Introduced on 31 March 2025, the Simpler Recycling Scheme is one of the biggest shake-ups to workplace waste management we’ve seen in years. As a result, businesses and non-domestic premises across England need to get serious about separating their waste, we’re talking glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, and yes, food waste too. Whilst it’s designed to make recycling easier, it also brings some unexpected challenges, particularly when it comes to keeping pests at bay.
What You Need to Do
Every workplace in England now needs to separate waste before it’s collected. That includes everything your employees, customers, and visitors throw away. Whether you’re running a school, hospital, office block, or restaurant, you’ll need to set up distinct waste streams throughout your building.
The good news? The rollout has been phased to give businesses time to adapt. Micro-firms (that’s businesses with fewer than 10 full-time staff) have until 31 March 2027 to get compliant. But if you’ve got 10 or more full-time employees, even if they’re spread across different sites, these rules are already in play.
So, what needs separating?
Your waste collectors are legally required to make sure dry recyclables (plastic, metal, glass, paper and card) and food waste are kept separate from regular rubbish. In practice, this usually means setting up four different bins: one for dry mixed recyclables (plastic, metal, glass), one for paper and cardboard, one for food waste, and one for general waste.
Here’s the bit that catches a lot of people out: if you produce any food waste at all, even just the remnants of staff sandwiches, it needs to be separated and collected separately. No more chucking apple cores in with the general bin.
Why You Really Need to Take This Seriously
Let’s talk consequences. If you’re not complying with these rules, you could find yourself on the receiving end of a compliance notice from the Environment Agency. Ignore that, and you’re committing an offence. which could mean enforcement action against you, your landlord, or whoever’s responsible for managing your waste.
The Bit Nobody Talks About: Pest Risks
Whilst the Simpler Recycling scheme is brilliant for the environment, having separate food waste bins introduces a challenge many businesses don’t see coming: pests. And we’re not talking about the occasional fly.
Think about what pests need to survive: food, water, and somewhere warm to hide. Food waste bins tick all those boxes. Rats and mice spread diseases like salmonella and hantavirus, gnawing through practically anything to get to food. Flies breed like wildfire in rotting organic matter and carry over 100 different pathogens, including E. coli and Campylobacter. Not exactly the kind of visitors you want hanging around your workplace.
And if you’re not careful with how you store that food waste, you’re essentially rolling out the welcome mat for them.
The usual suspects:
- Rodents: Rats can squeeze through gaps as small as one inch (yes, really), leaving contaminated droppings, urine, and saliva everywhere they go
- Flies: These guys can carry over 100 different pathogens and breed incredibly fast when there’s rotting food about
- Ants: Less dangerous but still a nuisance, they’ll contaminate food prep areas and munch through packaging
Keeping Pests Out: What Actually Works
The good news is that keeping pests away whilst meeting your recycling obligations isn’t rocket science; it just takes some smart planning. Here’s what you need to focus on:
1. Invest in proper bins
Don’t skimp on this. You need leak-proof bins with tight-fitting lids that actually seal properly. Make sure everyone knows to secure the lids after use.
2. Empty bins regularly
Don’t let food waste sit around. Schedule frequent collections with your waste company so bins get emptied before they become a problem. This is especially important in warmer weather when things get smelly fast.
3. Keep things clean
It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many businesses forget this. Keep the area around your bins spotless, no spills, no loose rubbish, nothing. Give the bins themselves a proper clean regularly to stop odours building up.
4. Put bins in the right place
Keep waste storage as far from your building as possible, ideally on a concrete pad. This stops leaks seeping into the ground (which creates perfect breeding conditions for flies) and helps contain any pest problems away from your main premises.
5. Train your team
Make sure everyone knows the proper procedures for disposing of waste. They should also know what to look out for (droppings, gnaw marks, odd smells) and who to tell if they spot something suspicious.
How We Can Help
Getting to grips with the Simpler Recycling requirements whilst keeping pests at bay isn’t straightforward. You need the right bins in the right places, regular collections, ongoing monitoring, and a team that knows what they’re doing.
At Principal Business Solutions, we get that compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about creating a safe, clean environment for your people. We provide integrated facilities management that tackles both waste compliance and pest control in one go:
- Custom waste management setups that meet all the Simpler Recycling requirements, with the right bins, clear signage, and collection schedules that work for you
- Professional pest control that spots potential problems before they become actual problems
- Regular checks and maintenance to make sure everything stays compliant and pest-free
- Training for your team so everyone knows what to do and why it matters
The mandatory separation of food waste is a big change for UK businesses. But with the right support, you stay compliant, keep pests out, and maintain the high standards your workplace deserves.
Don’t wait until you’ve got a compliance notice or a rat problem. Get in touch with Principal Business Solutions today, and let’s talk about how we can help your organisation navigate these new regulations safely and effectively.