ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging convenience stores to prepare for the new Simpler Recycling Regulations, coming into force on March 31st 2025.
From the date of implementation, businesses in their entirety with more than 10 full time equivalent employees will be required to separate their waste into four different streams. Those with fewer than 10 FTE employees will have until March 2027 to comply.
The four waste streams that will need to be segregated are:
- Dry recycling (glass, metal and plastic)*
- Paper and card*
- Food waste
- Black bin waste (to be sent to landfill)
*some waste collectors will take dry recycling and paper/card together, but retailers will need to confirm this with their collector.
To help retailers prepare for the new regulations, ACS has released guidance to help retailers understand what they’ll need to do to comply with the rules.
Retailers affected by the rules in March this year need to:
- Review bin provision that they are responsible for, especially outside of the store, where there is a higher risk of waste streams being contaminated.
- Contact their waste collector to understand their responsibilities and any additional costs.
You can download the Simpler Recycling guide here.
Any business that does not comply with the requirements set out by the new regulations are at risk of receiving a compliance notice from the Environment Agency.
A discussion about the implications of the new regulations will be covered in our upcoming Safe & Responsible Retailing Conference on the 12th March. This event is a must-attend for all retailers facing multiple regulation changes in their businesses this year.
You can book your place here.
