What is Simpler Recycling?
In 2023 the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced new legislation changing waste collections and recycling across England.
This new regulation aims to simplify disposal & collection for homes, workplaces, and schools, reduce landfill waste, tackle illegal waste activities, and create a uniformed code across the country. The ultimate aim is to promote a more sustainable and environmentally conscious society.
WHAT ARE THE NEW REQUIREMENTS?
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT MY BUSINESS?
Under the legislation, businesses and other non-household premises with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees must:
Segregate and recycle ALL required materials
By the 31st March 2025, your business must segregate the following materials into appropriate containers to enable the recycling of valuable resources. These are:
- Plastic – e.g Bottles, rinsed empty food containers
- Glass – e.g Drinks bottles, rinsed empty food jars
- Metal (cans, tins and foil) – e.g Food tins, drinks cans, empty aerosols
- Cartons & tetrapaks – e.g milk cartons, soup cartons
- Paper and cardboard – e.g newspapers, delivery boxes
- Food waste – e.g leftovers, food preparation waste
Update:
Paper and card must be separated from other recyclables, unless not technically or economically practicable, or no significant environmental benefit.
Why Simpler Recycling?
Improve recycling rates
Ensuring all waste collections are separate will improve recycling rates towards the UK’s waste recycling target of 65% by 2035.
Simpler waste management
The introduction of this legislation will mean the same materials can be recycled at home or work anywhere in the UK, removing the confusion about what you can and cannot be recycle.
Prevent illegal waste disposal
Waste crime hugely affect the environment, the Envinroment agency estimate that around 18 tonnes of waste in England could be illegally managed, with most of that being fly tipped. Reforming the licensing system for waste carriers, brokers and dealers with mandatory digital waste tracking aims to centralise reporting and reduce illegal waste activity.
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