From 31 March 2025, all businesses and non-domestic premises with 10 or more full-time employees have a legal duty to separate and recycle the following waste materials:

• plastic
• paper and card
• glass
• metals
• food waste
• black bin waste (residual waste)
• garden waste

Workplaces that must follow these rules

Any business or workplace premises that generates waste that is similar to household waste must follow these rules across their operations (including staff kitchens, for example). This includes:

• offices
• retail and wholesale
• transport and storage
• hospitality (such as cafes, restaurants and hotels)
• places of education (schools, colleges and universities)
• healthcare places (GPs surgeries and hospitals)
• care homes
• places of worship

Please note that this is not a complete list. If you’re not sure if the rules apply to your business, you can check the legislation on the legislation.gov.uk website.

Benefits of simpler recycling

The benefits are:

• Cost savings - potentially lower your business costs through efficient waste management
• Energy conservation - save energy by recycling materials
• Resource conservation - help conserve valuable resources
• Environmental protection - do your bit to protect the environment

How to get started

We offer dedicated general waste and dry mixed recycling collection services for businesses of all sizes at competitive prices. 

Request a quote for trade waste collection

We don’t currently offer a food waste collection service but we are working hard to introduce one. You can search for waste collection services on the GOV.uk website. 

If you’d like more information on our business waste collection service, please email Tradewasteservice@lbbd.gov.uk

Find out more about simpler recycling on the GOV.uk website.

Special note for smaller businesses

Businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees across all business locations have until 31 March 2027 to comply with the regulations.