West Suffolk Council launches recycling service to help businesses meet new government regulations

A council has launched a new recycling service to make it easier for businesses to meet new government regulations.

West Suffolk Council’s service, launched ahead of the Government’s deadline, will support workplaces in separating key recyclable materials as the council has invested £245,000 in additional bin lorries and a recruitment drive for its new operations.

Under the government’s new Simpler Recycling legislation, all workplaces and non-domestic premises including businesses, schools, hospitals, charity shops with 10 or more employees are required to separate key recyclable materials from March 31 while smaller organisations will need to comply from next year.

Cllr Dave Taylor, cabinet member for operations at West Suffolk Council, said: “Government legislation through the Environment Act 2021 requires all local authorities to meet new recycling requirements by 2026.

“While this represents a challenge to local authorities and to businesses and non-domestic organisations, it also provides an opportunity to take a big leap forward in recycling.

“By introducing these new services, it will help our commercial customers to be compliant, reduce business costs, increase recycling rates and contribute to carbon net zero. This meets the ambitions of our communities, the Government’s requirements and importantly the authority’s strategic priority of a resilient environment.”

The council already provides general waste disposal and recycling services to help businesses reduce their environmental impact — however, under the new legislation, businesses must now separate dry recycling from general waste.

Compliance is the responsibility of individual businesses, but West Suffolk Council hopes the new service will help make the transition seamless with its tailored waste collection services.

Materials that require separate collection include paper and cardboard, metals such as cans, tins, and foils, plastic items like pots, tubs, and trays and glass bottles and jars.

All businesses are required to separate food waste, regardless of the amount produced, to ensure that food waste is recycled and used to generate clean energy and fertiliser.

Businesses interested in the new service can contact commercial.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk to find out more.

Cllr Taylor added: “The new services will enable the council to continue to provide trade waste and recycling collections locally and maintain a significant income stream which helps fund important council services.”