Why ‘Simpler Recycling’ Is a Big Deal
18 March 2025 by CSG
Is your business ready for the UK’s new, Simpler Recycling legislation?
Taking effect at the end of March 2025, this rule change aims to streamline recycling collections across the country. Simpler Recycling will make it easier for organisations to dispose of waste responsibly and improve recycling rates. In this blog, we will break down what’s changing, why it matters for businesses, and how you can get your business ready.
Why are these changes happening?
The UK government has unveiled its ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms for both household and business waste in England.
Under this plan, the UK’s recycling processes will be standardised. This will mean that people can recycle the same materials at home and in the workplace. By making waste collections more consistent, the scheme has been created to reduce confusion about what can be recycled. In turn the aim is to boost recycling rates and help to protect the environment.
Key Changes for Businesses
For most businesses, the biggest change will be that you can no longer use a general waste bin for all your waste.
The government is proposing that all dry recyclables – paper, card, plastic, metal, and glass – go in a separate, single bin. This eliminates the need to separate paper from plastic or wondering where metal needs to go, as everything will be deposited in one convenient container!
From 31 March 2025, all businesses (except those classified as microbusinesses with less than 10 employees) in England will be required to present the following materials for recycling:
Paper & Cardboard
- All paper & cardboard except:
- Paper and card that contains glitter or foil
- Paper that is laminated
- Stickers and sticky paper
- Padded lined envelopes
- Paperback and hardback books
- Wallpaper
Plastic
- Plastic bottles
- Pots, tubs, and trays made of pet including amorphous recycled pet polypropylene pp and high density polyethylene hdpe
- Plastic tubes larger than 50mm x 50mm
- Cartons for food, drink, and other liquids
- Plastic film packaging and plastic bags
Glass
- Glass packaging including bottles and jars.
Metal
- Steel and aluminium tins & cans
- Steel and aluminium aerosols
- Aluminium foil
- Aluminium food trays
- Steel and aluminium jars and bottle lids
- Aluminium tubes
Food waste
- All food intended for human or household pet consumption, regardless of whether it has a nutritional value.
- Biodegradable material resulting from the processing or preparation of food, including inedible food parts such as bones, eggshells, fruit and vegetable skins, tea bags and coffee grounds.
The benefits of Simpler Recycling
Some of the key benefits of the government’s new legislation include:
- Cost Savings: Properly sorting and recycling waste can lower disposal costs. Recycling services often cost less than sending everything to landfill.
- More Clarity: Standardised rules make it easier for businesses and individuals to understand which materials should be recycled. This reduces confusion and the likelihood of noncompliance.
- Lower Environmental Impact: Diverting more items from landfill reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It also conserves natural resources. This supports your company’s broader sustainability goals.
- Reduced Risk of Fines: If you don’t comply with Simpler Recycling legislation, this can lead to fines – especially for larger businesses who produce more waste at their site.
- Potential for Growth in the Recycling Sector: Clearer regulations and more recyclables in the waste stream can mean more investment and job creation in both the waste-management and recycling industries.
How to get your business ready
Some organisations may worry about the expenses associated with upgrading their waste management processes. However, the new Simpler Recycling legislation is now a legal requirement. As mentioned in the benefits section, it can significantly reduce disposal costs—making compliance financially beneficial for your business!
A successful Simpler Recycling strategy begins with a thorough waste audit. This will assess current waste streams and pinpoint areas for improvement. This research then informs a targeted recycling plan that fits each business’s unique operations.
Consulting with waste management experts like CSG from the outset can provide valuable guidance. We help organisations optimise their practices while staying compliant with regulations. If you would like to book a waste audit with CSG, you can here.
CSG has a track record of helping customers with their waste and business specific needs. For example, we helped a customer save over £2000 annually. We did this by optimising the location of their office waste bins and emptying schedule. For another customer, we converted waste wood that would have otherwise incurred significant disposal costs into briquettes, which were sold as fuel, generating additional revenue.
FAQs
It depends on your local authority’s specific approach. Some businesses will simply re-label existing bins; others may require new ones. Check local guidance for exact details.
In most cases, smaller businesses follow the same rules as households or other companies. However, if your waste output is minimal, contact your council for clarification on bin requirements.
Confidential documents, electronics, and hazardous materials (like certain chemicals) often require specialised disposal. The new legislation focuses mainly on common recyclables like paper, plastic, glass, and food waste.
Typically not. Most SMEs and larger businesses can adapt by reorganising existing waste processes, training current employees, and adding clear signage. However, large-scale operations with complex waste streams may benefit from a dedicated waste management lead or contractor.
Enforcement typically targets repeated or large-scale non-compliance. Councils usually provide warnings and education first. Nevertheless, consistent effort to follow the rules helps avoid any possible penalties.
Reach out to us today to explore how our compliant, simple, and dependable waste management solutions can keep you fully compliant with Simpler Recycling. Give us a call on 0800 011 6600 or contact us here!
