Imagine only needing to separate your waste into three streams: general waste, dry mixed recycling, and food waste – wherever you live or work.
For many households and businesses across England, this will soon be the reality.
From 31st March 2025, DEFRA’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation will come into force, affecting most businesses by standardising the collection of dry recyclable waste (excluding garden waste and plastic film) across councils in England.
Smaller businesses with less than 10 full time employees will have until 31st March 2027 to make these changes. For households in England, local authorities have until 2026 to implement the new legislation.
This move towards a more convenient system is projected to boost recycling rates and even encourage manufacturers to design more recyclable packaging, since they will know that what they produce can be recycled across the country (not just a few localities).
Similar recycling reforms have already been implemented in Wales. Since April 6th, 2024, businesses, charities and public sector organisations across Wales have been required to separate their recyclable waste for collection.
Here’s what businesses need to know about Simpler Recycling 2025:
What waste needs to be separated?
From the end of March 2025, businesses and households in England will need to separate their waste into three streams:
- General waste
- Food waste
- Dry mixed recycling, includes:
- Glass bottles and jars
- Metal food and drinks cans
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
- Paper and cardboard
Who will be affected by Simpler Recycling 2025?
Businesses, households and relevant non-domestic premises across England. This includes schools and hospitals. View the full list on the gov.uk website.
How can I prepare?
Check your waste collection
Your business must make arrangements to have the correct set of recyclable waste streams (except for garden waste and plastic film) collected for recycling or composting.
Complete a waste audit
Check whether your bins conform to the new Simpler Recycling standard, otherwise you risk non-compliance.
A good place to start is to complete a waste audit for your business. Have you got separate bins for paper, and one for food and drinks cans? If so, it’s time to scale down and find a bin that can hold all of your dry mixed recycling.
Label your waste streams clearly
Clear bin signage and appropriate apertures for each waste stream will encourage your staff to recycle correctly and quickly adapt to the Simpler Recycling changes.
There are a wide range of internal and external recycling bins available to support your move towards Simpler Recycling 2025, whatever the nature or your business or institution.
Leafield Environmental is an award-winning UK manufacturer of premium litter and recycling bins, and street furniture.
Leafield's products are designed and built in-house using an advanced rotational moulding method which keeps them high quality, hard-wearing, and sustainable.
For more information on Leafield’s litter and recycling bins call 01225 816541, email recycle@leafieldenv.com or visit www.leafieldrecycle.com