The Government intends to make recycling simpler to increase the recycling rate that has been hovering around the 42% mark for the past few years. To achieve consistency with households, businesses will be expected to arrange collections for dry and food recycling waste, alongside residual (non-recyclable) waste by 31 March 2025. Micro-firms (businesses with fewer than 10 FTE employees) will have longer to adopt the new requirements and must comply by 31 March 2027.
Dry recycling waste stream:glass, metal, plastic bottles, pots, tubs, and trays made of PET, PP and HDPE (including cartons for food drink and other liquids), paper and card (subject to exceptions such as glitter and foil). Plastic film packaging and plastic bags made of mono-PE, mono-PP and mixed polyolefins PE and PP will require collection by 31 March 2027. A further exemption is being proposed that will allow all dry recycling to be collected in the same bin, to make it easier for businesses to recycle.
Food recycling waste stream: all food intended for human or pet consumption and biodegradable material resulting from the processing or preparation of food. Further evidence is required before publishing guidance on caddy liner use. Businesses are not expected to arrange food waste collections if they do not produce any food waste.
Residual (non-recyclable) waste stream: materials are not listed in the Government’s consultation response; however, it will likely be materials that don’t fit within the recycling waste streams.Further statutory guidance will be given regarding what is not included in the waste streams.
There are social enterprises across West Yorkshire that will upcycle certain waste. For example, Leeds Wood Recycling collects waste wood such as timber, softwood and hardwood, joinery off-cuts and old pallets. Charities will take old furniture including unwanted office furniture.
Donating excess food to food banks and community cafes reduces business food waste.
If you are a business that routinely generates a lot of food waste that can be reused, Too Good To Go is a platform that can generate profit from your surplus.
Is there an industry that could use the waste as an input? This could reduce waste management costs as well as create a new opportunity if the business is willing to pay for this waste. In turn, this reduces the virgin raw materials used by the receiving business and the costs associated with buying them.
SCALer offers a guidebook that details 100 potential industrial symbiosis connections for businesses.
