New Business Recycling Regulations in England Starting March 31st 2025: Are you Ready?

From March 31st, 2025, England will introduce new business recycling regulations, requiring all organisations with more than 10 employees to separate recyclable waste responsibly.

Set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the new regulations include requirements for businesses to manage their waste streams with a focus on separating recyclables – such as paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, metals, and food waste – from residual waste.

Aligning with the business recycling regulations that have been in place in Wales since April 6th, 2024, all businesses that are not micro-businesses (10 employees or less) are obliged, by law, to meet these new standards.

Failure to comply will put you at risk of receiving a compliance notice from the Environment Agency alongside potential fines and reputation damage. 

Is your business ready for the new regulations? 

At Parry & Evans, we have been in the commercial recycling and waste management industry for over 60 years. A family-run business, we now service businesses across the UK and have plenty of experience in navigating the new regulations from our already compliant clients in Wales.

Not sure how the new regulations affect your business? In this blog, we break down everything you need to know — and how Parry & Evans can help you stay compliant with ease.

When do the recycling regulations come into effect?

In Wales, the new Business Recycling Regulations have been in effect since April 6th, 2024. From March 31st, 2025, all businesses in England must also comply with these mandatory waste separation rules.

The only exception applies to micro-businesses in England (those with fewer than 10 employees), which have until March 31st, 2027, to comply.

At Parry & Evans, we’ve been helping businesses in Wales streamline their waste management systems, and achieve full compliance with the new regulations for almost a year.

If your business is in Wales and you haven’t implemented the new recycling regulations for your Business, you are falling behind. The vast majority of companies are now fully compliant—don’t risk penalties or operational setbacks. Let us help you get up to speed quickly and efficiently!

If your business is based in England, the compliance deadline is fast approaching. With just weeks to go, now is the time to act and ensure your waste management processes meet the new legal requirements.

Call us today at 01244 848790 or Fill In Our Waste Management Audit Form for a FREE expert consultation and ensure your business is fully compliant before the deadline!

What are the ‘Simpler Recycling’ regulations for Businesses in England?

From March 31st, 2025, all businesses and organisations in England with 10 or more employees must legally separate their waste and manage it more effectively.

This applies to workplaces across all sectors, including:

• Retail & Hospitality: Supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, hotels.
• Offices & Corporate Spaces: Co-working hubs, banks, law firms.
• Manufacturing & Warehouses: Factories, distribution centers.
• Healthcare & Education: Hospitals, clinics, schools, universities.
• Construction & Trades: Builders’ yards, workshops, trade depots.
• Public Sector & Non-Profits: Government offices, charities, community centres.

To comply, businesses must separate the following dry recyclable materials:

📄 Paper & Cardboard
🛍️ Plastic
🥫 Metal
🍾 Glass

Understanding Waste Categories

Under the new regulations, businesses must separate waste into three categories:

1️⃣ Dry recyclable materials → Paper, plastic, metal, glass.
2️⃣ Black bin waste (residual waste) → Non-recyclable waste.
3️⃣ Food waste → If your business generates 5kg or more per week, it must be collected separately.

Your Duty of Care as a Business Owner

Under the Simpler Recycling regulations, business owners have a legal Duty of Care to ensure waste is properly separated, stored, and disposed of responsibly.

Is Your Business Ready? Ask Yourself These Key Questions:

✅ Do you generate more than 5kg of food waste per week?
✅ Have you identified how much waste your business produces?
✅ Where and how is your waste stored? Is it safe & hygienic?
✅ Are you aware of the percentages of different recyclable materials?

💡 Example: If your business produces more cardboard than glass, do you have the right storage solutions?

If you’re unsure about any of the above, Parry & Evans can help you.

Book Your FREE Waste Management Audit Today – Ensure Compliance & Reduce Costs!

Managing a Business in England? Here’s Why You Should Act Now.

Ignoring waste management can quickly spiral into a serious health & safety risk, leading to fire hazards, pest infestations, and workplace accidents. On top of that, poor planning doesn’t just waste time and money—it’s now a legal offence.

Unfortunately, some businesses in Wales learnt this the hard way—delaying action meant facing enforcement measures, unexpected costs, and legal scrutiny. England’s new regulations will be no different. Now is the time to plan ahead.

From April 1st 2025, any member of the public can report non-compliant businesses, triggering inspections, compliance notices, and potential fines.

What Will Happen if My Business is Non-Compliant?

Imagine receiving a compliance notice from the Environment Agency—immediately diverting your attention away from running your business and draining valuable resources.

The financial risk is serious—businesses can face fines of up to £50,000, civil penalties, and legal action.

But beyond the cost, the real damage could be to your reputation—bad press, negative customer perception, and loss of business trust.

Avoiding these risks starts with having a structured waste management plan in place. That’s where Parry & Evans comes in—helping businesses transition smoothly to the new regulations before the deadline.

What is the Parry & Evans Total Waste Management Solution?

Our unique location on the Welsh-English border means that we have first-hand expertise in helping businesses navigate the new regulations.

Since April 2024, we’ve successfully helped businesses across hospitality, retail, manufacturing, and other industries in Wales comply with the new recycling standards—giving us the expertise to guide English businesses through the upcoming 2025 transition.

Our hands-on experience in Wales led to the creation of the Parry & Evans Total Waste Management Solution—designed to provide businesses in England and Wales with an effortless way to guarantee compliance with the new commercial recycling standards.

At Parry & Evans, we don’t just help you comply with the new recycling regulations, we work with you and your team to make waste management easier, more efficient, and cost-effective for your business.

Our Total Waste Management Solution is a fully tailored service designed to:

✅ Ensure full compliance before the March 31st, 2025 deadline.

✅ Streamline your waste processes, reducing costs & inefficiencies.

✅ Improve overall sustainability, helping your business meet environmental goals.

With over 60 years of expertise, we have helped hundreds of businesses across the UK transition smoothly to better recycling practices. Our state-of-the-art facilities, in Deeside and Welshpool, and our fleet of specialist recycling vehicles allow us to offer an unrivalled waste management service.

How Do You Get Started?

Getting started with Parry & Evans couldn’t be easier. For all businesses in England and Wales, we offer a Free Consultation to assess your waste management needs.

Here’s How It Works:

✅ Waste Assessment: One of our dedicated waste management specialists will work closely with your team to review how materials are used, stored, and managed in your workplace.

✅ Risk Identification: We highlight potential risks to your business operations before the Environment Agency does.

✅ Sustainability Improvements: We identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce waste.

✅ Practical Advice on:

• Reducing material waste.
• Separating dry recyclables correctly.
• Using safe & efficient storage containers.
• Managing general & food waste effectively.
• Optimising collection frequency & processes.

Finally, we provide a documented & customised Total Waste Management Plan, tailored to your business needs.

Why Choose Parry & Evans?

At Parry & Evans, we are more than just a recycling company—we are your trusted commercial waste management partner.

✅ Hands-On Support: We don’t just give advice, we help implement new recycling practices in your workplace.

✅ State-Of-The-Art Facilities: Our Deeside & Welshpool sites ensure fast & efficient recycling processing.

✅ Specialist Recycling Vehicles & Containers: We offer free waste and recycling containers to efficiently store your separated waste streams in preparation for us to collect your waste efficiently across England & Wales.

✅ Trusted Partners: We work with leading waste & recycling partners across the UK.

✅ Guaranteed Compliance: We ensure your business is 100% compliant before the March 31st, 2025 deadline.

Don’t wait until the last minute—businesses across England must comply before the deadline.