Defra has announced that paper and cardboard must be collected separately under the forthcoming Simpler Recycling regulations, effective from March 2025. Councils and waste collectors will be required to adhere to a “default requirement” of separating waste into four streams:
- Residual (non-recyclable) waste
- Food waste (or mixed with garden waste where suitable)
- Paper and card
- Other dry recyclable materials
The policy update, released on 29 November 2024, allows local authorities and waste collectors to tailor these requirements to their specific needs while maintaining flexibility. Alongside the announcement, new guidance has been issued to workplaces and waste collectors, requiring the separation of dry recyclables, food waste, and black-bin residual waste.
Workplaces must comply by March 2025, with micro-businesses (fewer than 10 employees) granted until March 2027. Organisations will have the flexibility to determine container sizes and collection frequencies based on their waste output but must separate streams effectively.
Paul Sanderson, CEO of The Recycling Association, praised the move as a balanced approach: “Having paper and card collected separately by default, while allowing flexibility when impractical, should help improve the quality of recyclable materials from homes and businesses.”
The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) also welcomed the update. Dimitra Rappou, CPI’s Executive Director of Sustainable Products, highlighted the importance of reducing contamination in paper and card recycling streams, calling it a vital step toward improving recyclability and achieving sustainability goals.
Defra has partnered with WRAP to launch the Business of Recycling website, which offers tailored resources, a waste cost calculator, and guidance for schools, hospitals, and other non-domestic premises.
While the update has been broadly welcomed, the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO) expressed concerns about the March 2025 compliance deadline for non-domestic premises, calling it "illogical and impractical."
These reforms aim to streamline recycling systems and support higher-quality waste management practices across the UK.
View our previous story on Simpler Recycling, 'Defra Announces Simpler Recycling Update [10.06.2024]'.
