From April 2025, all businesses and non-domestic premises in England with more than 10 full time equivalent staff will be required to separate their dry recyclable and food waste from residual waste as part of the Government’s Simpler Recycling legislation.
Small businesses with fewer than 10 full time employees are temporarily exempt until the 31st of March 2027.
The legislation affects all sectors including:
Retail and wholesale
Offices
Hospitality
Health and social care
Education
Food manufacturing
Transport and storage sectors
Businesses and non-domestic premises have been working hard behind the scenes to change their existing recycling schemes. The changes include food waste, introducing a brand-new recycling scheme and purchasing new recycling bins to collect dry recyclables and food waste.

This new workplace recycling legislation brings enormous benefits to the environment, as well as giving citizens the opportunity to be more sustainable and recycle in the workplace, whilst out and about and at home. It will also give businesses and non-domestic premises the chance to improve their waste collection efficiencies and save money.
If you haven’t noticed already, you’ll soon see more recycling bins to recycle the following groups of recyclable materials:
Glass, metal and plastic
Cardboard and paper
Food waste as a dedicated collection
We’re encouraging you to embrace these new workplace recycling changes to significantly increase recycling rates in England.
If you are a business owner and need support with this transition, then please visit Business of Recycling England for more information.