Workplace Recycling, let's get it sorted

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.

The Welsh Government has introduced this law to improve the quality and quantity of the recycling collected from workplaces across Wales.

What waste needs to be separated

The following materials will need to be separated for collection, and collected separately:

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

Commercial recycling information leaflet (PDF) [10MB]

There will also be a ban on:

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

Who the law applies to

All businesses, charities and public sector organisations will need to separate their waste.

Powys Commercial Recycling already complies with this new legislation by offering separate collections for household-like waste from workplaces.

Throwing recyclable items away in the residual bin, which should be collected separated, will be a criminal offence. For us to collect residual waste containing recyclable items, which should be collected separately, would also be a criminal offence. Residual bins containing these items will not be emptied until the waste has been sorted correctly.

For more information on the Workplace Recycling Regulations and how it will affect you, please visit the Welsh Government's Workplace Recycling webpage.