Business recycling

What is changing?

The law is changing in England and Simpler Recycling will require businesses by 31 March 2025 to recycle the following materials:

• Food waste
• Paper and card
• Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, and cartons
• Metal tins and cans, foil and empty aerosols

Who needs to act?

All businesses that have 10 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, will need to act now. This also includes:

• Care homes
• Educational establishments
• Healthcare establishments
• Places of worship
• Penal institutes
• Charity shops
• Residential hostels
• Premises used for public meetings

What should I do now?

Speak to your current waste collector to check if your current services meet the requirements or if you need to make any changes. This may be a private waste contractor or in some areas of Surrey this may be your local council.

To find out more about business recycling, you can find helpful guidance here: Business of Recycling | WRAP

What changes are coming next?

By 31 March 2027 the exemption for small businesses will end and the same requirements will apply to businesses with less than 10 full-time equivalent employees.

From 31 March 2027 all businesses will also need to recycle plastic films.