Simpler Recycling: are you ready?

On 31 March, new Simpler Recycling legislation will require most businesses in England to separate their recycling, including food waste. Charlotte Jackson, Bristol Good Food 2030 Communications & Engagement Coordinator, has shared some ideas on how to get ready in this blog post. 

The new Simpler Recycling legislation comes into effect from 31 March 2025, requiring most business to separate recyclable materials, like food waste, paper, card, glass and plastic, from general waste. This applies to all organisations, charities, and workplace premises with 10 or more full-time employees; smaller businesses are exempt until 31 March 2027. Before this regulation, businesses did not legally have to recycle their food waste.

Here are some actionable steps, resources, and support to help you feel prepared to tackle workplace waste:

1. Audit your waste

Before you can set targets and minimise your waste, you’ll need to measure the different types of waste your business produces, where it is being generated, and the reasons behind it.

• Firstly, conduct a Waste Audit using WRAP’s step-by-step guide.
• Even if your business isn’t primarily focused on food, it’s important to also
  identify the amount of food waste generated and where it comes from, like
  employee meals, office snacks, or events.
• If you suspect more waste is generated in certain spaces, or at certain
  times/events, consider conducting a separate Waste Audit to assess this, then
  you can set specific reduction targets.

2. Create an Action Plan

Create a Waste Action Plan to document what you want to achieve, by when, how it will be achieved, and who is responsible for each action. Your Waste Audit will provide benchmark data which you can use to set SMART targets.

• Compare waste services and costs using this tool. Ask your existing waste
  service provider for advice on the best recycling set up for your business.
• Tell your colleagues that the change is coming! Ask for their ideas on how to
  reduce, reuse or redistribute each material, and include this in your waste
  Action Plan.
• Read WRAP’s recycling guide for your sector. WRAP also offer free
  downloadable signage and assets to help you communicate waste practices to
  your colleagues.
• The placement of recycling stations can make behaviour change easier. Try
  setting up dedicated food waste collection points at an accessible height in
  canteens or lunch break rooms, alongside clear signage.
• Read Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership’s Tackling Business Waste guide,
  which includes how to calculate emissions from waste.
• Resource Futures provides tailored strategic support for behaviour change, data
  collection and analysis, and developing waste management strategies. They have produced this guide to preparing for the new legislation.

3. Rethink and redistribute

What is “waste”, really? And why are we wasting it? We live on a planet with finite resources, so we must take the time to consider the life cycle of every material we use. Rethinking and redistributing materials will not only reduce your organisations’ emissions and waste disposal costs, it’s also a great opportunity to think creatively and involve your colleagues and community in positive change.

• Work with key suppliers to find solutions to waste materials, requesting
  reusable, recyclable or returnable packaging.
• Buy/use/create heavily reusable products wherever possible.
• Use this online tool to find local redistributors for surplus food.
• Research whether a local initiative can reuse a material that commonly ends up
  in the office bins, or challenge your team to find a solution.
• Donate items that could be used by others (such as office electronics, leftover
  paint) via services like Library of Things and A Good Thing.
• Explore working with local composting initiatives who are reframing food waste
  and regenerating soil in Bristol, or create your own compost pile!
• If you’re a hospitality business, attend the free Bristol Good Food 2030
  Hospitality Food Waste Support Event on 18 March for further ideas and support.