Regulations · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
Simpler Recycling for offices: what workplaces must separate in 2026
What Simpler Recycling means for an office
Simpler Recycling is the government's reform of workplace waste in England. It requires businesses and other non-household premises to arrange for their waste to be presented in separate streams so it can be collected for recycling, rather than putting everything in one general waste bin. For a typical office, that means the bins under desks, in the kitchen and in the bin store all need to be set up around the same streams.
| Stream | What goes in it in an office |
|---|---|
| Dry recyclables | Paper, card, plastic bottles and pots, food tins, drinks cans and glass bottles and jars |
| Food waste | Lunch leftovers, tea bags, coffee grounds, fruit peel and out-of-date fridge food |
| Residual waste | Crisp packets, soft plastics your collector does not take, used tissues and anything that cannot be recycled |
Your waste collector decides how the dry recyclables are collected. Many take them mixed in one container, while others ask for glass, or paper and card, to be kept separate. Ask your collector before you buy bins.
Who has to comply and when
- Workplaces in England with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees: from 31 March 2025
- Micro-firms with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees: from 31 March 2027
- Headcount is counted across the whole business, not per site, with part-time staff counted pro rata
- Landlords and facilities managers who present waste on behalf of tenants are also covered
The Environment Agency enforces the rules in England. It can issue compliance notices, and failing to follow a notice is an offence. Members of the public can report workplaces they think are not complying.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Wales went further and earlier. Since 6 April 2024, Welsh workplaces have had to separate paper and card, glass, and metal, plastic and cartons, plus food waste where they produce more than 5kg a week. Unsold small electricals and textiles must also be kept apart, and food waste must not be poured down the sink or drain. Natural Resources Wales regulates the separation rules.
In Scotland, the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 have required businesses to present paper, card, plastic, metal and glass separately since 2014, with food waste rules for premises producing more than 5kg a week in most areas. Northern Ireland has its own food waste rules for food businesses, so offices there should check with their council or collector.
How cleaners fit into office recycling
Cleaners are usually the people who empty desk bins and kitchen caddies and take bags to the bin store, so the system only works if the cleaning specification matches the bin set-up. A common failure is staff sorting carefully, then everything being tipped into one sack because the cleaner was never told which bag goes where.
- Use clear or colour-coded liners so each stream stays visible once bagged
- Put the cleaning tasks for each stream into the written specification
- Empty food caddies on every visit to avoid smells and fruit flies
- Rinse and wipe food caddies at least weekly
- Tell your cleaning contractor which external bin each stream goes into
- Report contamination, such as food in the recycling, rather than hiding it
Setting up office bins that people actually use
Desk bins are the weak point. When every desk has its own general waste bin, recycling rates fall. Many offices remove individual desk bins and replace them with shared recycling points near kitchens, printers and exits, which also cuts the time cleaners spend emptying dozens of small bins each night.
- Group bins in stations so each stream sits side by side
- Label bins with pictures of the actual items your office throws away
- Put food caddies in the kitchen, not at desks
- Keep a box for confidential paper separate from general paper recycling
- Review the bins after a month and move them to where waste is really produced
Keeping records and checking compliance
Keep your waste transfer notes from your collector, which show the type of waste and who took it. If your collector co-collects dry recyclables, it is sensible to keep a note of that arrangement too. A quick quarterly look inside the bins tells you more than any policy document: if the recycling is full of coffee cups with liquid in them or food packaging, the signs or the bin positions need changing.
Common problems and quick fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Food in the recycling | No food caddy nearby | Put a caddy next to every recycling point in the kitchen |
| Recycling bags rejected | Liquids and greasy packaging | Add a sink-side rinse habit and clear signs |
| Caddies smell | Emptied too rarely | Empty on every cleaning visit and use compostable liners |
| Bin store overflowing | Collection frequency too low | Ask the collector to adjust frequency or bin size |
Small offices in shared buildings often rely on the landlord's bin store. If so, ask the managing agent which streams the building collects, so your internal bins match what happens downstairs.
Frequently asked questions
Do small offices have to follow Simpler Recycling yet?
Workplaces in England with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees, counted across the whole business, have until 31 March 2027. Many small offices start earlier because their collector has already changed its service, and setting the bins up now avoids a rush later. Larger businesses with 10 or more full-time equivalent staff have had to comply since 31 March 2025.
Can all office recycling go in one bin?
Usually, yes, for dry recyclables. The rules allow paper, card, plastic, metal and glass to be collected together in many cases, and most commercial collectors offer a mixed recycling bin. Food waste must still be kept separate from recycling and from residual waste. Check your collector's rules, as some still ask for glass or paper and card to be separated.
Are paper coffee cups recyclable in an office?
Most takeaway coffee cups have a plastic lining and are not accepted in standard mixed recycling. Some collectors and coffee chains run separate cup schemes. If yours does not, cups go in residual waste. Empty liquid first, as drinks poured into recycling bins are one of the most common causes of contaminated loads.
Simpler Recycling office recycling waste law 2026
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