Simpler Recycling for Businesses – FAQs
Simpler Recycling regulations were introduced in England on 31 March 2025 for businesses and non-household premises with ten or more full-time employees. Workplaces should now have separate bins and collections for general waste, food waste, paper and cardboard, and other dry recyclables.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) recently released updated Simpler Recycling guidance for businesses to reduce confusion about these changes. This 52-page document aims to answer common questions and clarify the requirements of Simpler Recycling for businesses. Further updates to the document are expected in the coming months and years.
We’ve picked out some of the most important points from this updated guidance to make things easy and help your business comply with the Simpler Recycling regulations. Find answers to any queries you may have with these answers to frequently asked questions about Simpler Recycling for businesses.
What is Simpler Recycling?
Simpler Recycling is legislation in England that aims to standardise recycling across homes, businesses, and organisations nationwide. These regulations mean households and workplaces can recycle the same core waste materials whatever their location – food waste, paper and cardboard, dry mixed recycling (glass, metal, and plastic).
As the name suggests, Simpler Recycling regulations should introduce consistent waste collections for businesses and households in England. The policy requires separate collections of these core waste materials to improve recycling and recovery rates while reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and for incineration.
There are three key dates when businesses and local authorities must comply with Simpler Recycling regulations:
- 31 March 2025 – businesses with 10 or more full-time employees
- 31 March 2026 – local authorities (for households)
- 31 March 2027 – micro-firms with fewer than 10 full-time employees
How many bins does
my business need?
Most businesses will need four bins for each of the main waste streams:
- General waste
- Food waste
- Paper and cardboard (can be combined)
- Dry mixed recycling (glass, metal, and plastic – can be combined)
If your business doesn’t produce any of the above waste streams then you don’t need a bin for it. Businesses that produce high volumes of glass, plastic, or metal should use separate bins and containers for these materials where possible.
Does Simpler Recycling apply if
my business has multiple sites?
Simpler Recycling rules apply to businesses with multiple sites across all premises if you have more than 10 full-time employees in total. For example, if you have two sites with six full-time employees working at each one then that’s more than 10 full-time employees in total, which means Simpler Recycling rules must be followed at both sites.
Both sites should have bins and waste collections in place for all the materials covered by the Simpler Recycling regulations. This includes franchised restaurants and coffee shops that have multiple locations, construction sites, offices, and other organisations that operate from various sites and premises under the same business.
Simler Recycling rules will apply to every site no matter how many or few people work there from 31 March 2027.
Can commercial waste be
put in public bins?
It is a criminal offence to dispose of commercial waste from workplaces in public litter bins. The updated Simpler Recycling FAQ document from Defra makes it clear that this is a breach of their duty of care. Rubbish from businesses must be separated and disposed of in bins on their premises and removed by licensed waste carriers.
Can staff take rubbish home?
Staff at any workplace must not take rubbish home that’s generated by a workplace or business under Simpler Recycling legislation. This includes things like used tea bags and coffee grounds provided by the workplace, which should be disposed of in a food waste bin at the workplace.
How often must food waste be collected
under Simpler Recycling legislation?
There is no minimum frequency of food waste collections that businesses must arrange under the Simpler Recycling regulations. However, companies and workplaces must have separate bins and collections for waste food no matter what volume they produce. This includes food waste bins and collections for all organisations, even those that don’t serve food like offices.
It’s advisable to have at least a fortnightly collection of waste food from any business though. This helps prevent bad smells from developing as the food decomposes and avoids attracting pests such as vermin and flies. Bins for food waste are available in various sizes so you can use appropriate ones that suit your commercial needs.
What are the fines for non-compliance
with Simpler Recycling?
Simpler Recycling fines for non-compliance vary depending on the severity of the non-compliance and the sanction applied. The Environment Agency is responsible for enforcement action for non-compliance with Simpler Recycling by businesses. There’s no set fine, but it could be a fixed penalty notice of £110 to a fine of £5,000 or more.
The Environment Agency can issue a compliance notice when an instance of non-compliance with Simpler Recycling is identified by a business in England. The general process follows these steps:
- A waste producer (business) is identified as being non-compliant with Simpler Recycling rules
- The Environment Agency issues advice and guidance to comply with the Simpler Recycling regulations for the business
- If the advice is ignored and no action is taken then the Environment Agency can serve a compliance notice to the business (waste producer)
- Ignoring this compliance notice means an offence has been committed
- The Environment Agency can act according to its enforcement and sanction policy, which may mean issuing a fixed penalty notice, fine, or proceeding with legal action
How do you report non-compliance
with Simpler Recycling?
Individuals can report a business or organisation that’s not using bins to separate waste materials for collections in line with Simpler Recycling policy online. Anyone can report workplaces, businesses, public sector organisations, and even charities to the Environment Agency. You cannot report households or micro-firms (with fewer than 10 full-time employees – before 31 March 2027).
To report Simpler Recycling non-compliance you need to provide:
- Details of the waste materials incorrectly mixed
- Information about the organisation responsible for the non-compliance
- The address where non-compliance was witnessed
- Photos that show evidence of non-compliance (if possible)
Visit the Gov.uk website to report non-compliance with Simper Recycling legislation. The Environment Agency will review the information you provide and be in touch if they require any more details.
Ensure Simpler Recycling compliance
with Business Waste
Run a business in England with ten or more full-time employees? Hopefully, you already comply with the Simpler Recycling rules and have appropriate bins and collections in place. If you’re unsure about whether you do or want to double check you’re compliant then at Business Waste we’re here to help.
We provide a wide range of free bins to help separate all waste types covered by Simpler Recycling regulations. There are no delivery or bin hire costs – you only pay for collection. This includes bins, collections, and services for general waste, food waste, dry mixed recycling, glass recycling, paper and cardboard, as well as many other waste streams.
Talk to one of our friendly team if you’ve got any further questions about Simpler Recycling for your business. Get a free quote for commercial waste collection that complies with Simpler Recycling from your business anywhere in the UK – call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online.
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