Business recycling
The national simpler recycling reforms [external link] mean all businesses and organisations (like hospitals and schools) must have separate food waste and recycling collections.
The aim of the reforms is to establish a standard approach to recycling across the country for businesses. In due course this will apply to households too.
Businesses have a legal duty of care to store waste safely and to dispose of it using a registered waste carrier. [external link]
A business with ten of more employees must implement the changes from 31 March 2025.
A business with fewer than ten full-time employees has until 31 March 2027 to meet these requirements.
Under the new scheme, recyclable materials which must be separated from general waste include:
- Glass such as drinks bottles and rinsed empty food jars
- Metal such as drinks cans and food tins
- Plastic such as rinsed empty food containers and bottles
- Paper such as old newspapers and envelopes
- Cardboard such as delivery boxes and packaging
- Food waste including tea bags, coffee grounds, leftovers or waste generated by food preparation (there is no minimum amount for food waste)
Businesses will need to have a separate food bin, refuse bin and recycling bin.
The new rules do not come into force until 31 March 2025. The council will continue to provide a commercial recycling collection service but in 2025/26, we will be unable to provide a food waste collection service for commercial premises. Please make your own arrangements for the collection of food waste via a local food waste collection and treatment provider.
There is more information about the new rules on the WRAP website. [external link]
If you have any questions, or would like us to start collecting your business waste, please email us or call 01325 406666.