Businesses get ready for new waste regs

Warwickshire businesses are preparing for new food waste separation regulations.

New rules for commercial operations will come into force from 31 March 2025 after the updated legal duties and associated guidance were published by Government at the end of November. It is part of Defra’s wider Simpler Recycling reforms and is designed to reduce the amount of compostable waste being sent to waste disposal. While there are several routes for compliance, Downing Street are keen that businesses opt for anaerobic digestion treatment which can generate biofuel and fertiliser from the food waste.  

The rules will apply to any business with ten or more full time equivalent staff across the whole business. It still applies if there are fewer than ten staff at one location when there are more than ten employed across the company. For microbusiness with fewer than ten employees, the start date is 31 March 2027.

The food waste that must be separated from general waste includes teabags, fruit and vegetable peel, meat, fish, bread, pasta, eggshells, bones and coffee grinds. This applies to any non-domestic property, and organisations will need to partner with food waste specialists, with many likely to require new contracts to ensure they meet requirements. 

The regulations will also stipulate that businesses recycle a core set of materials, which includes paper & cardboard, glass bottles & jars, metal tins & cans and plastic bottles, pots, tubs & trays, as well as aerosols and foil.  

More information can be found via Defra and WRAP. 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england 

https://businessofrecycling.wrap.ngo/