A new, simpler way to recycle
The UK government has announced their ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms that aim to make recycling easier and more consistent across the nation, boosting overall recycling rates.
With 81% of people preferring to buy from sustainable businesses, now is the time to get ahead of the recycling curve — and we are here to help you achieve this.
What does this mean for your business?
With 60% of waste in Westminster coming from businesses, you play a vital role in reshaping the city’s recycling. With the introduction of ‘Simpler Recycling’, you will be responsible for separating food waste and all dry recycling (paper, card, plastic, glass and metal) from the rest of your general waste.
By 31st March 2025, if you employ more than 10 full-time staff, you must recycle all the materials listed above. By 31st March 2027, all businesses will also need to include clean, dry plastic film in their recycling collection.
These changes might seem daunting, but the good news is we can help!
How can we help?
At Westminster Commercial Waste Services, we already recycle all of these materials. Even better, if you separate your collections into individual material types then we can recycle your waste into a higher-value end product. If space is a concern, do not worry — we provide a mixed recycling service for all of your dry recycling needs. And if time is of the essence, please get in touch to discuss if we can offer you a more bespoke collection service tailored to your business. All of our services are updated in line with any new government regulations so you never need to worry about compliance and can focus on the day-to-day running of your business. Book a free waste audit today to find out more.
The importance of reducing your plastic waste
In the future, putting plastic in general waste will have a similar impact to burning fossil fuels for energy. Therefore, it is crucial that businesses take steps now to limit the plastic that ends up in their general waste. By reviewing what sort of plastic you are using, reducing the non recyclable types, and recycling all of the plastic you do use, you can help preserve natural resources, protect the environment and ultimately save money.
Here are some key ways you can reduce your plastic waste:
- Use reusable items where possible, for example switching from plastic materials to paper or glass
- Reduce your consumption of plastic water bottles, bags and straws — try metal bottles and straws instead
- Buy second-hand items
- Choose products that use less packaging, and particularly try to reduce the use of plastic films as much as possible
- Avoid contaminating your mixed recycling with food or other substances
For the remaining quality plastic your business uses, we can help recycle this through a careful, transparent and auditable process. We collect plastics as part of mixed recycling before separating them at a local facility, where they are sent to dedicated recyclers to be turned into new products.
If you’re not sure how to reduce your plastic, or choose the better, more recyclable types then get in touch. We can work with you to review what you consume and provide guidance on the best approach for your business.
Reducing and recycling your plastic waste is key to managing your waste in line with the ‘Simpler Recycling’ rules, and we’re here to support you on this journey.
Stay ahead of the curve with new, simpler recycling and let us take care of your recycling needs with a reduce-first approach to plastic waste.
