New Separation of Waste (England) Regulations which come into effect March 31st 2025 and includes a requirement for businesses to separate waste streams including food waste.

The Simpler Recycling requirements will require businesses and households in England to present dry recyclables (paper and card, plastic, metal, glass), food/garden waste and residual waste (non-recyclable), separated from each other in accordance with the arrangements made with their waste collector. The requirement also exists for waste collectors to collect these wastes separately.

By default, paper and card must be collected separately from plastic, metal and glass unless the waste collector can demonstrate through a written co-collection assessment that this is not technically or economically practicable, or of no significant environmental benefit.

Implementation dates:

• 31 March 2025 for businesses
• 31 March 2026 for households
• 31 March 2027 for micro-businesses (businesses with fewer than 10 full time equivalent employees)
  
  

The requirement for separate collection would apply to all food waste produced on the premises, including waste food that had originally been brought in from home by staff.

There is no minimum volume for food waste collections from non-household municipal premises (such as businesses) in England. All premises producing food waste (including teabags etc.) will need to arrange separate collections in accordance with the new Simpler Recycling requirements.

Workplaces have flexibility to decide on the frequency of collections to align with the volume of waste they produce, so it is possible to arrange for infrequent collections if this suits the needs of the workplace best. Workplaces could also consider sharing facilities with neighbouring premises where quantities are small, with the agreement of the neighbouring premises and the waste collector.