Preparing for Simpler Recycling legislation
David Gudgeon, Head of External Affairs at Reconomy, outlines the current limits and future opportunities for businesses to prepare and push push UK recycling towards a circular system ahead of upcoming Simpler Recycling legislation.
Household recycling rates in England were a mere 11 per cent in the 2000 to 2001 financial year. In the two decades since, rates improved to 44.1 per cent in 2021. However, these rates have plateaued in recent years with the latest ONS statistics showing that rates in England fell to 43.4 per cent in 2022.
This is largely due to the fact that in England there is no national consistent and uniform approach to recycling, and this has caused confusion for households and businesses about what can be recycled. On-pack recycling logos can vary, with some featuring symbols such as circles or triangles, and local authorities across England currently operate different systems. This means that one local area might accept comingled materials while another might require soft plastics to be taken to specific stores.
A fresh impetus is needed if the UK is going to transition to a truly circular economy
Simpler Recycling legislation is designed to eliminate this confusion, increase recycling rates and improve circularity by creating a consistent approach nationwide and simplifying and standardising collection and sorting.
The new scheme will ensure that people and businesses across England will be able to recycle the same materials whether at home, at work or at school, putting an end to the ambiguity over what can and cannot be recycled in different parts of the country.
The legislation is aimed at changing behaviours in every part of the material chain which range from product manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer and consumer.
It will benefit businesses and support the pathway to net-zero
It should lead to lower waste disposal costs for businesses due to increased recycling rates, because less of our valuable natural resources will be sent to landfill. This is all the more important for businesses as the government has announced significant increases in landfill taxes, which are set to take effect on 1 April 2025 to discourage waste disposal in landfills and promote recycling.
It will also help the country on its path to net-zero as it will materially reduce carbon emissions associated with waste management. This is particularly significant following Sir Keir Starmer’s remarks at COP29, where he announced that: “We are building on our reputation as a climate leader with the UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81 per cent on 1990 levels.”
This announcement follows advice from the UK’s independent advisory body, the Climate Change Committee (CCC). Its interim Chair said the new target was feasible and would support jobs and investment, but that the UK was behind schedule when it came to delivering 2030 cuts of 68 per cent.
Who will fall under its scope and what does it entail
By 31 March 2025, all businesses, except those classified as micro businesses with less than 10 FTE employees in England, will fall under the scope of the legislation. Households and local authorities will follow in 2026 and micro businesses in 2027. However, the exemption for micro businesses is currently under review by ministers, who are expected to lay legislation in Parliament very soon.
Under the Simpler Recycling scheme businesses, schools, hospitals and other ‘non-household municipal premises’ in England will be required to separate dry recyclables -including paper, cardboard, plastic packaging, glass and metal - from general waste for collection. In addition to dry recyclables, if a business generates food waste, no matter how small the quantity, this will also need to be separated for collection.
Buy less, buy differently - how businesses can prepare
There is a little under five months to engage, educate and energise everybody who produces and disposes of waste, so that they are compliant with the reforms. The reforms are clear in regard to the minimum expectations of what producers need to separate and what carriers, brokers, and processors need to collect & recycle.
Prepare early to give your business enough time to make changes. Educate staff on what you need them to do. Consult your waste provider - the earlier you engage the better.
Businesses should take a close look at the materials that get brought into their sites in England, assess their upstream supply chains and potentially look at alternative types of product packaging to make Simpler Recycling easier to manage.
For example, if the only glass in your office is a coffee jar in the canteen, buy a non-glass based one, otherwise you’ll have to pay a waste company to collect one jar.
Get the infrastructure in place and order containers ahead of time. The later businesses leave it to the legislation start date, the more you’ll get a crunch of orders if everyone is fighting for bins at the last moment.
The new scheme will pose challenges for smaller businesses in particular sectors. In hospitality, the requirement to segregate food waste may create operational challenges for those that don’t currently have dedicated waste management systems. Similarly, for smaller retailers, the volume of their food waste is usually minimal, so they may not have anticipated the need to segregate food waste.
In construction, short-term projects, where contractors are on-site for only a week or two, pose a unique challenge. The waste industry will need to find ways to scale operations for fast turnaround times. Solutions such as short-term skip rentals and efficient waste management services will be important.
Preparing early is key
The legislation, once up and running, will improve circularity and help businesses save cost. The key for businesses is to prepare early and understand what changes need to be implemented. This will ensure an easier and smoother transition.
David Gudgeon is Head of External Affairs at Reconomy.