New recycling rules for businesses in England & Wales
Businesses are now required to separate food waste and recyclable materials from general waste under the new "Simpler Recycling" legislation. The changes are designed to improve recycling rates, reduce landfill waste, and create more consistent recycling system across England and Wales. Non-compliance can lead to fines, penalties and increased tax for your business.
31 March 2025 Businesses with 10 or more employees must separately collect three recyclable waste streams alongside general waste: Dry Recyclables (glass, metal, plastic) Paper & Card and Food Waste.
31 March 2026 All households must separately collect three recyclable waste streams alongside general waste: Dry Recyclables (glass, metal, plastic) Paper & Card and Food Waste.
October 2026 Mandatory digital waste tracking will be introduced for permitted and licensed waste receiving sites.
31 March 2027 Micro-firms with fewer than 10 employees separately collect three recyclable waste streams alongside general waste: Dry Recyclables (glass, metal, plastic) Paper & Card and Food Waste.
31 March 2027 All businesses and households must also separately collect plastic film packaging from general waste.
Wales – New Legislation Timeline
6 April 2024 All workplaces must separately present and collect 6 recyclable waste streams alongside general waste: Metal, Plastic & Cartons, Paper & Card, Glass, Unsold Textiles, and Unsold Small Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (sWEEE), and Food Waste if the premises produce >5 kg in any seven-day period.
6 April 2026 All workplaces, including NHS hospitals and private hospitals, must comply with the full separation requirements and separate all small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE), not just unsold sWEEE.
Upcoming Digital Tracking 2026
The new upcoming legislation involves mandatory tracking of waste from businesses in England.
This means it will become easier to track and follow non-compliance to the source.
The upcoming tracking laws mean that waste carriers may refuse improperly segregated waste and issue fines for non-compliant businesses.
