The DEFRA Simpler Recycling scheme is set to roll out in March 2025. It represents a significant overhaul of waste management practices across England, aiming to streamline the recycling process for both households and businesses. This initiative is part of a wider effort from the UK government to increase recycling rates, increase landfill diversion rates and to support a more sustainable, circular economy. The introduction of this scheme will address the long-standing confusion what can and cannot be recycled, encouraging better compliance and participation in recycling schemes.
How Simpler Recycling will affect Restaurants
The DEFRA Simpler Recycling scheme will have several implications for restaurants in England, primarily affecting how they manage their waste. We’ve listed the key areas where restaurants will feel the impact:
Mandatory separation of Recyclable Waste
Restaurants in England will be required to segregate key recyclable materials, including:
- Plastic, such as containers, bottles and packaging
- Glass, such as bottles and jars
- Metals, including cans and tins
- Paper and cardboard
- Food waste, including unused ingredients, out of date food and leftovers
All of these types of recyclable waste must be separated from general waste and properly disposed of through designated recycling services. For restaurants, which typically generate significant amounts of food waste and packaging waste, this could mean implementing a new system for separating materials in kitchens and back-of-house areas. Whilst this could prove a short-term logistical challenge, it does provide an opportunity to improve efficiency in food waste management.
How many bins will restaurants need?
Whilst all recyclable material needs to be collected separately from general waste, you will not require a separate bin for each type of recyclable waste. Instead, restaurants will likely require only three bins to be compliant:
- A dry mixed recycling bin for paper, glass, metal and plastic
- A food waste bin which cannot be mixed with any other type of waste
- A general waste bin for anything that cannot be recycled
If your restaurant creates a significant quantity of one specific type of waste, it could be advisable to have a dedicated container for it to avoid the dry mixed recycling bin from overflowing.
How to prepare for the introduction of Simpler Recycling
March 2025 may sound a few months away, but factor in the festive period and that looming deadline will be on your doorstep in no time. Now is the right time to review your waste management services, assessing whether your current waste collection is sufficient for the new changes being introduced. Identify any areas where you need to improve to stay compliant. Use this to create a waste management plan, detailing how you plan to comply with the reforms, focusing on how you will store the separate recyclable materials and how they will be disposed of.
It is vital to educate your employees of the changes, ensuring all of your team know of the Simpler Recycling changes, ensuring your restaurant is and remains compliant with the DEFRA regulations.
Consider contacting a restaurant consultant to discuss your waste management requirements.
Extended Produer Responsibility Fees
Restaurants in England will be subject to the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. This scheme will place additional financial responsibility upon the business for the collection, sorting and recycling of packaging waste. Your restaurant could incur new fees related to how recyclable your waste packaging is.
| Material | Lower (£ per tonne) | Intermediate (£ per tonne) | Higher (£ per tonne) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | 320 | 405 | 605 |
| Fibre-based composite | 355 | 450 | 565 |
| Glass | 110 | 175 | 215 |
| Paper and card | 135 | 190 | 250 |
| Plastic | 360 | 425 | 520 |
| Steel | 220 | 265 | 330 |
| Wood | 145 | 240 | 340 |
| Other | 180 | 205 | 240 |
Table illustrating packaging Extended Producer Responsibility base fees for 2025 to 2026 for all packaging materials, source gov.uk
Dealing with restaurant organic waste
If your restaurant organic waste is to be collected once a week, it is vital to ensure it is properly stored and managed to avoid a foul odour. After all, you don’t want your diners smelling yesterday’s leftovers, or even worse, leftovers from last week.
One novel solution is Restaurant Compost Machine such as those available from Ecoco Solutions. These compost machines turn organic waste into compost fertilizer in a matter of hours. Crucially, these machines are odourless and create no external waste that needs to be disposed of. The compost fertilizer is rich in nutrients, perfect for adding to vegetable patches and allotments. If your restaurant is prioritising a sustainable, circular approach to your produce and waste, a composting machine could enable you to fertilise your produce in the compost produced from your food waste!