From cafés and offices to independent retailers and workshops, thousands of small businesses across England will soon need to change how they manage their waste.
Under the government’s Simpler Recycling rules, micro-firms must arrange separate collections for food waste, recyclable materials and non-recyclable waste by 31 March 2027 . Plastic films and flexible plastics will also be included in workplace recycling requirements from this date.
Although 2027 may seem some way off, reviewing your waste arrangements early can help you avoid rushed decisions, unsuitable bins and potential disruption to your business.
Here is what small businesses need to know.
Simpler Recycling is a government initiative intended to make recycling more consistent across workplaces and homes in England.
The rules require workplaces to separate specified recyclable materials and food waste from their general, non-recyclable waste. Larger workplaces have been subject to the requirements since 31 March 2025, while qualifying micro-firms have been given until 31 March 2027 to comply.
The requirements apply to businesses and other relevant non-domestic premises in England. Waste policy differs across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so organisations operating across the UK may need to follow different rules at different sites.
For Simpler Recycling purposes, a micro-firm is a business or organisation with fewer than 10 full-time-equivalent employees .
The calculation is based on the business as a whole, rather than the number of employees working at each individual site. This means a business with several small branches may not qualify for the delayed deadline if its total workforce reaches 10 full-time-equivalent employees.
Part-time employees are counted according to the proportion of full-time hours they work. Volunteers, contractors and self-employed workers do not count towards the employee total for this exemption.
Micro-firms do not need to register or apply for the temporary exemption. However, they must have compliant waste arrangements in place by 31 March 2027.
By the deadline, small businesses will need to separate three main groups of waste.
Food waste must be kept separate from general waste and collected for recycling.
This can include:
The rules are not limited to restaurants, cafés or food manufacturers. Offices, shops, salons and other workplaces can still produce food waste through staff kitchens, customer areas or daily operations.
Government-supported guidance states that there is no minimum food-waste quantity below which a workplace is automatically excluded.
Businesses will also need to arrange recycling for specified dry materials, including:
Paper and card may need to be collected separately from other dry recyclables unless your waste collector has arrangements that allow them to be collected together. Your provider should explain which materials can share a container and whether separate glass or cardboard collections would work better for your site.
From 31 March 2027, workplace plastic recycling requirements will also include plastic film packaging and plastic bags.
Depending on the guidance provided by your waste collector, this could include materials such as:
These materials can be easily overlooked because many businesses currently place them in general waste. If your business regularly receives deliveries, it is worth assessing how much film and flexible packaging you produce.
Anything that cannot be recycled through your available collections should remain in a residual or general-waste container.
Food waste and the specified recyclable materials should not routinely be placed in this bin once the requirements apply to your business.
Businesses will need arrangements that keep food waste, recyclable materials and residual waste separate. However, the precise number, size and type of containers will depend on the materials you produce and the collection service available.
For example, a small office may need a food-waste container, a mixed-recycling bin and a general-waste bin. A retailer receiving large deliveries may also benefit from a dedicated cardboard or plastic-film collection.
You can agree suitable container sizes and collection frequencies with your waste provider based on the amount of waste your business produces.
The aim should not simply be to add as many bins as possible. A good system should provide enough capacity while remaining easy for employees and customers to use correctly.
Introducing separate collections before the deadline gives your business time to test what works.
You can adjust bin sizes, collection schedules and signage before the legal requirement takes effect. Separating recyclable materials may also reduce the volume placed in your general-waste bin, although the financial impact will depend on your waste volumes and collection arrangements.
Early action can also demonstrate a visible commitment to responsible waste management. This may be increasingly important to employees, customers, commercial partners and organisations reviewing their supply chains.
Most importantly, it removes the risk of reaching early 2027 without a suitable collection service in place.
The Environment Agency is responsible for regulating workplace compliance with the Simpler Recycling requirements in England. A government reporting service is already available for suspected non-compliance.
The best approach is to make reasonable preparations, provide employees and customers with clear facilities, and maintain appropriate collections through a registered waste provider.
For many small businesses, the biggest change will be introducing a dedicated food-waste collection and ensuring that recyclable materials are no longer placed in general waste.
The exact solution will differ from one workplace to another. A small office, busy restaurant, independent shop and light-industrial unit will each produce different materials and volumes.
Hurn Recycling can review your current waste arrangements and help identify a practical collection service for your premises. By starting early, your business can prepare for the new requirements without unnecessary last-minute disruption.
Need help getting ready for Simpler Recycling? Contact Hurn Recycling to discuss your business waste, food-waste and recycling collections.
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