From 31st March 2025, new simpler recycling legislation comes into effect. The government are simplifying the rules to make recycling easier for people in England, while stimulating growth and maximising environmental benefits.
Simpler Recycling will enable consistent, more streamlined collections from all households, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises (such as schools and hospitals).
New default requirements
The new default requirement for most households and workplaces will be 4 containers for:
- residual (non-recyclable) waste
- food waste (mixed with garden waste if appropriate)
- paper and card
- all other dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal and glass)
These may be various container types, including bags, bins or stackable boxes.
This is the government’s maximum default requirement and is not expected to increase in the future. However, councils and other waste collectors will still have the flexibility to make the best choices to suit local need. This is a sensible, pragmatic approach to the collection of materials for every household and business in England.
Timelines
The implementation timelines for Simpler Recycling are as previously announced:
- by 31 March 2025, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises in England will need to arrange for the collection of the core recyclable waste streams, with the exception of garden waste (glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, and food waste)
- micro-firms (businesses with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees) will be temporarily exempt from this requirement. They will have until 31 March 2027 to arrange for recycling of core recyclable waste streams
- by 31 March 2026, local authorities will be required to collect the core recyclable waste streams from all households in England. This includes introducing weekly food waste collections for most homes, unless a transitional arrangement applies
- by 31 March 2027, kerbside plastic film collections from businesses and relevant non-domestic premises, and households will be introduced
To view our recycling products, please click here
From 31st March 2025, new simpler recycling legislation comes into effect. The government are simplifying the rules to make recycling easier for people in England, while stimulating growth and maximising environmental benefits.
Simpler Recycling will enable consistent, more streamlined collections from all households, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises (such as schools and hospitals).
New default requirements
The new default requirement for most households and workplaces will be 4 containers for:
- residual (non-recyclable) waste
- food waste (mixed with garden waste if appropriate)
- paper and card
- all other dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal and glass)
These may be various container types, including bags, bins or stackable boxes.
This is the government’s maximum default requirement and is not expected to increase in the future. However, councils and other waste collectors will still have the flexibility to make the best choices to suit local need. This is a sensible, pragmatic approach to the collection of materials for every household and business in England.
Timelines
The implementation timelines for Simpler Recycling are as previously announced:
- by 31 March 2025, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises in England will need to arrange for the collection of the core recyclable waste streams, with the exception of garden waste (glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, and food waste)
- micro-firms (businesses with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees) will be temporarily exempt from this requirement. They will have until 31 March 2027 to arrange for recycling of core recyclable waste streams
- by 31 March 2026, local authorities will be required to collect the core recyclable waste streams from all households in England. This includes introducing weekly food waste collections for most homes, unless a transitional arrangement applies
- by 31 March 2027, kerbside plastic film collections from businesses and relevant non-domestic premises, and households will be introduced
To view our recycling products, please click here
