Guide
Simpler Recycling - what your business must do
New Simpler Recycling rules require businesses in England to separate recyclable waste into distinct streams. Larger businesses (10+ employees) had to comply by 31 March 2025. Micro-firms have until 31 March 2027. This guide explains what you must separate, how to arrange collections, and what happens if you do not comply.
Simpler Recycling is a legal requirement for businesses and non-domestic premises in England only. It requires you to separate your waste into specific recyclable streams and arrange for them to be collected separately from your general (residual) waste.
The rules were introduced under the Environment Act 2021 and came into effect in phases:
- 31 March 2025: All businesses with 10 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees must comply
- 31 March 2027: Micro-firms (fewer than 10 FTE employees) must comply
Volunteers, contractors, and self-employed workers do not count towards your employee total. If you are a micro-firm, you do not need to register for or apply for the temporary exemption - it applies automatically based on your employee count.
What you must separate
Under Simpler Recycling, you must arrange for the separate collection of the following waste streams from your premises:
- Dry recyclables: Paper and cardboard, plastic, metal (cans, tins, and foil), and glass. These may be collected together as a mixed recycling stream or separated further, depending on your waste collector's arrangements.
- Food waste: All food waste must be separated and collected separately. There is no minimum threshold in England - even small amounts must be separated.
- Glass: Must be collected separately if your waste collector does not accept it in the mixed dry recycling stream.
- Residual waste: Everything that cannot be recycled goes into your general waste stream.
You are not required to separate garden waste, textiles, or other materials beyond the core recyclable streams listed above, although you may choose to do so.
Arrange your collections
You must ensure your waste collector provides separate collection for the required waste streams. If your current waste collector cannot accommodate this, you may need to change provider or add supplementary collections.
What to do:
- Contact your waste collector to confirm they offer separate collection of dry recyclables and food waste
- Provide appropriate bins or containers for each waste stream in your workplace
- Brief your staff on which waste goes in which container
- Display clear signage near waste containers showing what can and cannot go in each
Your waste collector is also legally required to collect the separated waste streams. If they refuse or cannot provide this service, report them to the Environment Agency.
Exemptions and special circumstances
Some limited exemptions exist:
- Micro-firms: Businesses with fewer than 10 FTE employees have until 31 March 2027 to comply. This exemption applies automatically.
- Food waste in certain areas: Some local authorities have temporary exemptions from separate food waste collection requirements. Check with your local council.
- Co-collection: Where separate collection is not technically or economically practicable, or where it has no significant environmental benefit, a waste collector may co-collect some streams together. This is the collector's decision, not yours as a business.
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Check your compliance deadline
Count your full-time equivalent employees. If you have 10 or more FTE employees, you should already be complying (deadline was 31 March 2025). If you have fewer than 10 FTE employees, you have until 31 March 2027 but should start preparing now.
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Audit your current waste arrangements
Review what waste your business produces and how it is currently collected. Identify whether dry recyclables, food waste, and glass are already being separated or whether changes are needed.
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Contact your waste collector
Speak to your waste management provider about Simpler Recycling compliance. Confirm they can collect separated dry recyclables and food waste. Get a revised quote if your current contract does not cover separated collections.
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Set up workplace recycling points
Place clearly labelled bins for each waste stream in convenient locations. As a minimum, you need separate containers for dry recyclables, food waste, and residual waste. Add signage explaining what goes where.
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Brief your staff
Make sure all employees and regular contractors understand the new waste separation requirements. Include waste sorting in induction procedures for new starters.