Welsh recycling laws are changing: everything you need to know
THURSDAY 29th FEBRUARY 2024
From 6th April, the way businesses in Wales manage their waste will change
The Welsh government has announced that it will be introducing Workplace Recycling Regulations from the 6th April 2024. This policy addresses all businesses, public, and voluntary sector workplaces in Wales, requiring them to separate recyclable materials when managing their waste.
These changes are being put in place to manage the quality and quantity of waste produced in Wales, improving the way businesses collect and separate their rubbish.
Separating your waste
Under the new guidelines, certain waste materials will need to be both separated for collection, and collected separately. These are:
Paper and card
Glass
Food
Metal, plastic, and cartons
Unsold textiles
Unsold small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE)
On top of this, there will also be a ban on certain waste actions, including:
Sending separately collected waste to landfill or incineration
Sending food waste to sewer
All wood waste going to landfill
Businesses are able to mix paper and card together in the same container. The same is true of metal, plastic, and cartons.
Who does this new law impact?
All businesses, charities and public sector organisations in Wales are impacted by these changes, and will need to start separating their waste from 6th April.
This includes agriculture premises, hospitality, transport, entertainment, care homes and surgeries, factories, construction sites, garages, schools and universities, libraries, museums, heritage sites, offices, prisons, retail stores, markets, festivals, and even places of worship, among others.
NHS and private hospitals are also impacted, but have an additional two years to comply.
The laws apply to businesses who produce 5kg of waste in any of the waste categories listed above. The Code of Practice outlined by the Welsh government offer more information about these new laws.
Costs and climate
The Welsh government says that these new laws have been put in place to help the country reach its zero waste goals, reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change.
They say,
“With the costs of materials rising, keeping high quality materials in use will help our economy and support our supply chains. For example, by avoiding landfill tax and creating job opportunities.”
Wales is already the best country in the UK for domestic recycling and the third best in the world, and the government wish to extend that success to their commercial waste management practices.
However, some businesses are worried about the extra costs and hassle these changes could bring, as even a small 240l bin for fortnightly collection adds more than £200 to annual expenses. In response, Business Waste has launched an initiative offering 250,000 free bins to businesses.
Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, emphasised the importance of the new laws, saying,
“It is crucial that every organisation, regardless of size, contributes to addressing the climate and nature emergency and advances recycling efforts.”
With these new laws coming into effect, it’s more important than ever for businesses of all sizes and sectors to put effective and responsible waste management into practice. Everflow are here to help.
Get in touch with Everflow today
If you’re a business looking for the best waste management companies to tick your boxes, you’re in the right place. Get in touch with our team today to find out how we can support your organisation.