‘New regulations will soon require your business to separate recyclable materials from your general waste.

What’s changing and why?

From the 31st March 2025 businesses will need to separate the following groups of recyclable materials:

Glass, metal and plastic
Cardboard and paper
Food as a dedicated collection

The new guidelines apply to all businesses, healthcare establishments and academic institutions but small businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees are temporarily exempt until the 31st March 2027.

The new regulations will mean that in future, no waste from businesses can be sent for disposal unless it can be shown to have gone through a treatment process. The simplest way to provide this treatment is to separate your waste for reuse or recycling. The aim is to increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste we send for disposal. It will also help reduce your business costs, save energy, conserve natural resources and protect the environment. ’

Find out more: Business of Recycling | WRAP