If you run a food business in Wales, you must separate food waste from general waste and arrange for it to be collected separately. This applies to restaurants, cafes, pubs, takeaways, hotels, food manufacturers, and any other business that produces food waste.
These rules come from the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023, made under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. They are significantly stricter than the rules in England, where mandatory food waste separation for businesses has not yet been introduced.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) enforces these requirements and can issue penalties for non-compliance.
Does this apply to you?
You must comply if your business in Wales produces food waste. This includes:
- Restaurants, cafes, bistros, and canteens
- Pubs, bars, and hotels that serve food
- Takeaways and fast food outlets
- Food manufacturers and processors
- Bakeries, butchers, and delicatessens
- Care homes, hospitals, and schools with kitchens
- Any workplace with a staff kitchen producing more than minimal food waste
The 5 kg per week threshold is the key measure. If your business produces more than 5 kg of food waste per week (roughly one carrier bag full per day), you must separate it. Most food businesses will exceed this comfortably.
How to comply
-
1
1. Assess your food waste volumes
Estimate how much food waste your business produces each week. Include preparation waste (peelings, trimmings, bones), plate waste, and any out-of-date stock. If you are above the 5 kg per week threshold, you must separate food waste.
-
2
2. Set up separate food waste bins
Provide clearly labelled food waste bins in your kitchen and food preparation areas. Use bins with lids to contain odour and prevent contamination. Food waste must not be mixed with general waste, dry recyclables, or garden waste.
-
3
3. Arrange a separate food waste collection
Contact your local council or a licensed waste carrier to set up a dedicated food waste collection. Your collector must be registered with NRW. Keep records of your waste carrier's details and collection schedule. You can check a carrier's registration on the NRW public register.
-
4
4. Use approved containers and liners
Use containers that meet your collector's requirements. Many councils provide dedicated food waste caddies. If using caddy liners, check they are compostable -- standard plastic bags contaminate food waste and may be rejected at the processing facility.
-
5
5. Train your staff
Brief all kitchen and front-of-house staff on what goes in the food waste bin and what does not. Display a clear poster near bins showing accepted items (food scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, plate scrapings) and excluded items (packaging, cooking oil in large quantities, non-food items).
-
6
6. Keep waste transfer notes
You must retain waste transfer notes for each collection for at least two years. These prove you are using a licensed carrier and disposing of food waste correctly. NRW can ask to see these during an inspection.
-
7
7. Review and reduce
Regularly review your food waste volumes. Reducing waste at source saves money on collection costs. Consider portion control, better stock rotation, and menu planning to minimise surplus.
Fats, oils, and grease (FOG)
Food businesses that produce cooking oils and grease have additional responsibilities. Used cooking oil and FOG must not go into food waste bins or be poured down drains. You need a separate arrangement for FOG collection, and if your premises discharge trade effluent, you may need consent from your water company or NRW.
Enforcement and penalties
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the enforcement body for waste separation in Wales. NRW officers can inspect your premises, request waste transfer notes, and check that food waste is being separated correctly.
If you fail to comply, NRW can:
- Issue a compliance notice requiring you to correct the breach within a set period
- Issue a fixed penalty notice for straightforward breaches
- Prosecute persistent or serious offenders, with unlimited fines on conviction
Waste carriers who mix food waste with other waste streams during collection can also face enforcement action.
Do not wait for an inspection
NRW is actively enforcing food waste separation. Set up compliant systems now rather than waiting. Businesses found to be mixing food waste with general rubbish during routine inspections will face enforcement action.
What to do next
If you have not yet set up separate food waste collection, act now:
- Contact your local council's trade waste team to find out about food waste collection services in your area
- Check the NRW waste permits page if you are unsure whether your waste carrier is licensed
- Review your current waste contracts to ensure food waste is listed as a separate stream