A Guide to Simpler Recycling in 2026

by Craig Pryce January 15, 2026

New Simpler Recycling rules in 2026 come into force on 31 March for local authorities and households, adding to the existing requirements introduced for many businesses in 2025.

A third and final phase of the scheme is due to follow in March 2027, affecting businesses (including the currently exempt micro-firms). Together, the measures introduced under Simpler Recycling in England are wide-reaching, spanning commercial and residential properties alike.

In this guide, we look at what's happening under the Simpler Recycling scheme in 2026, who it affects, and what businesses should do to comply with the rules and prepare for the final phase in 2027.

What is Simpler Recycling?

Simpler Recycling is a UK government scheme to ensure that most homes and workplaces have a consistent waste collection service and to improve recycling rates. It aims to standardise waste management and ensure businesses and households have no more than four different types of bins.

These include a bin for:

General waste (residual/non-recyclable waste)
Food and garden waste
Paper and card
Mixed recyclables (plastic, metal, and glass)

In this guide, we will refer to Simpler Recycling bins. However, the rules allow the use of other container types, including stackable boxes/crates and bags/sacks. Find out what Simpler Recycling means for your bins.

When does Simpler Recycling start?

Simpler Recycling in England is being rolled out in three stages. The Simpler Recycling start date varies depending on whether you’re a large firm, a micro-business, or a local authority that handles domestic kerbside collections.

Simpler Recycling start dates for businesses

In the first phase of Simpler Recycling, businesses with 10 or more employees had to comply with the new rules by 31 March 2025. By that date, they needed to arrange separate commercial waste collections of food waste, general waste, and mixed recycling (paper, card, glass, metal, and plastic), but not garden waste.

This included relevant non-domestic premises such as:

Residential homes
Schools, universities, and other educational establishments
Hospitals and nursing homes
Other premises specified by regulations

Smaller businesses (with fewer than 10 employees) qualified for Simpler Recycling exemptions under Phase 1. However, this ends in 2027.

By 31 March 2027, businesses of all sizes must comply with the scheme. Local authorities must also introduce kerbside collections of soft/flexible plastic films from businesses and relevant non-domestic premises by March 2027, too.

Simpler Recycling start dates for households

Phase 2 of Simpler Recycling affects households and local authorities, but not businesses. From 31 March 2026, local councils must collect general waste, food waste, paper and cardboard, and core mixed recyclables from all households in England.

A significant change for many residents will be the introduction of food waste collections, which have not been available in some areas until now.

Local authorities have been given extra time to introduce this if their existing long-term contracts make it problematic to do so. However, eventually, all households in England should have dedicated food waste bins and collections.

Finally, phase 3 of the Simpler Recycling requirements means that from 31 March 2027, domestic properties should also have a kerbside collection service for plastic films (e.g. single-use carrier bags and flexible plastic packaging), just like businesses.

How to comply with Simpler Recycling in 2026

For local authorities and household waste collections

Under the Simpler Recycling rules introduced at the end of March 2026, local authorities must offer domestic premises the correct types of Simpler Recycling bins, crates, boxes, and/or bags for:

General/non-recyclable waste
Mixed recyclables (plastic/metal/glass)
Paper and card recycling
Garden and food waste recycling

Kerbside plastic film collections are not mandatory until 2027. However, councils should already be planning how to incorporate them ahead of the deadline and ensure suitable containers are available for all domestic premises in their jurisdiction.

It's also important for householders to know what types of waste to put into each bin, especially if the new rules are a change from previous council-led recycling schemes.

Helping households get it right

Using different coloured bins is a good way to separate waste streams and help with Simpler Recycling compliance. It's common to see the following colour system used, although this can vary under different local authorities:

Black bins: General waste
Green bins: Garden waste
Blue bins: Paper waste
Brown bins: Mixed recyclables

Some of the rules may be surprising. For example, all household food waste must be collected at least once a week, but local authorities can charge an additional fee to collect garden waste.

You should decide how to approach the issue of mixing garden and food waste in a single recycling bin, and the implications on the quantity and frequency of organic waste collections.

Simpler Recycling compliance for businesses

Larger businesses should already comply with the rules introduced under Simpler Recycling in England in 2025 – notably, the obligation to collect paper and card, food waste, glass, metal, and rigid plastics for recycling.

Micro-firms (with less than 10 full-time equivalent employees) are currently exempt from those rules. However, you should view this as preparation time.

From the end of March 2027, businesses of all sizes must ensure they have the right types and number of Simpler Recycling bins, including for plastic film waste.

Are there any Simpler Recycling exemptions?

There are a few Simpler Recycling exemptions, including the additional time (until 2027) for micro-businesses to comply with the new rules.

Exempt waste streams

Some types of waste are currently exempt from Simpler Recycling rules or treated differently. Examples of this include:

Plastic and metal containers that held paint, white spirits, and similar chemicals.
Large branches and other wood waste (unless cut into smaller pieces).
Polystyrene and other low-density plastic packaging.
Windfall fruit from garden trees (considered garden waste, not food waste).
Teabags and coffee grounds (NOT mandatory to collect as part of food waste).

This is not a complete list – the full government guidance goes into detail about specific exemptions and/or types of waste that should be treated differently.

Exemptions to the number of Simpler Recycling bins

Despite the scheme’s aims to simplify recycling and put in place a single common approach at home, school, and work, local authorities are allowed to collect recyclables in dedicated bins. For example, they can use separate recycling bins for plastic, metal, and glass, instead of a single wheelie bin for all three.

This is because better separation reduces the risk of contamination, leading to higher overall recycling rates. However, using so many bins isn’t often practical or cost-effective. The Simpler Recycling rules should also mean there are no 'unusual' combinations, such as collecting paper and plastic in the same container.

One final Simpler Recycling exemption applies to premises with very restricted space for waste collection, such as some blocks of flats. In such circumstances, paper and card can be collected in the same bin as metal, plastic, and glass.

Waste should be collected directly from the premises (authorities can't comply by offering a central 'recycling bank' for residents to take their waste to). If a property is extremely isolated, authorities may exclude it from kerbside collections, but only if the resident can make suitable alternative arrangements.

Bins for Simpler Recycling

Wheelie Bin Solutions can supply appropriate Simpler Recycling bins to businesses, local authorities, and domestic residents. We have a range of colours and sizes, and can print business logos or local authority names on the front of our commercial wheelie bins where required.

Our products are available to:

Businesses: Get the right size, colour, and quantity of bins in place, with optional locks.
Local authorities: Provide recycling bins to all residents (and businesses, where appropriate) to enable effective Simpler Recycling kerbside collections.
Households: Invest in your own domestic wheelie bins for extra storage e.g. firewood from the garden or extra hygiene for used nappies.

We welcome all enquiries and can work with businesses and local authorities to fulfil large orders for wholesale wheelie bins. To place an order, ask a question, or to help you comply with Simpler Recycling in 2026, get in touch today.

Craig Pryce

With over 17 years of experience in the waste and recycling industry, Craig is passionate about making recycling easier and reducing the negative impact of litter. He has been the managing director of Wheelie Bin Solutions (WBS) since January 2016, and prides the company on his expert knowledge, top-quality products, and customer service. His proudest moment was when WBS supported the 2012 Olympic Games, working in partnership with Contenur UK to supply over 9000 bin containers to all Olympic venues. Craig is always keen to share his knowledge, so whether you need advice about the benefits of a wheelie bin lock, or ideas for alternative uses for your wheelie bin, Craig will ensure your recycling and waste disposal habits are gold medal worthy.