Major changes in the sorting of recyclable materials are on the horizon in Wales, set to take effect from the 6th of April 2024. Workplaces will soon need to follow the waste separation practices already commonplace in most Welsh households.
These changes, driven by Natural Resource Wales, are designed to enhance the quality of collected waste, thereby increasing the potential for recycling and reuse within the circular economy. Mixed Recycling collections, a familiar business option, will no longer be available. As a result, waste service specialists responsible for receiving, storing, treating, or transporting waste will need to adapt by developing new services and solutions for maintaining segregated waste streams.
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Click or tap on the images to download our guide outlining the new recycling regulations in Wales. We have both a English and Welsh Language options available.
Key Considerations:
The forthcoming legislative changes will require any business, public sector, and charity organisations to segregate waste into distinct containers and bins for the following categories:
- Food waste, (if exceeding 5kg per week.)
- Paper and cardboard.
- Glass.
- Plastic, metal, and cartons,
- Unsold small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
- Unsold textiles.
Additionally, the regulations will prohibit the following actions:
- Sending separately collected waste to incineration plants or landfills.
- Disposing of wood waste in landfills.
- Disposing of food waste via sewer systems (e.g., through macerators).
What’s Required from Businesses:
Businesses will need to closely examine the waste they generate to ensure they have the appropriate waste collection service in place.
Businesses of all sizes must also ensure that their staff and visitors fully understand the proper disposal of waste in different bins. Failure to do so could result in fines, underscoring Wales’ commitment to achieving zero waste and reduced carbon emissions by 2050.
For businesses located in historic properties, older towns, or urban areas with limited space for waste containers, the changes will present new challenges.
Reducing Waste in Wales
While the changes in Wales are significant, they are not entirely unprecedented. Scotland implemented similar changes in 2014, requiring businesses to recycle similarly to Wales but allowing the mixing of materials into one container, provided they are recyclable. Food waste must still be separated.
This change was adopted successfully by all businesses in Scotland, operating effectively north of the border. However, Wales’s more stringent measures may face greater challenges.
The key difference lies in the flexibility afforded to Scottish businesses with small volumes of different waste material types or limited storage space, allowing for more practical use of a single bin. This offers a more cost-effective solution while still promoting recycling across all materials.
The jury is still out on whether Wales’ more radical approach will yield swift success. Challenges may lie ahead.
How Gaskell’s Waste Can Assist:
At Gaskell’s Waste, we are proactively adapting to these changes. We will collaborate closely with our customers to create and implement solutions that align with the new Welsh regulations. This ensures that businesses can transition smoothly without the threat of fines.
Our services will encompass the provision of new waste containers and service schedules that will seamlessly transition from April 2024.
If you have any questions regarding the new regulations by Natural Resource Wales, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts today.