Simpler Recycling Legislation Guide for Businesses

Simpler Recycling legislation is in effect and already impacts larger businesses and households. By March 2027, small businesses will also be expected to comply.

This Simpler Recycling Guide for businesses will take you through the changes, what they mean for how you manage your waste, and the deadlines you have to stick to. Plus, how DCW is supporting our clients across the South West to stay compliant with the legislation.

Simpler Recycling Legislation Guide for Businesses

What is Simpler Recycling?

Simpler Recycling is a waste legislation reform that came into effect on 31st March 2025, designed to improve recycling across England by standardising collections and sorting, ensuring less recyclable materials end up in general waste, and reducing contamination within recycling collections – with the ultimate aim of reducing waste to landfill and supporting the environment.

It must be implemented by all households and businesses; micro-firms (businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees) will not need to follow the changes until 31st March 2027.

However, it is recommended to adapt your processes prior to this, to ensure that you are compliant.

What are the key Simpler Recycling dates?

31st March 2025

Businesses and premises in England with more than 10 full-time employees are required to separate recycling materials from general waste.

31st March 2026

Local authorities are required to ensure all households can comply with the legislation, including the introduction of weekly food waste collections.

31st March 2027

Smaller businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees are also expected to be compliant, including offices, venues and retail.

How Waste Sorting Is Changing for Businesses

Many small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) have already been required to comply since 2025. Micro businesses (with 10 or fewer employees) must comply by 31 March 2027.

Simpler Recycling standardises how recyclable materials are collected and sorted, so that the same core materials are recycled everywhere, whether you’re at home or at work. While the principles are the same, the timelines and responsibilities differ for households and businesses.

For businesses, Simpler Recycling introduces clear legal requirements for how waste must be sorted.

Depending on your business size and location, you may now need to:

Separate recyclable materials from general waste
Use dedicated containers for specific waste streams
Ensure staff understand and follow correct waste sorting
Work with a registered waste provider that supports Simpler Recycling compliance

What businesses are impacted by Simpler Recycling?

Simpler Recycling legislation already does, or will by March 2027, apply to all business types, settings, and venues, including but not limited to:

Offices
Retail and wholesale
Transport and storage
Hospitality, such as cafes, restaurants, and hotels
Places of education, such as schools, colleges, and universities
Healthcare places, such as GP surgeries and hospitals
Care homes
Charities and those registered as charities
Places of worship
Penal institutes
Charity shops
Residential hostels
Premises used only or mainly for public meetings

How DCW ensures businesses across the South West are compliant with Simpler Recycling

Step one: Provide you with an informative Simpler Recycling Guide to help you understand the legislation, and how and when it will impact your business!

Step two: We carry out waste audits to ensure you have the bins you need, compliant with local and national regulations, and aligned with how much waste you produce.

Step three: We help ensure you’re compliant on-site, and take care of everything else downstream so you know your waste is being handled, sorted, and recycled in the right way.

We’re passionate about helping businesses across the South West with their commercial waste requirements, from legislative compliance to streamlined waste management and eco-efficiency.

It’s what we do.

Contact the Experienced
Team at DCW

Contact DCW for a cost effective and sustainable waste management solution. For a no obligation quote complete the form or call today on:

Head Office Exeter: 01392 361 300

Data Destruction Centre (Plymouth): 01752 850 800

For service enquiries please speak to your local depot.

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Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5.30pm

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What our customers say

We are proud that so many of our customers come back to us every time for all their commercial waste disposal needs. You can find out more about what our customers think below.

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"We as a company changed our waste suppliers to DCW earlier this season, quite an undertaking as it involved three of our local parks.

"The transition from one company to DCW was made seamless by Kate. Nothing was too much trouble and when questions were raised, she either answered straight away or found out and came back to us. Kate is always contactable, important for a business like ours when so much is done online. She regularly keeps in contact and will call in as and if required."

Bob Lawrence,
Devon Valley Holiday Village

Testimonials

“GK Signs have been using DCW for a number of years to manage the collection and disposal of our waste. Initially, our relationship was formed to service our site in Exeter, Devon, but this has now developed into a national agreement. DCW are always able to meet our requirements, which can at times be demanding. From the office support through to delivery drivers, DCW are very flexible and fully support GK Signs.”

Colin Green,
GK Signs Ltd Via email

Testimonials

"Like all companies, this period has been difficult for Twofour Group Ltd. However, we are successfully attempting to return to some form of normal working practices and with the assistance of efficient and adaptable contractors, this goal is hopefully easier to achieve. DCW are without doubt the best waste contractor that we have dealt with, in my 13 years at this company... I would have no hesitation in recommending DCW with their 'Zero to landfill' ethos being an important virtue with our company."

Graham K. McCormick,
Twofour Group Ltd Via email

Testimonials

"As always if you have a problem DCW will help. We have a depot over 200 miles away from the main site that needed help with waste management. One quick email to DCW and the issue was quickly resolved. The simplicity of having all the waste managed from one place and one number to call for help make this a superb company for national services with a local approach."

Justin Holloway,
Bandvulc Tyres Ltd Via email

Testimonials

Colin Green,
GK Signs Ltd Via email

Testimonials

"We've been DCW customers for about 3 years, maybe longer. Their zero to landfill promise aligns with our ideals, and makes our tenants very happy. They don't need to sort their waste to know that if it's recyclable, it gets recycled. Zero hassle, zero to landfill. Accounts and customer services staff have always been very helpful and friendly.

If you haven't tried them, what have you got to lose?"

Rhiannon, Hub Manager,
Tavistock Enterprise Hub Via twitter

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"As a business we strive to maximise waste for recycling, however as a busy exhibition and conference centre found it difficult with traders not necessarily caring of the way in which they dispose of waste. In working with DCW, we have been able to achieve our ambitions and easily, thanks to the fantastic technology they use. We are now proudly recycling the vast majority of waste generated."

Sarah Rich, Events Manager,
Westpoint, Exeter

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“After experiencing a series of inconsistent collections and communication difficulties with our previous waste management provider, we switched to DCW who now handle our general waste and recycling requirements for our two sites in Somerset. We are extremely happy with the excellent service we receive from DCW. The transfer process was easy and simple and it’s handy to have a monthly call with the team. Even though DCW offers competitive rates, we primarily switched to this local recycling company for a better service as our previous provider was unreliable. I cannot fault the DCW team’s work and I look forward to working with them in the foreseeable future.”

Tristan Savage, Managing Director,
Falcon Vehicle Solutions

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“We’ve been dealing with DCW for several years now and I am constantly grateful to them for their knowledge and ability to respond to the currently ever-changing situations for the education sector. Always there at the end of the phone when the latest Covid guidance for schools changes and we have to adapt our processes. It’s nice to not have to worry about the waste chain when there is so much else to consider at the moment."

Jamie Halse, Estates Manager,
Stover School