Recycling isn’t just about putting the right thing in the right bin anymore.
For small and medium‑sized businesses, it has become part of everyday operations — affecting compliance, costs and how much time staff spend dealing with waste.
Since Simpler Recycling became law in England in April 2025, workplaces are required to separate core waste streams rather than relying on general waste alone.
By 2026, the businesses that feel most comfortable with recycling won’t be the ones doing more — they’ll be the ones dealing with fewer surprises.
Below are three practical lessons that can help SMEs put recycling on a steadier footing.
1. Simple recycling systems work better than complicated ones
Many small businesses assume that recycling has to be detailed and highly segmented to be done properly. In practice, simpler systems usually work best.
Dry Mixed Recycling, where clean, dry materials such as paper, card, plastic and cans are collected together – exists to make recycling easier for staff.
When recycling is straightforward, people are far more likely to use it correctly and consistently.
Problems tend to arise not because recycling is mixed, but because it becomes contaminated or bypassed altogether.
Common causes include liquids left in containers, food waste mixed with paper and card, or unclear bin labelling.
The most effective approach is a practical one:
- clear bins placed where waste is actually produced
- simple labels that show what goes where
- layouts that make recycling the easiest option, not an afterthought
When recycling is easy to understand and easy to use, it tends to take care of itself.
2. Food waste has a bigger impact than many SMEs expect
Food waste is often seen as a hospitality issue, but most workplaces produce it, even if it’s just tea bags, coffee grounds and leftover lunches.
Under current workplace recycling rules, food waste needs to be separated where it is produced. Beyond compliance, this makes a noticeable difference to how well recycling works overall.
Food waste is heavy and messy. When it ends up in general waste, costs rise quickly. When it leaks into recycling, it can spoil paper and card and increase contamination rates.
Businesses that separate food waste properly often find that:
- recycling areas stay cleaner
- paper and card quality improves
- staff are clearer about how the system works
Dealing with food waste well is one of the simplest ways to stabilise a workplace recycling setup.
3. Plan for the “awkward stuff” — especially electrical waste
Most SMEs manage everyday recycling reasonably well. Where things tend to fall down is with items that don’t fit neatly into the main bins.
Cables, small electrical items, batteries and redundant IT equipment often get put to one side with the intention of sorting them out later.
Over time, these items build up and become harder to deal with.
Electronic waste also carries additional risks. It may contain batteries, hazardous components or data‑bearing devices, which means it needs to be stored securely and handled properly.
While WEEE is not yet part of the core Simpler Recycling streams, expectations around how businesses manage electronic waste are clearly tightening.
For SMEs, the lesson is simple: don’t treat electrical waste as a one‑off clear‑out. Treat it as a normal waste stream.
That’s why some businesses choose subscription‑style services such as SimplerWEEE, which provide a dedicated bin on site, regular collections and digital proof of compliant recycling — without the need for ad‑hoc bookings or paperwork.
Having a clear place for electrical waste, a routine for collections and accessible records removes a common source of last‑minute stress.
A steady approach beats a reactive one
The common thread running through all of this is that recycling works best when it’s built into daily routines, not handled reactively.
Clear waste streams, predictable collections and simple records reduce the risk of rising costs or compliance issues later on. Small businesses that take this steady, practical approach now are far less likely to feel pressure as expectations continue to increase.
By 2026, the aim isn’t to be doing more — it’s to be scrambling less.