In a year where we’ve seen the rollout of Simpler Recycling, growing pressure on businesses to manage waste and the possibility of greater penalties for non-compliance, it’s easy to find a reason to review your 2026 waste management contract well ahead of time.
For businesses across England, the regulatory landscape has shifted dramatically. The Simpler Recycling mandate, which came into effect for most businesses (with 10+ employees) in March 2025, requires the mandatory separate collection of key dry recyclables—including paper, card, glass, metal, and plastic – as well as food waste (no matter how small the volume).
By the time your 2026 contract is due for review or renewal, these new separation requirements should be firmly embedded in your day-to-day operations. The key question for business owners is how their current or prospective contract will support and optimise this compliance.
Key Considerations for Managing Business Waste Requirements in 2026
Compliance-First Service
Your contract needs to explicitly address the separate collection of the mandated streams. A generic ‘mixed waste’ service is now a significant compliance risk. Your provider should be offering clearly defined, separate collections for:
- Food Waste (collected weekly is best practice).
- Paper and Card.
- Other Dry Recyclables (Plastic, Metal, Glass).
- Residual (General) Waste.
Thinking Ahead to Optimise & Reduce Waste
The government’s commitment to increasing recycling rates is directly tied to increased costs for waste that ends up in landfill. Landfill Tax is set to increase significantly, making it more expensive than ever to dispose of general, non-recycled waste. A decent waste management contract should focus on maximising recycling volume to drastically reduce the costly residual waste stream. Reviewing your contract now allows you to explore services like ours that include a full waste audit and clear segregation plans to minimise your residual bin capacity and frequency.
Compliance, Tracking & Reporting
Simply having the right bins is not enough. Businesses have a Duty of Care to ensure their waste is handled legally. Your contract must detail the proper licensing, tracking, and reporting of your waste streams. Can your provider give you auditable data on your recycling rates and evidence that your waste is being diverted from landfill? This documentation is essential to protect your business against potential enforcement action and fines.
Get waste collections on track for 2026 and beyond
Audit Your Waste Streams: Work with us now to conduct a full waste audit, identifying exactly what you throw away and how to reorganise your internal bins and collection points to meet Simpler Recycling rules before the compliance pressure mounts.
Optimise Your Collections: Use the audit results to check your containers and collection frequencies.
Partner for Sustainability: Choose a provider committed to a high recycling rate. Our dedication to sustainability ensures your business is not just compliant, but actively contributing to a more circular economy.
Don’t wait until the last minute to get your 2026 waste management contract agreed. Start now to beat the rush – and the blues! Contact our team today.
