The start of a new year is the ideal time to look back but also forward. This applies to many aspects of running a business, including what happens to your waste. Review your recycling resolutions from last year to see what progress you made and any changes that worked while setting fresh targets for 2025.
It’s set to be a big year for the world of waste management across the UK as new Simpler Recycling regulations are rolled out in spring. That’s why it’s more important than ever that your business has efficient, affordable, and reliable commercial waste processes in place whether you run a country pub, city centre office, or village shop.
Setting goals and sticking to them can help your company reduce its waste, save money on waste management, and keep you up to date with the latest developments. Make and keep these five waste management resolutions for your business in 2025 for safe, sustainable, and cost-effective ways of working.
1. Prepare for Simpler Recycling
The 31 March 2025 is an important date for every business in England with ten or more full-time employees. This is when the first stage of the new Simpler Recycling regulations comes into force. Your current waste provider should contact you to help prepare for these changes, but it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re ready.
From the end of March 2025, you must have separate collections of food waste, paper and cardboard recycling, and other dry recyclables (glass, plastic, and metal) in place. This is to avoid businesses throwing away recyclable and recoverable rubbish with general waste that may go to landfills or for incineration.
Check your current bins, waste collections, and the waste types your organisation generates to see if you need any extra bins. It’s a good idea to get them in places ASAP so you’re prepared to meet the new regulations. Failure to comply with the new Simpler Recycling legislation could lead to penalties and potential fines.
2. Reduce your packaging waste
Used packaging materials is one of the biggest waste streams for businesses of all sizes and industries. In the UK we throw away 11 billion bits of packaging waste every year. These are mostly plastic, paper, cardboard, and glass packaging items such as bags, wrap, food and drink containers.
Packaging waste is produced at many points. It could be creating products in a factory and packaging them up to send to customers, receiving deliveries in an office and getting rid of the cardboard boxes, or throwing out empty glass and plastic drink bottles in a restaurant or café. Reducing packaging waste where possible should be a priority.
Switch suppliers to work with businesses that use no packaging, minimal amounts, or sustainable and recyclable options. Think about how your company packages items and where waste is created, then take steps to minimise it. Find ways to reuse or repurpose packaging – like using boxes for storage or repackaging other items.
3. Educate employees about managing waste
Workers are the people in contact with waste and responsible for placing it in the appropriate bins. Spending time educating them about the proper processes to follow is essential to reduce waste, improve recycling rates, and comply with all relevant regulations. Run training and refresher sessions to ensure everyone is up to speed.
It’s essential that staff are trained to identify different waste types when hazardous and clinical waste types are present. This should ensure they’re handled safely and placed in the correct bins, bags, or containers for storage and disposal. Understanding recycling symbols is important for recyclable rubbish too, so appropriate packaging and plastics are recycled.
Explain the importance of the new Simpler Recycling regulations and complying with them to get your staff up to speed with changes. Incorporating waste management training into inductions and holding regular updates can help improve your recycling rates and reduce the risk of accidents this year for smoother working.
4. Keep on top of your inventory
A big cause of avoidable waste in many organisations is having excess stock, supplies, and items. It could be shops with extra products they need to sell to make space for new lines or restaurants with food about to go off that needs using. Often these items are thrown away as it’s the easiest option.
Stay on top of your inventory in 2025 to avoid creating such waste. This could involve running regular stock checks, training staff about product rotation so perishable items don’t go off, and implementing new technology and processes. Efficient inventory management should reduce waste and save your business money.
Delegating the role of stock checks to either one individual or someone in specific departments or teams assigns responsibility to the task. With an element of accountability and a clear idea of who should take charge of ensuring inventory management runs smoothly, it can minimise waste in this area.
5. Reuse and repair
Find ways to reuse waste your business creates in the new year. Rather than throwing things out once they’re used, think about how to repurpose them. A few ideas to reuse waste in your organisation include to:
- Use cardboard delivery boxes for storage in an office or any business
- Put a tealight into empty wine bottles for atmospheric decorations
- Turn old textiles into cleaning cloths for work surfaces
- Create a compost pile or box for food scraps
- Make signs from old bits of wood (to direct towards your recycling station)
Repairing broken items is another great way to cut down on your company’s waste. If something breaks don’t just chuck it out, consider whether it’s repairable. Paying an expert to fix broken electricals, furniture, or other tools might even be cheaper than buying a replacement. And it avoids creating more waste.
Putting these steps into action should help your business be more sustainable and save money on your waste management costs in the new year. If you’ve got a question or want a free no-obligation quote for any type of waste collections then get in touch with the Divert team today – call 0333 444 0118 or contact us online.
