We’re now four months into the Simpler Recycling 2025 legislation, and businesses across England are adjusting to the new workplace waste management. But compliance doesn’t happen on its own, it depends on the people handling the bins every day. That includes your cleaning team.
In this blog, we’ll recap what the 2025 waste legislation require, explain what they mean for cleaning companies like yours, and show how your staff play a key role in keeping clients compliant. You’ll also get practical tips to avoid common mistakes, and turn the regulations into an opportunity to add value.
Simpler Recycling for businesses is a legal requirement that came into effect in England on 31 March 2025. It says that all workplaces must separate their waste into three key streams before it’s collected:
Micro-businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees have until 31 March 2027 to comply, but everyone else must already be following the rules.
If waste is mixed incorrectly or contaminated, it may be rejected or incur extra fees. That’s why the person who handles the bin matters, and in most workplaces, that’s your cleaning staff.
Read the whole legislation at the UK Governments’ own site.
Wales
Wales introduced its new workplace waste management rules on 6 April 2024. The rules apply to all workplaces, regardless of size or sector.
Businesses must separate the following waste streams before collection:
• Paper & card
• Glass
• Metal
• Plastic
• Food waste
Non-compliance can lead to £300+ fines or prosecution.
Scotland
Workplace recycling rules have been in place since 2014, and most businesses are already required to comply.
Businesses must separate the following:
• Paper & card
• Glass
• Metal
• Plastic
• Food waste (if your site produces over 5kg per week
Alignment with Simpler Recycling is expected by 2026
Northern Ireland
There is no new national Simpler Recycling law yet, but businesses must follow existing waste legislation.
Businesses must:
• Separate paper, card, plastic, metal, and glass where practical
• Keep waste uncontaminated and ready for reuse or recycling
• Food waste (if your site produces over 5 kg per week)
A national update to align with Simpler Recycling may come after 2025.
We get it, cleaning teams aren’t waste management experts like sanitation workers. You’re not the one signing waste contracts, but your team is likely the last ones to handle the waste before it’s collected. And that makes your role more important than most people realise.
You’re already managing client demands, staff issues, and tight schedules. Now, with new waste regulations in place, your team is expected to know what goes where — and mistakes can lead to blame, penalties, or even lost contracts.
Compliance doesn’t have to be complex. With a few smart updates, your team can confidently manage their part in workplace waste management:
Tools like CleanManager help you structure and document this, from assigning site-specific waste tasks to capturing photo proof and logging contamination issues.
This isn’t just about avoiding fines.
By supporting simpler recycling for businesses, your team becomes more valuable. You help clients
And for you? It means better client retention, stronger bids, and a reputation for being proactive and professional.
If you want to hear more about the role of cleaning in environmental sustainability, then check out our article Cleaning With a Conscience: Uncovering Environmental Sustainability.