What is Simpler Recycling?
The UK government has announced ‘Simpler Recycling’ waste reforms for households and businesses in England.
The scheme is designed to simplify the recycling system so people will be able to recycle the same materials whether they are at home or in the workplace. Standardising waste collections will help to eliminate confusion over what can be recycled, with the aim to improve recycling rates and protect the environment.
What does it mean for businesses?
Under the Simpler Recycling scheme, businesses, schools, hospitals and other ‘non-household municipal premises’ in England will be required to separate dry recycling (including paper, card, plastic packaging, glass and metal) from general waste for collection. In addition to dry recycling, if a business generates food waste, no matter how small the quantity, this will also need to be separated for collection.
The following recyclable materials are required to be separated from general waste:
- Glass packaging including bottles and jars
- Steel and aluminium tins and cans
- Steel and aluminium aerosols
- Aluminium foil
- Aluminium food trays
- Steel and aluminium jars and bottle lids
- Aluminium tubes
- Plastic bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET, including amorphous, recycled PET), polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
- Pots, tubs and trays made of PET (including amorphous, recycled and crystalline PET), PP (including expanded PP) and polyethylene (PE)
- PE and PP plastic tubes larger than 50mm x 50mm
- Cartons for food, drink and other liquids, including aseptic and chilled cartons
- Plastic film packaging and plastic bags made of mono-polyethylene (mono-PE), mono-polypropylene (mono-PP) and mixed polyolefins PE and PP, including those metallised through vacuum or vapour deposition (to be included from 31 March 2027)
All paper and card except:
- Paper and card that contains glitter or foil
- Paper that is laminated
- Stickers and sticky paper
- Padded lined envelopes
- Paperback and hardback books
- Wallpaper
- All food intended for human or household pet consumption
- Biodegradable material resulting from the processing or preparation of food, including inedible food parts such as bones, eggshells, fruit and vegetable skins, tea bags and coffee grounds
31 March 2025
Businesses, schools and hospitals must separate their dry recycling and food waste for collection separately.
31 March 2027
Micro firms (businesses with fewer that 10 full-time employees) must separate their dry recycling and food waste for collection separately.
All businesses will be required to separate plastic film for collection - which will be collected as part of the plastic waste stream.
All businesses will be required to separate plastic film for collection - which will be collected as part of the plastic waste stream.
How can businesses prepare for change?
Businesses can prepare for this legislative change by setting up separate recycling collections for dry recycling and food waste.
At SUEZ, we can help your business become compliant before regulations change. We offer free on-site waste audits, where we will analyse your site’s waste management processes to determine your individual requirements. Following the audit, our experts will advise the optimal solution for your business. With a range of container sizes to suit your premises and flexible collection options, we can tailor a service that’s right for you, ensuring a smooth transition when changes come into effect.
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