Simpler Recycling & Business Waste Compliance Check

Why this matters

Since 31 March 2025, workplaces in England have had to present core recyclable materials — paper and card, plastic, metal and glass — separately from general waste, under the Simpler Recycling reforms made through the Environment Act 2021 and the Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2024. Businesses must also arrange a separate food waste collection, with a delayed start until 31 March 2027 for micro-firms (fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees). Your waste contractor will increasingly ask you to sort waste correctly, and mixed or contaminated bins can mean refused collections or extra charges.

Separately, every business has a waste duty of care under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. You must store waste safely, pass it only to an authorised carrier, and complete and keep a waste transfer note for each transfer (for at least two years). Failing to meet these duties can lead to fixed penalty notices and prosecution, with unlimited fines for serious offences. The rules apply in England only — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own regimes.

What you'll need

• The number of full-time equivalent employees at each of your premises
• Your current waste contract and the bins or collections you receive
• Copies of recent waste transfer notes or duty of care paperwork
• The types of waste your business produces, including food waste and glass

What you'll get

A personalised compliance report covering: a score out of 100, an executive summary, a list of findings ranked by severity, and a prioritised action plan with timeframes.