From 31st March 2025, businesses in England will need to comply with the new Waste Separation Regulations, a major shift in how food waste and recyclable materials must be managed. This legislation aims to reduce landfill waste, improve recycling rates, and minimise environmental impact. However, beyond legal compliance, businesses must also consider practical challenges, such as kitchen space constraints, manual handling risks, pest control, and waste collection logistics.
Here’s what you need to know and how to prepare effectively.
What Does the New Law Require?
The new legislation mandates that businesses must separate recyclable waste (such as paper, metal, plastic, and glass) and dispose of food waste separately rather than sending it to landfill. Food-producing businesses, including restaurants, cafes, hotels, and food manufacturers, will be particularly affected, as they generate high volumes of food waste.
Additionally, from 31st March 2025, businesses in England will no longer be permitted to dispose of food waste via drainage systems. This means that macerators and liquidising digesters will be banned – bringing England in line with Scotland (which banned them in 2014) and Wales (which introduced the same ban in October 2023).
Failure to comply could result in fines, enforcement action, and reputational damage, so businesses need to start preparing now.
Key Considerations for Businesses
While the environmental benefits of waste separation are clear, businesses should prioritise reducing food waste at the source before focusing on compliance. Cutting down on waste not only helps meet sustainability goals but also reduces the need for excessive storage, disposal, and collection costs.
Read our blog on food waste reduction and charitable giving for practical strategies: Managing Food Waste and Charitable Giving
However, even with the best efforts, some waste is inevitable. Here are the key challenges businesses must manage when handling food waste effectively:
1. Waste Reduction First – How Can Businesses Minimise Food Waste?
The most effective way to comply with the new waste regulations is to produce less waste in the first place. By preventing unnecessary waste, businesses can save money, streamline operations, and reduce environmental impact.
Solutions:
- Improve portion control – Review portion sizes and monitor waste trends to adjust menu offerings.
- Implement better stock management – Adopt a first in, first out (FIFO) system to ensure food is used before expiry.
- Partner with food redistribution charities – Donate surplus food to local charities or food banks instead of discarding it.
- Use food creatively – Repurpose ingredients into soups, stocks, or daily specials to reduce waste.
- Engage staff in waste tracking – Monitor what gets thrown away and find solutions to reduce waste over time.
By reducing waste first, businesses lower the cost and complexity of managing food disposal under the new regulations.
2. Ban on Macerators – What Does This Mean for Businesses?
Many food businesses currently rely on macerators or digesters to break down food waste before flushing it into the drainage system. From March 2025, this will no longer be allowed, meaning businesses must rethink how they manage food waste disposal.
Solutions:
- Invest in alternative food waste disposal methods – Businesses should explore separate food waste bins and compactors as alternatives.
- Work with a waste collection provider – Partnering with a food waste collection service will ensure compliance and proper disposal.
- Train staff on new waste management processes – Employees need to understand the changes and the importance of separating food waste correctly.
3. Space Management – How Do You Fit More Bins in a Crowded Kitchen?
For many businesses, adding extra bins to separate food waste and recyclables can create space constraints, especially in small or high-traffic kitchens.
Solutions:
- Reassess your kitchen layout – Could bins be repositioned for better workflow? Consider slimline, stackable, or under-counter waste bins.
- Train staff on waste efficiency – Reducing unnecessary food waste at the source can minimise bin usage.
- Work with waste providers – Some suppliers offer compactors or efficient waste storage solutions to reduce bin space requirements.
4. Manual Handling Risks – Are Heavy Bins a Workplace Hazard?
With food waste being denser and heavier than general waste, businesses must consider the risk of overloaded bins and potential manual handling injuries.
Solutions:
- Set weight limits – Ensure bins aren’t filled beyond a safe lifting capacity to prevent injuries.
- Use smaller, frequent collection bins – Instead of one large bin, multiple smaller bins can help manage weight distribution.
- Train staff on safe lifting techniques – Manual handling training should include best practices for lifting and transporting waste.
5. Pest Control – Does Storing Food Waste Create Hygiene Issues?
Food waste attracts pests such as rodents and insects, especially if not stored or disposed of correctly. Businesses need to take proactive steps to avoid hygiene risks.
Solutions:
- Use pest-resistant waste containers – Ensure bins have secure lids and are emptied regularly.
- Store waste properly – Keep food waste in a designated, ventilated area away from food prep zones.
- Increase waste collection frequency – Partner with a provider who offers regular pickups to prevent waste from building up.
6. How Can Your Waste Collection Provider Help?
Many waste providers already have systems in place to support businesses in transitioning to compliant waste separation.
Check with your provider about the types of waste they collect and whether they offer tailored solutions like:
- Separate food waste collection
- Recycling services for different materials
- On-site waste compactors or disposal equipment
Some waste collection companies may also offer guidance and training to help your staff implement the changes smoothly.
What Happens If You Don’t Comply?
Failure to comply with the new waste separation laws could result in:
- Fines and enforcement action from local authorities.
- Increased waste disposal costs if recyclable materials are not separated properly.
- Reputational damage, particularly for businesses in hospitality, catering, and food production.
The Environment Agency and local councils will be responsible for monitoring and enforcing the new legislation. Businesses should act now to ensure they meet requirements before the deadline.
What Can Businesses Learn from Scotland and Wales?
Both Scotland and Wales have already implemented strict waste separation rules, providing valuable insights for businesses in England preparing for the 2025 changes. Scotland introduced similar regulations in 2014, while Wales followed in October 2023, offering a strong foundation for best practices.
Key Learnings from Scotland and Wales:
- Early preparation is key – Businesses that adapted ahead of time faced fewer operational disruptions.
- Staff training makes a difference – Teams who understood the importance of waste separation were more likely to follow procedures correctly and reduce contamination of recycling streams.
- Partnering with the right waste provider simplified the transition– Many businesses in Scotland and Wales successfully navigated the changes by working with waste management companies that provided tailored solutions and collection services.
- Operational adjustments were necessary – Businesses had to rethink bin placement, storage, and handling procedures to comply with new regulations while maintaining efficiency in their workspaces.
By learning from Scotland and Wales’ experiences, businesses in England can avoid common pitfalls and ensure a smooth transition.
Next Steps: Get Ready for March 2025
To ensure your business is compliant before the deadline, take the following steps:
- Review your current waste management process – What needs to change?
- Assess your kitchen layout – Where will additional bins be placed?
- Implement staff training – Ensure your team understands the new system.
- Speak to your waste collection provider – Confirm how they will support your compliance.
- Update your pest control strategy – Reduce the risk of hygiene issues from food waste storage.
Final Thought: A Positive Step for Sustainability
While these changes introduce new challenges, they also offer an opportunity for businesses to reduce waste, improve sustainability, and cut costs in the long term. By acting early, businesses can stay ahead of the legislation, ensure compliance, and maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Shield Safety is here to help businesses navigate these changes. If you need guidance on food safety, compliance, or waste management, please contact our team by calling 020 3740 3744 or emailing customerservices@shieldsafety.co.uk
