A new simpler approach
to recycling in England

Simpler Recycling

(This applies to England only)

Today, we have announced a new simpler approach to recycling will be introduced across England to help make the system easier for households and non-household premises, such as businesses, schools, and hospitals.

We have published the government response to the Simpler Recycling consultation, formerly known as Consistency in Household and Business Recycling.

Under these new waste reforms people across England will be able to recycle the same materials and will no longer need to check what their council will accept for recycling. The common-sense approach will drive up recycling rates and contribute to the government’s ambition to reach Net Zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 by diverting recyclable material away from landfill.

We have listened to councils and households and as part of the simpler recycling policy, local authorities will have the flexibility to design and implement the reforms that works for their geographical areas and citizens.

All local authorities will be required to collect six recyclable waste streams:

• glass
• metal
• plastic
• paper and card
• food waste and
• garden waste.  

We propose to introduce exemptions to allow councils to co-collect dry recycling and to allow co-collection of food and garden waste – meaning there will only ever need to be a minimum of three bins – dry recycling, organic waste, and residual (non-recyclable) waste. Subject to consultation with relevant parties, these exemptions will be confirmed in regulations.

Timelines

• By 31 March 2025, non-household municipal premises in England will be required to recycle glass; metal; plastic; paper and card; food waste. Micro-firms (businesses with fewer than ten full-time equivalent employees) will have until 31 March 2027 to recycle these materials.
• By 31 March 2026, local authorities will be required to collect all six waste streams from all households in England. This includes introducing weekly food waste collections.
• There are exceptional circumstances in which specific local authorities may need longer to introduce weekly food waste collections, due to long-term waste disposal contracts that run beyond 31 March 2026. This could present a barrier to introducing weekly food waste collections and, in these cases, the local authority will be given bespoke transitional arrangements, setting out the date by when they need to bring in this measure.
• Kerbside plastic film collections from non-household municipal premises and households will be introduced by 31 March 2027.

In addition, today we launched two further Simpler Recycling related consultations.

Firstly, a consultation on co-collection exemptions and statutory guidance for Simpler Recycling in England, which will support local authorities and other waste collectors to implement Simpler Recycling. This will be a private consultation where relevant stakeholders will be invited to respond.

Secondly, a consultation on additional policies related to Simpler Recycling in England, including expanding the list of non-domestic premises, and new digital waste tracking service.

Find out more

Local Authority and Waste Management Webinar – Tuesday 24 October 2023 – 10am–11:30am.

This session will provide local authorities and the waste management organisations in England more detailed information about the Simpler Recycling reforms. It will also include details on Waste Tracking and the Carrier, Broker and Dealer regime. This is an invite only session.

Local authorities and waste management organisations in England will receive an invite by lunchtime on Monday 23 October 2023. Please email us if you haven’t received the invite.

Business Readiness Forum - Waste Reforms – Thursday 26 October 2023 – 9am-10am.

This session will provide an update on the three waste reforms - Simpler Recycling, Digital Waste Tracking and Carrier, Broker and Dealer regime. This forum is open to all that would like to find out more. To book your place please register here.