Simpler Recycling revisited as industry experts cut through the waste talk

Only a few more weeks to go before the new Simpler Recycling reforms are implemented on the 31st of March across England. With the clock ticking for businesses with more than 10 full-time employees, as well as schools and hospitals and other municipal organisations, ideally should be now well-versed with the do’s and don’ts of Simpler Recycling and have their compliant collection services in place or at least ready to go.

Unfortunately, industry experts are still seeing a lot of confusion around Simpler Recycling’s regulations. In our recent webinar, ‘Simpler Recycling: Navigating the upcoming deadline with confidence’, we invited a group of waste and resource management specialists to answer lingering questions about this ‘hottest topic in town’.

Our panel included Wendy Barratt, County Waste Manager, Devon County Council and ADEPT Waste Group Vice Chair; Michelle Whitfield, Head of Communications & Behaviour Change, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA); and Stuart Hayward-Higham, Chief Technical Development and Innovation Officer, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK. The webinar was hosted by Dr. Adam Read MBE, Chief External Affairs and Sustainability Officer at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK.

Cracking the new reforms code

In a nutshell, we will all have to get used to a four-bin system (or three, depending on certain factors) – one for residual (non-recyclable waste), one for food waste (along with garden waste, if appropriate), one for paper and cardboard, and a final one for all other recyclables like plastic, metal and glass when we are at our place of work (and similar a year later for all of us at home too). This means less head-scratching about where to put your yoghurt pots, plastic wrappers or food waste than in the past. With more consistency across England (at home and at work) we should deliver better recycling practices, with less contamination of recycling or loss of recycling from the system. The goal is simple enough – to make recycling a breeze with a standardised system that’s consistent across England.

Micro-businesses, or those with fewer than 10 full-time employees, have until 31 March 2027 to follow suit. On the same date, all businesses and local authorities must also be prepared to collect flexible plastic packaging (i.e. plastic films, chocolate wrappers and crisp packets). Meanwhile, all households must comply from 31 March 2026. So there is no excuse not to be ready, we have a clear line of sight and a reasonable transition period, assuming awareness of these changes is high and everyone is willing to act, which it seems may not be the case from the audience engagement in this recent webinar.

The panel agreed that while consistency is key, there will also need to be some flexibility. Local authorities and their service providers (like SUEZ) can use the Technically, Environmentally and Economically Practicable (TEEP) test to see if it’s viable to separate certain materials. For instance, while the default requirement is to separate paper and card, authorities can apply an exemption if it makes more sense to combine these with other dry recyclables (for storage space reasons or cost reasons). If a business yields huge numbers of glass, meanwhile, then it would do them well to have a separate bin for glass materials alone beyond the remaining recyclable streams. This is to minimise cost and to reduce any contamination of the paper and card streams.

Hospitals handle complex waste like clinical and hazardous materials, but these must still meet standard recycling requirements. The same applies to schools and it was clear on the webinar that levels of awareness and preparedness amongst these types of organisation was particularly low.

Businesses with on-site composting are also offered some flexibility. For instance, if their composting meets current industry regulations about its storage and the containment of pathogens, etc., it could replace the need for a separate food waste collection, but this requires coordination with their service providers and early planning to ensure compliance is in place from day one.

Communication woes

Realistically speaking, our panel all agreed that not all businesses will get it right initially and there will be a transition period. If the audience poll results during the webinar are any indication of what to expect when the new reforms are finally rolled out, there are still gaps to fill. For instance, when asked what was preventing respondents from being deadline-ready, 30% pointed to the availability of suitable vehicles or bins and 28% still unaware of the deadline and requirements. And when asked what they would do if their waste provider were not ready, 39% had no qualms about looking at other waste operators and 34% were keen on pushing their providers to be compliance ready.

Of the various challenges mentioned in the webinar, one stood out that needs immediate attention – clear, simple, consistent communication and messaging that should be taken as high up as the national level. One of the poll questions on raising awareness about Simpler Recycling saw that the majority (88%) wanted expanded mass media coverage across all appropriate channels about Simpler Recycling. Something we hope the government and the Environment Agency are responding to.

While local authorities are doing their best in informing the businesses in their jurisdiction about the new regulations, the panel agreed that national coverage is lacking. A national-level communication campaign, ideally led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) or Water & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), can raise awareness, reduce resistance to change and easier implementation.

Practical tips

It is also important to avoid using industry jargon to circumvent more confusion and misinterpretation. Employee engagement is very crucial and the earlier the employees are familiar with the new process, the better. Thus, constant communication with employees via the Intranet, notice boards and team meetings is encouraged.

In another poll question on whether all modes of communications have been utilised so everyone is aware of the deadline, 36% agreed but to a certain extent but that more could be done. Another 32% did not agree, while 29% were unsure if enough effort has been made.

Coordinated communications and messaging, correction of misconceptions (especially regarding food waste in offices), strategically located and clearly labelled bins, and creation of uniform symbols and even colour-coded bins are some of the suggestions raised in the discussion.

Amidst all these valuable tips and information, there is only one thing left to do if you are still unclear about Simpler Recycling. Adam summed it up very well with this key, very practical takeaway:

If you don’t know what’s happening, ask!

If you don’t know who to ask, consult your current service provider or local authority.

If you’re stuck, Google WRAP.

If you’re really stuck, Google Defra.

If you missed the live webinar session, you can watch it on-demand here.