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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.

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