New recycling policies

New recycling policies for businesses:

From March 31, 2025, businesses in England with 10 or more employees must separate waste into four streams: residual waste, food waste, paper/card, and dry recyclables. Smaller businesses have until 2027 to comply. 

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Mandatory Separation:

Businesses are required to separate food waste, paper/card, and dry recyclables (including glass, metal, and plastic) from general waste. 

Timeline:

• • Businesses with 10 or more employees must comply by March 31, 2025. 

• • Smaller businesses (under 10 employees) have until March 31, 2027 to comply. 

Resources:

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has developed the “Business of Recycling” website to help businesses understand the new requirements and support them with planning and setting up their new recycling process. 

What to Separate:

• • Dry Recyclables: Glass, metal, and plastic (including food and drink containers). 

• • Paper and Cardboard: Newspapers, cardboard packaging, etc. 

• • Food Waste: All businesses must separate food waste. 

Waste Streams:

• • Residual Waste: Non-recyclable waste. 

• • Food Waste: Must be separated. 

• • Paper and Cardboard: To be separated. 

• • Dry Recyclables: To be separated. 

Bins:

Businesses may need four bins: one for non-recyclable materials, one for cardboard, one for food, and one for all other recyclable materials. 

Exemptions:

Small businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees are temporarily exempt until March 31, 2027.