Compliance - Changing Waste Legislation
Reinforce compliance from 50p per day
What is the current UK legislation?
Waste management legislation is currently different in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, we are starting to see a shift to more streamlined recycling regulations UK-wide. Each country is implementing increased segregation of Recycling in different stages. To ensure you’re compliant, we’ve written a simple guide below.
England (Businesses)
Simpler Recycling
From 31 March 2025, all businesses with 10+ FTE employees must separate out Recycling from Rubbish under the new Simpler Recycling legislation. This guidance will apply to collections from businesses and relevant non-domestic premises.
For all businesses, the new default requirements are:
- residual (non-recyclable) rubbish
- food waste (mixed with garden waste if appropriate)
- paper and card
- all other dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal and glass)
Businesses producing these waste types need to present at least four containers for collection.* Binit® recommends collecting glass separately from all other dry recyclable materials. That means you would present five separate containers.
*You should collect paper and card separately from other recyclables (plastic, metal and glass) unless it:
- is not ‘technically practicable’
- is not ‘economically practicable’
- has ‘no significant environmental benefit’
Key dates
New requirements for collections of dry recyclable materials (except plastic film) from:
- Businesses and relevant non-domestic premises: by 31 March 2025
- Micro-firms: by 31 March 2027
New requirements for collections of food waste from:
- Businesses and relevant non-domestic premises: by 31 March 2025
- Micro-firms: by 31 March 2027
New requirements for collections of plastic film from:
Businesses, non-domestic premises and micro-firms: by 31 March 2027
In England, businesses must currently follow the rules below:
- Keep waste to a minimum by doing everything you reasonably can to prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste (in that order)
- Sort and store waste safely and securely
- Complete a waste transfer note for each load of waste that leaves your premises
- Check if your waste carrier is registered to dispose of waste
- Not allow the waste carrier to dispose of your waste illegally (and report them to Crimestoppers if they do)
Extra responsibilities if dealing with hazardous waste.
England (Households and Rental Properties)
Simpler Recycling
From 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.
From 31 March 2026, by default, local authority waste collectors must collect the following types of waste separately:
- food and garden waste
- paper and card
- all other dry recyclable materials (glass, metal and plastic, including cartons)
- residual waste (non-recyclable waste that is sent for energy recovery or to landfill)
Plastic film packaging and plastic bags will need to be collected with plastic recycling from 31 March 2027.
Rental Properties
For rental properties, property managers are responsible for arranging the correct types of waste stream containers with licensed commercial waste providers.
From 31 March 2026, you must comply with the new Simpler Recycling legislation and provide collections for:
- food and garden waste
- paper and card
all other dry - recyclable materials (glass, metal and plastic, including cartons)
- residual waste (non-recyclable waste that is sent for energy recovery or to landfill)
Plastic film packaging and plastic bags will need to be collected with plastic recycling from 31 March 2027.
Even though your property is a business, this change in legislation applies because the changes cover all households, including flats, HMOs and communal housing.
Landlords and property managers will need to ensure proper waste separation and provide clear guidance to tenants.
Wales
Changes to workplace recycling (2024)
On 6 April 2024, Wales implemented changes to workplace recycling. This meant that businesses operating in Wales (charities, businesses and the public sector), must arrange for their Rubbish (waste) to be collected separately from the following Recycling materials:
- Paper and card
- Glass
- Metal, plastic, and cartons (and other similar packaging)
- Food waste (for premises that produce more than 5kg of food waste a week)
- Unsold small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE)
- Unsold textiles
If you produce all the waste and recycling materials above, you will need to present seven different containers for collection.
Scotland
Waste regulations (2014)
From 1 January 2014, businesses in Scotland must separate the below from their Rubbish:
- Glass
- Metal
- Plastic
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Food waste
If you produce all the waste and recycling materials above, you will need to present six different containers for collection.
Northern Ireland
The Food Waste Regulations (2015)
Separate collection of food waste. Food waste must be presented for collection and collected in a manner that ensures that food waste is kept separate from other waste if a business produces an excess of 5kg of food waste per week.
Trusted by
Education
“By 2025, all education settings (in England) will have nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan”. This includes the Department for Education (DfE), its agencies and public bodies, the education and children’s services systems in England – including:
- Early years
- Schools (and independent schools where applicable)
- Further education
- Higher education
- Children’s social care