Home News The scoop on ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation

The scoop on ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation

News 02/10/2024 3 min read

Businesses in England over 10 employees must comply with the new legislation from March 31st 2025

You might have heard about ‘Simpler Recycling England’ legislation, encouraging everyone to recycle by standardising and simplifying recycling waste collection across England.

The legislation will initially apply to all businesses over 10 employees. From 31st March 2025, they are required to separate waste into these four waste streams.

• General waste
• Plastic, metal, tetra-carton and glass
• Paper & Card
• Food waste

CO-MINGLED COLLECTION CAVEAT
Waste management firms are permitted to collect ‘paper & card’ with ‘plastic & metal’ as one waste stream (known as dry mixed recyclables). Check with your waste management company how they will be collecting recyclable materials after March.

WHAT’S NEXT?
Simpler recycling will apply to households in 2026, and businesses under 10 employees in 2027. It will also include flexible plastics in 2027. Stay tuned for more updates on the flexible plastic changes.

Key dates

When	What
31 MARCH 2025	BUSINESSES WITH MORE THAN 10 EMPLOYEES Weekly food waste collections must be implemented Dry recyclables must be recycled (glass, metal, plastic containers, paper, and cardboard but excluding plastic films). BUSINESSES WITH LESS THAN 10 EMPLOYEES No change yet
31 MARCH 2026	HOUSEHOLDS Weekly food waste collections must be implemented Dry recyclables must be recycled (glass, metal, plastic containers, paper, and cardboard but excluding plastic films).
31 MARCH 2027	BUSINESSES WITH MORE THAN 10 EMPLOYEES Plastic films must be recycled BUSINESSES WITH LESS THAN 10 EMPLOYEES Weekly food waste collections must be implemented Dry recyclables must be recycled (glass, metal, plastic containers, paper, and cardboard). Plastic films must be recycled HOUSEHOLDS Plastic films must be recycled

When

What

31 MARCH 2025

BUSINESSES WITH MORE THAN 10 EMPLOYEES

Weekly food waste collections must be implemented
Dry recyclables must be recycled (glass, metal, plastic containers, paper, and cardboard but excluding plastic films).

BUSINESSES WITH LESS THAN 10 EMPLOYEES
No change yet

31 MARCH 2026

HOUSEHOLDS

Weekly food waste collections must be implemented
Dry recyclables must be recycled (glass, metal, plastic containers, paper, and cardboard but excluding plastic films).

31 MARCH 2027

BUSINESSES WITH MORE THAN 10 EMPLOYEES

Plastic films must be recycled

BUSINESSES WITH LESS THAN 10 EMPLOYEES

Weekly food waste collections must be implemented
Dry recyclables must be recycled (glass, metal, plastic containers, paper, and cardboard).
Plastic films must be recycled

HOUSEHOLDS

Plastic films must be recycled

What should I do now?

Don’t wait until March – start recycling now. Check out our range of bins designed to streamline the recycling process, and start your journey towards a greener future today.

If you need any help navigating the new legislation or working out what bins your organisation will need, get in touch!