This confusion is spotlighted as the nation gears up for the "Simpler Recycling" laws, set to kick in on 31st March 2025, which will mandate businesses with 10 or more full-time staff to segregate materials like plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, metals, and food waste from general waste – or risk a penalty.
Roger Wright from Biffa has emphasised the critical nature of correct recycling habits, stating: "Recycling correctly preserves valuable materials, reduces waste, and supports a healthier planet for future generations.
Roger Wright, the waste strategy and packaging manager at Biffa, the company behind the study, emphasised the need for straightforward and readily available recycling info to guide people towards greener habits.
Wright also highlighted the importance of upcoming legislation, asserting, "The new legislation is a crucial step toward reducing contamination, encouraging behavioral change, and reviving stagnant recycling rates as we progress toward the UK's net-zero goal.
The new legislation also rolls out to households from 31st March 2026, when all local authorities will be required to provide standardised weekly recycling and food waste collections, simplifying what is collected.
