From 31 March 2025, every workplace in England — from offices and schools to hospitals and hospitality venues — will be legally required to separate food waste, dry recyclables, and black bin waste. Known as the simpler recycling legislation, these new recycling rules aim to reduce contamination, improve recycling rates, and bring consistency to waste management across the country.
Whether you're a facilities manager, office admin, or business owner, the time to act is now. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the UK workplace recycling law 2025, how to stay compliant, and which recycling bins for businesses are best suited to help you meet the new requirements.
What Are the 2025 UK Workplace Recycling Rules?
The government’s new simpler recycling rules apply to all non-domestic premises in England, including:
- Offices, schools, and universities
- Healthcare settings like hospitals and GP surgeries
- Cafés, restaurants, and hospitality venues
- Retail spaces, warehouses, and public buildings
Under these rules, you must present the following waste streams separately:
- Food waste
- Dry recyclables (separated if possible into paper and card, then glass, metal and plastic)
- Black bin (residual) waste
This applies regardless of whether you serve food on site. If your workplace generates food waste — even from staff lunches or kitchen prep — it must be separated.
You can read the full legislation on the GOV.UK website and explore practical guidance on the WRAP website.
What Bins Do You Need to Comply?
To follow the law, your workplace must provide clearly labelled or colour coded recycling bins to separate waste effectively. Here's what a typical compliant setup looks like:
- Black bin – residual/general waste
- Brown bin – food waste
- Blue bin – bottles, cans, and plastic
- Green bin – paper and cardboard
The easiest way to stay compliant is to set up a 3-bin or 4-bin system, depending on your collector’s requirements.
Need help choosing the right bins? We’ve created pre-configured, compliant systems to make it easy:
- Small, Medium, and Large 3-Bin Sets – for workplaces separating food, recycling and general waste
- 4-Bin Sets – includes separate bins for paper/card and plastic/glass, following WRAP’s recommended best practice
- Slim Jim Bins – narrow-profile bins perfect for space-saving recycling in offices and kitchens
- Wheelie Bins – heavy-duty options for external storage and commercial collection
Explore our full Workplace Recycling Compliance Collection
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my business doesn’t generate much waste?
You’re still legally required to comply unless you qualify as a micro-business (under 10 FTE employees). Even a small staff kitchen producing food waste will fall under the new recycling law.
Do I have to separate paper and card from other dry recyclables?
Yes — paper and card must be separated from plastics, cans, and bottles, unless your collector provides a written exemption. Our 4-bin systems are designed to support this.
What happens if I don’t comply with the new recycling rules?
Businesses that fail to comply by 31 March 2025 may receive a compliance notice from the Environment Agency. Continued non-compliance could result in fines and enforcement action.
How to Get Compliant Quickly
The fastest way to meet the new workplace recycling legislation is to:
- Assess your waste output (use the calculator on the WRAP website)
- Speak to your waste collector to confirm how streams should be separated
- Order colour-coded bins matched to your waste types
- Educate your staff with signage, simple instructions, and accessible bin locations
You can do all of that today using our Workplace Recycling Compliance Collection, which includes everything you need — from small food waste caddies to commercial recycling bins for high-traffic areas.
Final Thoughts
The recycling law changes for businesses in 2025 aren’t just about compliance — they’re an opportunity to embed smarter, more sustainable practices into your workplace. With a few key changes, you can avoid penalties, reduce your environmental impact, and help staff recycle with confidence.
Shop compliant recycling bins now or speak to our team for help creating your perfect setup.
