Simpler Recycling Is Coming to Households. Why Food Packaging Must Be Clearer
From March 31, 2026, households across England will begin separating food waste as part of the Government’s Simpler Recycling rollout. For many people, this will be the first time they have ever had a dedicated food waste bin.
While councils are preparing to deliver food waste caddies and collection services, one issue risks undermining the success of the new system before it even begins: unclear food packaging guidance.
Our food waste experts say confusion around what belongs in a food waste bin often starts with the packaging itself. As food waste collections become standard, clearer labelling will be essential to reduce contamination, improve recycling outcomes, and help households do the right thing with confidence.
What is Simpler Recyling
for households?
Simpler Recycling is designed to end the postcode lottery in household recycling.
By 31st March 2026, all local authorities in England must provide a consistent core recycling service. This means households will be expected to separate:
- Food waste and, in some areas, garden waste
- Paper and card
- Dry recyclables such as plastic, metal, and glass
- General waste
Some councils have already started rolling out food waste caddies ahead of the deadline, meaning millions of households are already adjusting their disposal of leftovers.
This makes now the ideal time to clarify what can and cannot go into a food waste bin.
What actually belongs in a
food waste bin?
Many households are surprised by how much food waste can be recycled.
Food waste that can usually go in
- Cooked and uncooked food
- Plate scrapings
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Meat, fish, and bones
- Bread, rice, and pasta
- Out-of-date food once removed from packaging
Food waste is typically placed in biodegradable or compostable liners, which are often supplied or available through local councils.
Items that do not belong in food waste
- Food packaging of any kind
- Plastic, glass, or metal
- Garden waste
- Cooking oil or liquid fats, beyond very small amounts
- Cling film, foil, or compostable-look packaging
Rules can vary slightly by council, so households should always check local guidance for the most up-to-date information.
Where food packaging labelling
falls short
Although food waste collections are expanding rapidly, packaging guidance has not kept pace.
Common problems include:
- Instructions such as “remove food and recycle” without explaining where the food should go
- Packaging that only explains how to dispose of the container, not the leftover food
- Compostable packaging labelled vaguely, without clear disposal routes
- Recycling icons that assume high recycling knowledge
For households using a food waste bin for the first time, these gaps increase the likelihood of food ending up in the wrong bin or packaging contaminating food waste collections.
Why does this matter more under
Simpler Recycling?
As food waste collections become universal, contamination carries greater consequences.
Clearer packaging guidance could help:
- Reduce contamination in food waste bins
- Improve success rates at anaerobic digestion facilities
- Lower rejection and disposal costs for councils
- Improve environmental outcomes from recycled food waste
- Give households confidence that they are disposing of waste correctly
Compared to large infrastructure changes, updating packaging instructions is one of the most cost-effective ways to influence recycling behaviour at scale.
Practical guidance for food brands
and packagers
Food waste experts say packaging does not need to become complicated. It needs to become clearer.
What packaging should include
- Explicit references to the “food waste bin” where appropriate
- Separate instructions for food and packaging components
- Plain English guidance alongside icons
What to avoid
- Vague phrases such as “check locally” without context
- Assuming households already know how food waste works
- Grouping food and packaging disposal into one unclear instruction
Where space allows, signposting consumers to council-level guidance online can further reduce confusion.
Why clearer labelling supports
everyone
While this change is household-facing, the benefits extend further.
Better food waste separation means:
- Lower contamination for councils
- More reliable feedstock for anaerobic digestion
- Reduced processing costs
- Stronger public trust in recycling systems
For brands and retailers, clearer guidance also reduces reputational risk at a time when sustainability claims are under increasing scrutiny.
Expert insight
Mark Hall, food waste management expert at Business Waste, comments:
Looking ahead
Simpler Recycling represents a major shift in how households manage waste. For it to work, clarity is essential.
Councils are doing their part by delivering new services. Packaging must now support this effort by providing clear and consistent guidance to households. Without it, confusion risks undoing the progress this legislation is designed to make.
Find more information about food waste recycling and disposal on our site.
Sources
- https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/services/waste-and-recycling/what-goes-in-each-bin
- https://www.coventry.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling/food-waste-caddy
- https://councilnews.dudley.gov.uk/news/delivery-of-new-bins-from-january-ahead-of-changes-to-waste-service
- https://londonrecycles.co.uk/a-to-z/cooking-oil/
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