Wales’ new Workplace Recycling law: everything you need to know

Here in Wales, we’re already proud to be the second best recyclers in the world, but we won’t stop there. The great news is that as a nation, we’re about to get even better at recycling thanks to new legislation that has just been passed, which means businesses and organisations will have to separate recyclable materials in the way most of us are already doing at home.

Here’s more on why that’s good news for the planet and what it means for you when you’re out and about.

An amazing 95% of people in Wales regularly recycle at home, but to achieve the Welsh Government’s ambitious recycling targets – to become a zero-waste nation by 2050 and get to number one in the world – we need to go even further. Over 70% of the materials in commercial waste could be recycled, and that’s the target of the new ‘Workplace Recycling’ law. This legislation, which came into force on 6 April 2024, has made it the law for workplaces (from offices to schools to restaurants) to separate recyclable materials in the way most of us are already doing at home, including:

• Paper and card

• Glass

• Metal, plastic, and cartons and other similar packaging (for example coffee cups)

• Food – all premises that produce 5kg or more of food waste in any seven consecutive days

• Unsold small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE) and

• Unsold textiles.

That means we’ll have even more opportunities to recycle, whether we’re out and about, at the office or on campus. In other words, wherever you are, whether you’re at work, rest or play, you’ll have access to recycling bins and you’ll be able to use them just as you do at home. Result!

The aim of this new law is to make sure workplaces do as brilliantly at recycling as we’re already doing at home, helping the economy to create a greener Wales and supporting businesses to reduce waste and even save money.

The push for workplace recycling also increases the amount and quality of recycled materials that can then be used by Welsh manufacturers, and it reduces the use of brand new materials. What’s more, food waste can be recycled into renewable energy, and in 2023 alone, we recycled enough to power over 10,000 homes. Think how many more we’ll be able to power now!

Most workplaces across Wales are already on board with the new recycling legislation and leading the way in their sectors.

With 200,000 guests per year, and almost 900 members of staff, Bluestone National Park Resort generates around 650,000 tonnes of waste each year. Whilst the resort has long been committed to recycling food waste, which is converted into renewable energy at a local anaerobic digestion plant, it has recently upgraded its 'dry' recycling facilities. This upgrade includes transitioning from a single green bag system to separate bins for paper and card, plastic, and cans.

At Cardiff University, they’ve changed all their bins across the whole campus and now have a seven-bin system to separate different materials. They’ve made sure they’re consistent in how they use labelling, colours and symbols to make it easy for students and staff to recycle, resulting in better-quality recycling.

Finally, at Ysgol Rhiw-Bechan in Powys, in the village of Tregynon, the next generation are enthusiastically getting stuck into recycling to help their school and country become more eco-friendly.

If you’re a business owner, or in charge of recycling in your workplace, you can find out lots more about the new legislation over on our Business of Recycling website. That number one spot is almost in sight!