Recycling has been an important aspect of waste disposal in the UK for decades. But as the level and types of waste we produce evolve, government rules must also change to match shifting needs.
The Simpler Recycling initiative is one such change, and represents a big move in the way we sort recyclable waste, with specific emphasis on businesses. So, when it comes to commercial skip hire, what new rules do you need to know if you plan on hiring a skip soon, or are already a regular skip hire customer?
What is Simpler Recycling?
The Simpler Recycling legislation aims to clarify the ins and outs of waste disposal across the UK, shedding light on what can and cannot be recycled together, for significant environmental benefit.
The first stage of the initiative came into effect on the 31st March 2025. From this date, charities, public buildings and businesses with over ten employees needed to follow the new rules.
If you’re unaware, here are these new rules in a nutshell:
Instead of disposing of all your recyclable waste in a single waste receptacle, it’s your responsibility as a business to separate your waste into specific groups and to place them into separate bins or skips.
Those groups are split into three main categories:
Dry recyclable materials (AKA Dry mixed recycling)
- Paper and card
- Plastic (plastic film packaging and plastic bags, empty food containers, etc.)
- Metal (cans, steel, aluminium jars, foil, bottle lids, etc.)
- Glass (bottles, jars, etc.)
Important note: You can generally put plastic, metal and glass into the same skip or bin, making the job easier, though it would be beneficial to give glass its own dedicated bin for safety purposes.
Food waste
- This one’s easy to follow – literally anything relating to food, from banana skins to used tea bags, etc.
General waste
- Also known as ‘residual waste’, this is anything that does not fall into any of the above categories, that can not be recycled.
The rules will extend to councils, homes and smaller businesses in 2026 and 2027 respectively, giving people time to prepare. These will also likely include new rules on weekly food waste collections, garden waste, non-recyclable waste and recycling in England in general.
Why Simpler Recycling regulations matter
While there has been some effort by the government to seperate recyclable items into categories for years, those that slip through the cracks on a large scale can cause issues in the recycling chain further down the line.
Food waste, for instance, can produce harmful gases when sent to landfill, which is why giving it its own dedicated waste receptacle is the best policy moving forward under the new legislation.
If successful, Simpler Recycling should lead to more clearly defined recycling protocols, reduced waste sent to landfill and a more efficient system as a whole.
What are the implications for commercial skip hire?
This is the important bit… If you’re a commercial skip hire customer, it’s important to note that you can no longer mix the same materials in a single skip if they fall into separate categories. Instead, if you require a skip, you should ensure it contains only one type of waste as identified in the Simpler Recycling legislation. You can use seperate bins for everything else.
Waste collection services are not responsible for separating your waste into these categories. That responsibility lies with you, the business owner, before the waste is collected.
The good news is that, depending on your area of work, you’re likely already following the above rules and keeping dry waste, food waste and general waste seperate, so there may be very little to do on your end. These rules are designed to tighten the gap around inappropriate recycling practices, with an emphasis on “separation at source”, making waste streams far easier to deal with in the latter stages.
Having said that, if you’re aware that you’re currently mixing any of the above-mentioned materials in the same skip, you need to do everything in your power to make sure these are divided appropriately before you dispose of them.
Choose A&R Skips for affordable, reliable skip hire
If you’re a business that regularly uses skips and you’re concerned about what to do regarding the new recycling legislation, A&R Skips is here to help.
We’ve been providing top-notch skip hire in Wigan and the surrounding areas for years and have all the industry knowledge you need to recycle your business waste effectively.
To find out more, speak to the team, or book a skip online today.
Related Posts
