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As of the 31st of March 2025, it will become law for any business with over 10 employees that produces more than 5kg of food waste (this includes staff food waste) to arrange separate collections for food waste. This new legislation has been brought in by DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) which will affect the public and private sector businesses, including:
• Offices
• Retail and wholesale
• Car garages
• Hospitality, such as cafes, restaurants, and hotels
• Factories
• Places of education, such as schools, colleges, and universities
• Healthcare environments, such as GP surgeries and hospitals
• Steel mills
• Construction sites
If you have fewer than 10 employees, or you don’t currently produce more than 5kg of food waste per week, you won’t need to comply with this legislation change until 31st March 2027.
How will this change in recycling law affect my business?
To help the government eliminate food waste in landfills by 2030, DEFRA has created a simpler recycling plan. The plan aims to improve recycling rates, protect the environment, and simplify waste management for all councils across England. Scotland and Wales have already implemented changes in waste management, with a goal in Scotland of sending less than 5% of waste to landfills by the end of 2025.
In England, businesses that produce more than 5 kg of food waste each week will be required to arrange separate collections by licensed waste collectors. Inedible items such as bones, peels, eggshells, tea bags, and coffee grounds are included in this new law, as is any biodegradable waste created before, during or after the process or preparation of food. You should also be aware that this includes any products or mixtures prepared and brought into your workplace or factory, for example, pre-made batter that is going to waste must now be emptied into the correct bin for food waste collection.
Staff, customers, or other individuals will have the ability to notify DEFRA of workplaces that do not adhere to these regulations starting in April 2025
How we can help you.
As with all changes in law, it can take some companies time to audit and consider the risks to their business due to the upcoming changes, but with the deadline fast approaching, you don’t have much time to put plans in motion to protect yourself.
Tags for food preparation and manufacturing
We are aware that even though new laws are being introduced, the food industry is regulated by many strict standards. These standards are there to protect the public, especially when working in food manufacturing, processing, transporting or preparing. That is when guidelines like HACCP come into play, and due to this, the use of our metal-detectable tags might be the only answer that would work for you.
Our tags are already food-process compliant and used by many food manufacturers across the country. Thanks to the range of colours and customisation we can offer, integrating the use of our tags within your food waste process has never been easier. With a simple colour-coded tag to help you track and trace your food waste from the bin to collection, it becomes one less thing for your business to worry about.
All weather tags for food waste
Not working in food manufacturing can mean, you don’t have such strict regulations to warrant the need for metal-detectable tags. We offer a range of all-weather tags. Much like our metal-detectable tags, these can be customised and come in a range of colours to help meet your business needs.
In retail or central processing kitchens, there is still a large amount of food waste that needs to be separated and disposed of. Our tags can be wiped clean with chemical cleaners and are highly durable when being handled heavily. Our all-weather tags can be used both inside and outside, following food from the kitchen to outside ready for collection. Thanks to the longevity of our tags, you can reduce the risk of misplacing or misidentifying food waste and avoid unwanted penalties.
The use of Bin stickers
If you need a straightforward method for customers or employees to separate their own waste without requiring any further human intervention, we can help there too. Having bins that have the correct labels and colours on them can help people dispose of their waste appropriately. Working with our team over at PAT Labels Online we can offer you a full range of self-adhesive bin stickers in different colours and sizes. Suitable for both interior and exterior use these recycling stickers are the perfect choice when you are looking to start your move to the simpler recycling legislation.
To speak to us about one of our products or have a question about how we can help you, feel free to email us at sales@dura-id.com or give us a call at 01803 668 090 and ask for Dominic Hall.
If you need more information about the new DEFRA simpler recycling legislation change, head to www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england.
