What could waste compliance mistakes cost your business?
15th September 2026
Where are businesses going wrong with their waste disposal and what needs to change in order to achieve compliance and avoid costly fines?
Waste compliance mistakes can be costly – and with recycling requirements changing, businesses need to understand exactly what they’re responsible for.
The scale of the wider problem is significant. The Environment Agency estimates that around 20% of waste may be illegally managed, while waste crime is estimated to cost the English economy £1 billion every year.
Most businesses aren’t deliberately committing waste crime. But mistakes such as using an unauthorised waste carrier, failing to keep the right records or not separating waste correctly can still leave an organisation exposed to enforcement action.
And the rules have changed. Simpler Recycling requirements have applied to workplaces with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees in England since 31st March 2025, while micro-firms have until 31 March 2027 to comply.
So, what are some of the most common waste compliance mistakes – and what practical steps can your business take to avoid them?
What are the most common waste compliance mistakes in the UK?
Not separating waste correctly
Under Simpler Recycling, workplaces in England with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees must separate:
- Dry recyclable materials – paper and card, plastic, metal and glass
- Food waste
- Residual (non-recyclable) waste.
Micro-firms with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees have until 31 March 2027 to comply.
Exactly how many bins you need will depend on your collection arrangements. For example, some dry recyclable materials can be collected together, while paper and card should be collected separately unless your waste collector has determined that co-collection is appropriate.
Using an unregistered waste carrier
Your responsibility doesn’t necessarily end when waste leaves your premises. Under your Duty of Care, you should check that the person or business you’ve appointed for your commercial waste disposal is authorised to do so.
Ask your waste provider for evidence of its registration and check this against the relevant regulator’s public register. If you use a waste broker, they must also be appropriately registered.
If your own business transports waste, buys or sells waste, or acts as a waste broker or dealer, you may also need to register.
Poor record keeping
Businesses should be able to produce documentation that accurately describes their waste, either electronically or printed in the form of a “waste transfer note”. A waste transfer note accurately describes the waste and its transfer – and records should be kept for at least two years.
Good record keeping isn’t just paperwork: it helps demonstrate that you’ve fulfilled your Duty of Care if your waste arrangements are ever questioned.
Failing to store waste safely or using illegal means of disposal
Fly-tipping, not storing or labelling waste correctly, contamination and mishandling waste, especially hazardous, are examples of unsafe and unlawful waste management.
What are the consequences of waste compliance mistakes?
Non-compliance can also create costs before a case ever reaches prosecution. Since February 2026, the Environment Agency has been able to recover the cost of regulatory work relating to Simpler Recycling non-compliance at £118 per hour.
The Environment Agency can issue compliance notices to workplaces that fail to meet the requirements. Failing to comply with a notice is itself an offence and can lead to further enforcement action.
So, how can businesses comply with Simpler Recycling regulations?
Here’s 4 easy ways to avoid hefty fines and unwarranted costs when it comes to recycling and waste management:
Keep waste streams simple and clearly separated
Providing separate bins to collect various forms of recycling should be your first port of call when adapting to Simpler Recycling regulations. Work with your waste provider to understand which containers your business needs for dry recycling, food waste and residual waste. Then make it easy for employees to use them correctly.
Position bins together where waste is generated, use consistent colours and clear signage, and avoid vague labels such as the broad term “recycling”. Showing examples of what can and can’t go into each container can dramatically reduce confusion and encourage better adherence.
Review your collection arrangements
Check that your collections reflect the types and volumes of waste your business actually produces. Alongside general waste, dry recycling and food waste, consider whether you need dedicated services for other waste streams, such as commercial glass recycling or WEEE waste collection for unwanted electrical equipment.
Review bin sizes and collection frequencies too. Better separation could help reduce the amount of residual waste you produce, while making sure specialist waste is handled appropriately. Your waste provider should be able to help you build a collection schedule around your business’s needs.
Make staff part of the process
If you’re a smaller business, you may not have a dedicated team member or department for waste management. And that’s okay, you can educate team members over time to bring them up to speed.
Even the best collection system won’t work if employees don’t know how to use it. Give staff simple guidance on which waste goes where and include waste procedures in inductions for new starters.
Choose the right waste provider
At Everflow, we help businesses by offering a waste management service that is low on hassle, great value and just keeps things simple.
Contact Everflow today!
At Everflow, our goal is to make your utilities simpler – we ensure you get great-value contracts that are tailored to your needs and easy to manage. Get a bespoke quote using the link below.
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