If you run a business in England, the way you throw things away has changed. Under the rules known as Simpler Recycling, workplaces now have to separate their recycling from general rubbish rather than tipping everything into one bin. It sounds like a headache, but in practice it comes down to a handful of clear steps. This guide walks through exactly what you need to sort, when the deadlines apply to your business, the mistakes that trip people up, and how to keep your collection costs sensible.
What is Simpler Recycling?
Simpler Recycling is the government's push to make business and household recycling in England more consistent. The idea is that every workplace separates the same core materials, so less recyclable waste ends up in landfill or incineration. It applies to non-household premises, which covers offices, shops, cafes, warehouses, care homes, schools and just about any commercial site.
Key deadlines: Businesses with 10 or more full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees have had to comply since 31 March 2025. Smaller businesses with fewer than 10 FTE employees must comply from 31 March 2027.
Full-time-equivalent matters here. Two part-timers who together add up to one full-time role count as one FTE, so add up your hours rather than simply counting heads to work out which deadline applies to you.
Which waste streams you must separate
Under Simpler Recycling, your workplace must keep the following streams out of your general (residual) waste bin:
- Food waste — leftovers, food preparation scraps and out-of-date stock.
- Paper and card — office paper, cardboard packaging and similar.
- Glass — bottles and jars.
- Metal — cans, tins and foil.
- Plastic — bottles, tubs, pots and trays.
The good news is that you usually do not need a separate bin for every single material. Dry recyclables, meaning plastic, metal, and paper and card, can normally be collected together in one bin. Glass and food waste are typically collected separately. The exact split of bins depends on your waste collector and how they process what they pick up, so it is always worth confirming the arrangement with them directly.
Looking ahead: from 31 March 2027, plastic film and flexible packaging, such as wrappers, bread bags and pallet wrap, must also be collected for recycling alongside your other dry recyclables. If your business generates a lot of film packaging, it is worth planning for that now.
Your plain-English compliance checklist
Here is a practical order of play to get compliant and stay that way:
- Work out your FTE headcount so you know which deadline applies to your business.
- Do a quick bin audit. Spend a day noting what actually goes in your general waste, so you can see how much is food, card, plastic, glass and metal.
- Speak to your current waste collector and confirm they can provide compliant separated collections, and ask exactly how they want the streams split.
- Set up clearly labelled internal bins so staff know at a glance where each material goes.
- Brief your team. A five-minute explanation and good signage prevents most contamination problems.
- Keep your paperwork in order, including a valid Waste Transfer Note for every collection.
- Review your contract. If your collector cannot offer the right streams at a fair price, compare the market.
Don't forget your Duty of Care
Simpler Recycling sits on top of rules that have been in place for years, not instead of them. You still have a legal Duty of Care under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. In practice that means you must use a licensed, registered waste carrier and hold a valid Waste Transfer Note describing the waste that leaves your site. Separating your recycling correctly does not remove these obligations, so make sure whoever collects your waste is properly registered and gives you the right documentation.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming it does not apply yet. If you have 10 or more FTE employees, the rules already apply. Do not wait for 2027.
- Contaminating the recycling. A greasy pizza box or food-covered packaging can spoil a whole load. Clear labelling and a quick staff briefing go a long way.
- Using an unregistered carrier. A cheap collector who is not properly licensed leaves you exposed under Duty of Care.
- Losing the paperwork. No Waste Transfer Note means no proof of compliance if you are ever asked.
- Overpaying out of inertia. Many businesses simply add bins to an existing contract without checking whether the price is competitive.
What happens if you don't comply?
The Environment Agency enforces Simpler Recycling and can issue compliance notices to businesses that are not separating their waste correctly. It has also indicated that it can recover the cost of investigating non-compliant businesses, at a rate of around £118 per hour. That is reason enough to get organised, but the aim of the rules is cooperation rather than punishment. Most businesses that make a genuine effort and keep their paperwork tidy will have nothing to worry about.
How Win Energy can help you compare compliant collectors
Getting compliant does not have to mean paying more. Waste collection prices vary widely between suppliers, and the right separated-stream service at one company can cost noticeably less than another for the same site. As an independent broker, Win Energy compares compliant, licensed waste collectors across a panel of more than 90 suppliers, so you can find an arrangement that meets the Simpler Recycling rules and suits your budget.
Our service is free to you. We are paid a commission by the supplier you choose, not by you, and we handle the legwork of matching your streams, site and collection frequency to the right provider. You can read more on our business waste page, or get in touch for a free quote and we will compare compliant collectors on price and service for you. Sorting your recycling is the law now, but sorting out a fair price for it is entirely up to you.