Simpler Recycling
On Saturday 21 October government announced long-awaited plans for simpler recycling in England in response to the consistency in collections consultation.
Simpler recycling plans include requirements for both local authorities and businesses in England to collect a consistent set of materials for recycling.
Here, we take you through the key points for local authorities and consider those all-important next steps.
Simpler Recycling implications for local authorities:
The announcement unlocks the uncertainty barrier that many local authorities have faced and will allow them to move forwards in their strategic planning and development of resource efficient services that maximise use, minimise waste and drive-up recycling rates.
Local authorities will be required to collect a specific set of materials including:
Dry recyclables:
- Glass
- Metal
- Plastic Plastic (including plastic film)
- Paper and card
Organics:
- Food waste
- Garden waste
The response provides further details on what is included and excluded from each material grouping, with the intention that the Secretary of State will have powers to add to the materials in each recyclable waste stream in the future, once there is confidence that the materials are recyclable.
Methods and frequency of collection:
Dry Recyclables
The response indicates that local authorities will have flexibility in the method of collection for dry recyclables in terms of level of separation and number / type of container. An exemption (subject to consultation) would allow authorities to collect dry recyclables co-mingled. The response does not suggest that frequency of collection of dry recyclables will be prescribed in the forthcoming legislation.
Organics
Under the forthcoming legislation, collection authorities will be required to collect food waste weekly. The preference is for food waste to be treated by anaerobic digestion (AD). A separate announcement by government indicated that the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS), which supported the construction of new AD facilities, will be extended for applicants from November 2025 to March 2028.
Local authorities will be required to collect garden waste where it is requested, but they can continue to charge for this service. Subject to consultation, an exemption would be introduced to allow the co-collection of food and garden waste (although the food waste element would need to be free of charge).
Residual Waste
Government is proposing the requirement for residual waste to be collected at least fortnightly. The response does not suggest that the type/size of container will be prescribed in the forthcoming legislation.
Timeline for implementation from households
- Dry recyclables (except plastic film) by 31 March 2026
- Plastic film by 31 March 2027
- Food waste by 31 March 2026 (unless transitional arrangements in place)
- Garden waste by 31 March 2026
Where authorities have long-term residual treatment contracts in place, government is not prepared to meet the costs of breaking long-term contracts, and therefore transitional arrangements will be in place for food waste collection requirements. Waste collection authorities who require a transitional arrangement will be listed in the commencement regulations, along with the date by which they are required to provide a weekly food waste collection.
Non-household municipal premises:
Requirements for non-household municipal premises largely mirror those for households (with the exception of garden waste which is not included).
However, dry recyclable and food waste collections are required by 31 March 2025, one year earlier than households. Plastic film collections implementation date aligns with households (by 31 March 2027)
Funding
Costs to deliver the new duties placed on local authorities will come from:
- EPR payments for packaging (Defra is currently undertaking modelling on payments, with the level of payment not yet confirmed); and
- new burdens funding
Government has confirmed reasonable new burdens funding for weekly food waste collections including capital costs, resource costs and ongoing service costs. Funding will be based on a modelled estimate of costs and savings for local authorities that will result from the new proposals, with payments initially through distinct section 31 grants. Payments are expected to be rolled into the local government settlement in time.
Further announcements on funding are expected in due course.
Next steps for local authorities:
Many local authority colleagues have been awaiting the governments Simpler Recycling response with bated breath. Now we have it, what are the next steps?
Based on our extensive experience in supporting local authorities we suggest the following approach:
1. Conduct a readiness and opportunities review
Implications for authorities will vary so it’s important to first assess your readiness for the legislative changes. Undertaking a mapping exercise of your existing services against forthcoming legislation allows you to identify the touch points across:
- current service design (materials and collection methods and frequencies)
- infrastructure
- contracts
- budgets / funding
The readiness and opportunities review should be forward looking and consider the suite of policy reforms alongside simpler recycling as there are nuanced and complex interdependencies. This includes extended producer responsibility (EPR), deposit return systems (DRS), digital waste tracking and the emissions trading scheme (ETS). The readiness aspect of the review provides a clear understanding of which areas of your service will be impacted by forthcoming legislation and how they may be impacted. The opportunities aspect of the review identifies where there is the potential for change within the legislative framework, for example this could include the introduction or expansion of commercial collection services.
2. Develop your strategy
Many local authorities have been holding off their strategic forward planning, understandably waiting for more certainty around the legislative framework in which they will be delivering services. Now is the time to develop your long-term strategic vision to maximise use, minimise waste and drive-up recycling rates. Developing an evidenced-based and innovative strategy provides you with the framework for future decision making.
3. Consider the business case for change and procurement strategy
With a clear vision for the future of your service the development of a business case provides the framework for structured thinking and assurance to identify the preferred way forward for delivery of service improvements and potential procurement strategies. It allows you to take account of legislative requirements, moving towards a more circular economy, alignment to net zero targets, affordability, and public value.
Local Partnerships will be providing support to our local authority colleagues as we move to the next stage on the critical journey to greater resource efficiency. We offer expertise across strategy development and implementation, service design and options modelling, business case development, contracts, procurement support and infrastructure.
Do get in touch with me, Hattie if you’d like to discuss how the Local Partnerships team can support you with your Simpler Recycling plan or contact the team below.
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