» Back to listing Separation of Waste (England) Regulations

New Separation of Waste (England) Regulations SI 2024/666 require industrial/commercial waste of a household nature to be separately collected to enable recycling. See Schedule 1 of the Regulations for relevant descriptions of recyclable household waste.

Whilst the regulations are enacted they are not enforced until 31st  March 2025 and again on 31st March 2026.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 was amended by the Environment Act 2021 to introduce provisions that require the separate collection of recyclable household waste in England. This requirement applies to domestic and non-domestic premises, as well as commercial and industrial waste of a household nature.

The Regulations set out a description of recyclable household waste and recyclable relevant waste for the purposes of the separate collection of:

household waste;

household waste from relevant non-domestic premises;

industrial or commercial waste,

under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

It applies to the following waste streams, and requires them to be recycled or composted and also to be collected separately from each other (unless it is not technically or economically practicable to do so or the separate collection will have no significant environmental benefit):

• glass;
• metal;
• plastic;
• paper and card;
• food waste;
• garden waste (domestic only).

These Regulations expand on what kind of recyclable materials fall under each of those waste streams, and also broadens the scope of what premises are considered to be "non-domestic".

The waste must be empty, not heavily contaminated and not classified as 15 01 10 (containing residues or hazardous substances).

If your business has a kitchen or welfare area where food is consumed and packaging discarded, or areas of the office where such wastes are collected, then this will apply to you.  Speak to your waste collector for more information on how to comply.  Bear in mind the practicability clause and the significance of any environmental benefit.  Also bear in mind the culture within your organisation and fully explore whether this will improve engagement with staff.

The full regulations can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/666/contents/made.