Workplace Recycling, let's get it sorted

31 January 2024

Workplace recycling is changing. From 6 April 2024, it will become law for all businesses, charities and public sector organisations to sort their waste for recycling.

This new Welsh Government legislation was approved by the Senedd back in November 2023, and has been introduced to improve the quality and quantity of the recycling collected from workplaces across Wales.

Most workplaces will have already received a letter from Welsh Government providing information about the new recycling regulations and what they need to do to ensure they are compliant by 6 April 2024.

All businesses, charities and public sector organisations are invited to attend a series of free webinars to help answer questions and find out the detail of the upcoming regulations and how it will affect them. You can sign up here: Workplace Recycling -Webinars (wrapcymru.org.uk)

In simple terms, workplaces will need to separate their waste in the same way that households in Powys already do. Once sorted into the relevant containers or recycling bins, the recycling will then be collected separately as follows:

• Food
• Paper and card
• Glass
• Metal, plastic and cartons
• Unsold textiles
• Unsold small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE)

The new regulations also include a ban on:

• Sending food waste to sewer (any amount)
• Separately collected waste going to incineration and landfill
• All wood waste going to landfill

"The people of Powys are already well versed with recycling these items through the kerbside collections at home." Says Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys. "So, we are hoping this won't be too much of a stretch for workplaces to get to grips with.

"Welsh Government have introduced these regulations to help Wales tackle the climate and nature emergency, and make progress towards a stronger, greener economy.

"It is important for all workplaces, no matter how large or small, to read up about the upcoming changes and make any necessary changes to how they dispose of their waste to ensure they stay within the law. Rember, throwing recyclable items away in the residual bin, which should be collected separated, will become a criminal offence.

"But we know we can do it at home, so now let's do it at work too."

For more information on the Workplace Recycling Regulations, how it will affect you and some useful steps to help get you compliant, please visit: https://www.gov.wales/workplace-recycling