From 31st March 2025, all workplaces with 10 or more full-time employees in England will need to comply with new recycling regulations designed to improve waste management and sustainability. This includes businesses, care homes, educational institutions, healthcare establishments, places of worship, charity shops, residential hostels, prisons and places used for public meetings.
The good news is that smaller enterprises with less than 10 employees have until 31st March 2027 to adopt the new legislation so take this period to learn from your business peers and the dos and don’ts.
What do the new recycling rules mean for you?
Aligning with the government’s environmental goals, the new legislation will require waste to be separated into four distinct streams:
- Residual waste (non-recyclable waste)
- Food waste
- Paper and cardboard
- Dry recyclables (including glass, metal and plastic)
For you as a business, this means that you will need to account for extra waste bins for separate collection and consider the impact on your practices at work. Food waste will be the biggest challenge for companies. Regardless of the amount of food waste, it cannot be disposed of in general waste so think tea bags, coffee grains, orange peels, you name it – it will have to be separate from your general bins.
Whilst this is a major shift in business waste management that aims to reduce landfill waste, it’s a huge opportunity for businesses to adopt more sustainable practices in their waste disposal methods.
What does this mean for us?
At Sussex Facilities Management, we are fully versed in adapting to the changes in legislation and this new requirement is just another string to our bow – we can fully support our customers with their waste management and recycling needs, in addition to PAT testing and fire safety in the workplace.
The biggest challenge is likely to be mastering the food waste disposal as well as accommodating the extra bins needed for separation. If you are unsure where to begin, feel free to follow our easy, step by step, guide here.
Becoming fully prepared – SFM’s step-by-step waste management guide:
1. Review Waste Practices – assess your current waste disposal methods early and identify areas that require changes to meet the new regulations. If you need to invest in more bins, we could help you source containers that will eliminate unwanted odours in your office and reduce health and safety risks.
2. Train Staff – educating your employees on the new waste separation system and the importance of compliance is crucial at the start – adopt the mean as you go on approach and be the role model for everyone.
3. Work with Waste Contractors – waste contractors will be extremely busy in the run up to 31st March so be sure to engage with your waste management providers early so that they can accommodate appropriate collection services for your business.
4. Adopt Simpler Labelling Systems for Bins – use clear and easy-to-understand labels on bins to help staff dispose of waste correctly. Be sure to communicate with staff that aren’t regularly attending your office if you operate a hybrid working model – everyone will need to be fully informed and if your workforce is multilingual, consider providing translated bin labels to facilitate understanding and compliance.
5. Add Extra Bins – increase the number of waste bins to accommodate separate streams for food waste, recyclables and general waste. One of the biggest challenges will be food waste so be sure to invest in a bin that will minimise health hazards and unwanted odours.
6. Re-train Cleaning Staff – ensure cleaning staff are aware of the new waste separation requirements to avoid contamination and that offices are kept clean in the bins area due to the separation of food waste in case of spillages.
The upcoming recycling rules present a significant shift in waste management for businesses across England. While compliance will require adjustments, the benefits such as the reduced environmental impact, improved recycling rates and long-term cost savings will be well worth the effort. By taking proactive steps now, businesses can ensure a smooth transition and contribute to a more sustainable future.
