminated.
• Support the circular economy by increasing the availability of high-quality recycled materials in the UK.
• Offer flexibility in how businesses set up collections, so long as they meet the new default requirements.

Why These Changes Matter for SMEs

For many small or medium-sized enterprises, managing waste can be an afterthought. However, the costs of non-compliance—and the missed opportunity to improve sustainability—can be significant. Simpler Recycling is intended to reduce complexity in the long run, making it easier to “do the right thing” with minimal disruption to everyday operations.

Potential Benefits for SMEs

 

Clarity and Consistency

No more guesswork. Wherever you do business in England, the core list of recyclables will be the same.  

Boost in Sustainability Credentials

Customers are increasingly paying attention to green credentials. Meeting (and exceeding) these new recycling requirements can help strengthen your reputation.  

Reduced Long-Term Costs

Although there might be some initial setup costs for separate containers or adjusting how you handle waste, improved recycling practices can eventually lead to cost savings. For instance, food waste collections can be cheaper than disposing of it in general waste, especially if you produce large quantities of organic waste.

The Core Requirements for Businesses

Under Simpler Recycling, by 31 March 2025, all businesses in England (except micro-firms—see below) must arrange for separate collection of the following core recyclable waste streams:

• Food
• Glass
• Plastic
• Paper & Card
• Small Metals such as tins and cans

The key point is that these core materials should no longer be lumped together with general (non-recyclable) waste, so that they can be effectively recycled. Most suppliers will collect Plastic, Paper & Card, and Small Metals such as tins and cans, in the same Dry Mixed Recycling container – this is called “co-mingling” and has been outlined by the Government as being acceptable if the supplier can present a case as to why they are unable to collect the waste separately. Glass and Food need to have their own separate containers and cannot be in either General Waste or Dry Mixed Recycling bins.

Micro-Firms (Fewer than 10 Employees)

• If you are a “micro-firm” with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees, you have until 31 March 2027 to arrange for recycling of the same core waste streams (glass, small metal, plastic, paper and card, and food waste).
• This extension recognises the added logistical and financial challenges that very small businesses face. It gives you more time to plan, budget, and set up any additional containers or collection contracts you’ll need.

How Many Bins Will Businesses Need?

You may have heard rumours about the need for up to seven different bins or containers under new recycling rules, but this is not the case. The legislation has evolved to avoid over-complicating waste collections. For most workplaces, the default requirement involves four containers:

• General (non-recyclable) waste
• Food waste
• Glass waste
• All other dry recyclable materials (plastic, paper and cardboard, and small metals)

These containers can be bins or bags – whatever suits your location best. The main point is that recyclable items are separated into the above containers. Depending on your location, you may not have a supplier able to take the recycling items co-mingled, in which case you would require:

• General (non-recyclable) waste
• Food waste
• Glass waste
• Plastic
• Paper and cardboard
• Small metals

Timelines to Keep in Mind

Here are the major milestones relevant to businesses:

• 31 March 2025: All businesses in England with more than 10 full time employees (regardless of where they are located) must separate and arrange collection of the core recyclable streams (food, glass, small metals, plastic, and paper/card waste).
• 31 March 2027: Micro-firms must comply by this date for core recyclables and food waste.

Preparing Your Business: Practical Steps

Audit Your Current Waste

Start by looking at what types of waste your business actually produces. If you run a small café, for example, you might have a lot of food and packaging waste. A small retail shop might have more cardboard and plastic packaging. Understanding the volume and type of your waste will help you figure out how many bins you need and the frequency of collections.

Speak to us

We are well versed in what you need to do and what we can offer to meet the new legislation. Even if you already have a waste management contract in place for your general waste, we can help you with additional bins to comply. We can:

• Supply the correct containers for each waste stream.
• Provide a schedule that meets the new legislative deadlines.
• Offer guidance on reducing contamination (e.g., rinsing out cans and containers before recycling).

If your current contractor isn’t aware of these changes—or seems uncertain about how they will comply—it might be time to shop around for a provider that’s proactive.

Train Your Staff

Even the best-intentioned policy won’t work if employees don’t know how to sort waste correctly. Simple signage and quick training sessions go a long way to ensure that rubbish ends up in the right bin. Sometimes you may not realise how some items can be recycled – did you know that teabags and coffee grounds can go into a food bin to be recycled. We can help you advise your staff on the correct procedures to maximise your recycling and save you money in the process!

Use the Extension Wisely (If You’re a Micro-Firm)

If you have fewer than 10 employees, the 2027 deadline offers extra breathing room. However, it’s often easier to start making incremental changes now rather than waiting until the last minute. Consider:

• Starting with food waste collections if you produce a lot of organics.
• Gradually adding separate bins for paper, card, plastic, metal and glass.
• Monitoring costs and adjusting the frequency of collections as you learn more about your actual needs.

Common Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Will this cost my business more money?

In the short term, you might need to invest in additional bins or adjust your current collection contract. However, proper separation often leads to reduced general waste. Since disposing of general waste is usually more expensive, your total costs could balance out or even decrease over time.  

Q2: Can I still combine food waste with other materials if I only produce a small volume?

No, there is no minimum requirement for separation of food waste in England (unlike in Wales and Scotland). Food waste including teabags, coffee grounds, lunch leftovers, and fruit peelings, and must be kept separate from general waste and dry mixed recyclables to avoid contamination.  

Q3: What if I produce very little waste overall—do I still need separate bins?

Yes. Even if your total waste volume is small, the legislation still requires that you separate out these core recyclable materials. However, smaller businesses might opt for smaller containers or less frequent collections to accommodate low volumes of waste.  

Q4: Can I still put recycling into general waste if I don’t want to separate it?

No, you must put recycling into separate containers. This is a legislative change and therefore is mandatory. Our suppliers are also bound by it so will be unable to empty your bin if it contains the wrong waste. You are likely to still have to pay for the collection even if the bin isn’t emptied, so it will pay off to get it right first time.  

The Bigger Picture: Moving Toward a Circular Economy

Beyond simple compliance, these changes align with the government’s overarching push towards a circular economy, wherein materials are kept in circulation for as long as possible through recycling, reusing, and re-manufacturing. Higher-quality recyclables mean packaging manufacturers and other industries can rely on a steady domestic supply of raw materials, reducing the need for virgin resources and minimising the carbon footprint associated with sourcing and shipping. For businesses, this offers:

• Opportunities for Innovation: Perhaps your company can shift towards more recyclable packaging for your products or your supply chain.
• Strengthened ESG Profile: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are increasingly important to investors, customers, and employees. Meeting higher recycling standards can enhance your rating.
• Partnership Potential: Collaboration with local authorities, community groups, or other businesses can create synergies for example sharing best practices on waste reduction.

Potential Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Space Constraints

Small offices or shops might struggle to find room for multiple bins. Solution: Consider using slimmer bins, or speak with us about less frequent collections for certain streams, so you don’t end up with overly large containers. You can also switch to a bag service if you have a very low volume of waste.

Contamination Issues

Incorrectly sorted waste can lead to entire loads being rejected and this has large implications for our suppliers, and will ultimately impact you as a customer. Solution: Train your staff, use clear signage, and keep contaminated items (like food-soiled containers) out of dry recycling. Rinsing out containers can help too.

Changing Staff Habits

Old habits die hard, and it can take time for employees to adjust. Solution: Make recycling easy and obvious. Put bins in convenient places (e.g., near desks, break rooms) and remove or reduce the number of general waste bins to encourage proper sorting.

Budget Concerns

The worry that extra bins and additional collections cost more. Solution: Analyse your current waste disposal costs and talk to us on how you can get a better waste solution for your business. If you cut back on general waste (which is often the most expensive to dispose of), you may find the overall cost comparable or even cheaper once the new system is up and running.  

Conclusion

The Simpler Recycling legislation, due to come fully into force for most businesses by 31 March 2025, marks a significant but positive shift in how England manages its waste. For small and medium-sized enterprises, it offers clarity, consistency, and the chance to showcase stronger environmental credentials—making it easier to meet both legislative requirements and the growing public demand for sustainable practices.

By understanding the core requirements, planning your waste streams carefully, and engaging with your staff, you can turn what might feel like an obligation into an opportunity for cost savings, brand enhancement, and operational efficiency. And if you’re a micro-firm, remember you have until 31 March 2027 to comply, giving you some extra breathing room.

As these rules roll out, staying proactive is key. Get in touch with us to start understanding what you need to do, and how we can help. When done right, Simpler Recycling can help your business do its part for the planet—while creating a cleaner, more sustainable future for everyone.