Businesses have until the end of March next year to arrange trade recycling services under new legislation.
Under new Simpler Recycling legislation, businesses with 10 or more employees will need to separate dry recyclables into dedicated containers. This includes plastic, glass, cans, paper and card.
Food waste will also need to be collected separately, regardless of the amount produced. The new legislation, which was introduced in 2023 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) comes in from 31 March, 2025.
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees have until March 2027 to comply. Local authorities have until 31 March, 2026, to implement these requirements for all residents.
Currently, the law does not require businesses to recycle, although they may choose to. Businesses must pay to dispose of their waste, using a specific business waste collection service, usually known as a trade waste service.
Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Until recently, businesses were not required by law to recycle – this was very much down to choice. From March 31 2025, all business premises must arrange to have all dry recyclables collected and food waste separated for recycling.
“Following an update on October 15 from the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is processing an exemption to delay the requirement for businesses with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees until 2027.
“While the full details are yet to be released, we are aware further regulations will be required and ministers are currently reviewing these policies. We would still encourage businesses to start considering adopting this approach to waste and recycling segregation.
“In the meantime, the city council is working behind the scenes to ensure we are able to comply with the new influx of waste collections and ensure the infrastructure is in place to support this.”
Dean Willshee, managing director of Burton upon Trent-based Willshee’s Waste & Recycling, recently spoke to Daily Focus about the importance of recycling across both household and commercial sectors.
Businesses in Staffordshire can find out more information about trade waste services on the Staffordshire Waste Partnership website. Stoke-on-Trent-based companies can email [email protected] for further details.
