📰 Regulation watch: Simpler Recycling Initiative
+ good news, upcoming events + refresh your memory on biodegradable vs compostable
It’s hard to think with technology advancing as fast as it is that we are still moving so slowly on recycling! And it’s not only that we lack the infrastructure, it’s also that we lack clarity. I wonder if I’m the only one who regularly has a heated debate about what can and can’t be recycled in their kitchen 🤔.
Today Abi is bringing our England-based readers some of that much needed clarity as we prepare for new regulations.
Keep scrolling to discover:
In Focus: Guest writer Abi helps us wrap our heads around the new recycling regulations in England
Our Weekly Good(s) News roundup!
Bulletin Board: One event featuring yours truly and more events and jobs to keep an eye on.
In case you missed it: Biodegradable vs compostable - know the difference
Do you enjoy reading FTF? We would love your support! Please subscribe, share this newsletter with your colleagues and let us know what you think!
> In Focus…
Simpler Recycling Initiative
by Abigail Sharp
It’s hard to believe that the English government has put together an initiative involving the words ‘Simpler’ and ‘Recycling’ in the same sentence! 👀
For years, as individuals and businesses we have (hopefully) been recycling both at work and at home. It’s become second nature—inspecting food packets, containers, and packaging, hoping that what’s left can be recycled and turned into something new.
However, waste management in the UK is a devolved matter. What that means is each country - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - is responsible for its own strategy. In England, responsibility is further fragmented among local councils, leading to inconsistencies between councils regarding what can or can’t be recycled. This lack of clarity has often left consumers guessing—and ‘wishcycling’— the act of placing non-recyclable items in recycling bins in the hope that they will be processed.
Research has found that 84% of households unintentionally contaminate their recycling through well-intended ‘wishcycling’—a challenge that clearer guidance and policy reform need to help address.
Step in: the ‘Simpler Recycling initiative’ (SRI) which is set to come into effect on March 31st 2025. This mandatory legislation aims to transform how businesses and households in England segregate recyclable waste from general waste, boosting recycling rates across the country.
The goal? To standardise and simplify what is collected for recycling across England, reduce confusion and contamination in recycling bins, and remove recyclable materials from general waste streams so they can be properly recovered.
An ambitious target has been set for England: to recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035 and deliver greenhouse gas emissions savings equivalent to £11.8 billion. Current household recycling rates in England have stagnated at around 44%-45% since 2015.
Simpler recycling in England will form an essential part of the plan on how they are going to achieve their targets, alongside other initiatives such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging and the Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers.
So, what is the Regulation?
The ‘Simpler Recycling Initiative’ mandates that all businesses and organisations in England with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees must: separate their core recyclable materials from general waste.
Most workplaces will now be required to use four separate containers for:
residual (non-recyclable) waste
food waste
paper and card
all other dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal and glass)
The most notable change for a lot of businesses and organisations is the addition of the separate food waste stream. Businesses must separate this stream regardless of how little food waste they generate.
The UK has already seen other administrations introduce similar legislation. In April 2024, Wales implemented its recycling reform for all workplaces, introducing six core recycling streams. This has helped Wales become the second-best country in the world for recycling. The hope is that SRI will bring similar success across the border.
Key Timelines
March 31, 2025: Large and small businesses as well as non-household municipal premises must have core recycling streams in place, including a separate stream for food waste.
March 31, 2026: For households’ the local authorities must have implemented standardised core recycling collections, including weekly food waste collections.
March 31, 2027: Micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees must be compliant, and plastic film will be included as part of the plastic waste stream.
How can you prepare?
Complete a waste audit: Understand what waste you are creating, there might be an opportunity to prevent or recycle materials that you aren’t currently. Recycling can lower waste management costs – good for both the planet and your bottom line!
Engage with your current waste provider: Ask how they can support your transition to compliance with the legislation – if they fall short look at switching provider!
Understand where your waste ends up: Work with your waste provider to track where your waste goes and how it is processed for better transparency.
Talk to your teams and influence behaviours: Make sure everyone is aware of the changes and how they need to act to be compliant to the new legislation.
> Follow up with…
Guide: Simpler recycling guide, Greenzone
Guide: Business of Recycling, WRAP
> The Good(s) News
🎯 Actual Veggies announced that they raised $7 million in a Series A funding round to support its retail expansion and product development, led by Relentless Consumer Partners. This reflects shifting consumer preferences towards foods made with recognisable, minimally processed ingredients.
🎯 Wildsmith Skin announced their new 100% compostable packaging that biodegrades in a year, using a plant-based biopolymer made from natural microbes in partnership with Shellworks. Additional products will transition this year as existing glass packaging sells through.
⭐️ Lidl Nederland announced that they have improved the range of meat substitutes. Not only in taste and texture, the nutritional values have also been optimised. More than two thirds of meat substitutes now meet the Schijf van Vijf (wheel of five) criteria, which is the official nutritional guideline in the Netherlands.
⭐️ REWE Group announced their protein strategy in favour of plants, aligning with the Planetary Health Diet, a scientifically backed nutrition plan. It was the first German supermarket to pledge a reduction in its Scope 3 forest, land use and agriculture emissions and aims to reach net zero by 2050.
Have good news? Share it with us - info@followingthefootprints.com!
> Bulletin Board
Events
📆 4 March - The Carbon Trust label directory: Leading with transparency on green claims - The Carbon Trust - Virtual
📆 11 March - Make Your Impact Unignorable - Enviral and Laura Matz (me🙋♀️) - Virtual
Jobs in CPG x Sustainability
South Burlington, USA - Ice Cream Social Mission Director - Ben & Jerry's ($141,680 to $212,520)
Copenhagen or Paris - Social Impact Manager - GANNI
Manchester, UK - Sustainability Manager - Co-op (£58,000 - £66,000)
If you want to feature your event here, get in touch or add it directly to our events calendar 👇
> Finally, in case you missed it…
Want more? Check out our Website! You can find more about the team behind this newsletter, dig through our content archive AND check out our handy databases there too.
Have ideas for what we should write about next? Reply to this email! We’re always looking for inspiration from folks like you.
Until next time!
Team FTF
 |
|