New Recycling Legislations are Coming - Are You Ready?
'Simpler Recycling' - The New Legislation
The government are enforcing a new rule throughout England, advising that workplaces, with 10 or more employees, have a legal duty to take all reasonable steps to apply to the waste hierarchy.
As of March 31st 2025, all workplaces and non-domestic premises in England have a legal duty to provide dry recyclable materials, food waste and residual waste bins. In addition to this, workplaces that generate garden waste also have a duty to manage it in accordance, arranging for recycling or composting, if it delivers the best environmental outcome.
Why is this Important?
This legislation comes into place as a part of the UK's Resources and Waste Strategy, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of waste. This new legislation intends to ensure businesses separate waste at the source - increasing the quality of recyclable materials and boosting the effectiveness of the recycling process.
Not only will waste segregation help with the recycling process, but waste items mixing in landfills can combine and decompose, realising run-off into the soil and harmful gas in the atmosphere. Pollution of the air and soil can have huge impacts on our health, ecosystems and environments, by taking small steps to reduce these risks, we can foster major improvements in our quality of life and overall well-being.
Implications
As of April 2025, the general public will be able to report workplaces that do not follow these guidelines, and businesses that do not comply with the requirements by the 31st March 2025, can be issued with a compliance notice from the Environment Agency. Failure to comply after this stage may then be at risk of enforcement action against them, in line with the Environment Agency Enforcement and Sanctions Policy.
How Can We Prepare?
As the end of the month creeps in, preparation is key. Here's how you can stay ahead of the curve:
- Staff training - Employees will require training on the importance of waste segregation and recycling. This will be crucial to maintaining efficiency and creating a recycling culture in the workplace.
- Waste segregation system- Implementing systems for sorting waste into categories by revising previous management and investing in additional bins, signage and indications. We supply a range of bins, lids and signage to assist you with your needs.
- Stay updated - Keep up to date with the UK Government's updates and evolving regulations to ensure your business remains compliant and adaptable.
What about Micro-firms?
Lead the pack and invest now as the deadline for micro-firm compliance is the 31st March 2027.
As micro-firms typically have fewer resources to implement a quick turnover, this phased approach allows for extra time to adjust, budget and ensure compliance without strain.
