Simpler Recycling is a reform to household and business bin collections and a crackdown on unscrupulous waste carriers which will boost recycling rates and protect the environment.

A new simpler approach to recycling means people across England will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school, putting an end to confusion over what can and can’t be recycled in different parts of the country. Weekly collections for food waste will also be introduced for most households across England by 2026.

Simpler Recycling will enable consistent, more streamlined collections from all households, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises (such as schools and hospitals)

What does it mean for businesses?

Simpler Recycling means 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.

When will it be implemented?

• By 31 March 2025, all workplaces in England with 10 or more employees must recycle the relevant waste streams
• By 31 March 2026, all local authorities must collect the core recyclable waste streams from all households in England, including weekly food waste collections, expect in areas with transitional arrangements.
• By 31 March 2027, all micro-firms (workplaces with fewer than 10 employees must comply, and plastic film collections from all households and workplaces will also be required by then.

The new default requirements for most households and workplaces will be 4 containers for:

• Residual (non-recyclable) waste
• Food waste (mixed with garden waste if appropriate)
• Paper and card
• All other dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal and glass)

There may be various container types, including bags, bins or stackable boxes.

This is the governments maximum default requirement and is not expected to increase in the future. However, councils and other waste collectors will still have the flexibility to make the best choices to suit local needs. This is a sensible, pragmatic approach to the collection of materials for every household and business in England.

Through Simpler Recycling, all householders will receive a comprehensive and consistent set of waste and recycling services. This will enable householders to recycle as much waste as possible and to frequently dispose of bad-smelling food waste, which will be collected from households at least weekly.

The government sees the Simpler Recycling reform as a key part of supporting their circular economy strategy.

“The government is committed to moving towards a zero waste, circular economy. This will create a future where:

• We keep our resources in use for longer and reduce waste
• We accelerate the path to net zero
• We see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs
• Our economy prospers
• Nature thrives

To do this we are building a circular economy strategy and a series of sector-based roadmaps for reform”

Simpler Recycling will make a significant step towards meeting the ambition to recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035, and deliver greenhouse gas emissions savings equivalent to £11.8 billion.

These reforms will reduce confusion, ending the ‘postcode lottery’ of bin collections, which will help ensure the correct materials are captured for recycling.

This will improve recycling rates – household recycling rates in England have flatlined at around 44% to 45% since 2015. This policy will play a critical role in delivering emissions savings for the waste sector in Carbon Budgets 4 to 6.

The UK Government says they’re fully committed to a Deposit Return Scheme and will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland to launch the scheme across England, Scotland and Norther Ireland in October 2027.

On the 18th November 2024, the Welsh Government announced a delay to their Deposit Return Scheme. With Wales already ranked second in the world for recycling, they are in a unique position of implementing a scheme into an already high recycling nation. For this reason the Welsh Government are working on a scheme that is right for their context

Deposit Return Schemes are a proven way to drastically reduce littering of single-use drinks containers, to drive up recycling rates and support the Government’s aim to move to a circular economy.

Deposit Return Schemes have been proven to significantly reduce drinks container litter, as well as other types of, as drink containers can act as magnets for other types of litter. Given the huge amount of PET and metal drink containers on the market (12 Billion PET and 14 Billion cans), this would make a huge difference.

The introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme will create around 4,000 new jobs across the UK and will bring in investment in infrastructure requires to deliver the scheme.

“We are firmly committed to our timeframe of launch a Deposit Return Scheme in October 2027. As the next step we intend to lay regulations for England and Northern Ireland in November 2024” – The UK Government

Find the full update here

For any of your waste disposal or producer compliance needs, contact the team.