The Price of Getting Simpler Recycling Wrong: EA Confirms £118 Hourly Enforcement Fee
Blog in partnership with Rubbermaid Commercial Products
The Environment Agency (EA) recently announced that non-compliant businesses would be charged an hourly fee on regulatory work linked to Simpler Recycling. That means non-compliance is no longer just a written warning, it is an hourly charge.
So, what do the new Environment Agency costs mean for you? And how do you ensure your business is as compliant as possible with Simpler Recycling legislation?
What Are the Penalties for Simpler Recycling Non-Compliance?
In England, if your business has 10 or more full-time employees, you are legally required to comply with Simpler Recycling legislation. From March 2027, the rules will apply to all businesses regardless of size.
The key requirement is that the following four waste streams must be separated on-site, prior to collection by a waste contractor:
- Food waste
- Mixed recycling (plastics, glass, metals)
- Paper and card
- General waste
Since 3rd February 2026, businesses that do not follow Simpler Recycling rules could be fined. A £118 hourly ‘time and materials’ charge will be implemented for regulatory work on non-compliant businesses.
The Environment Agency explained that this hourly rate is due to the environmental risk and complexity of waste mismanagement, rather than scaling with business size or profits.
The only way to avoid this fine is to implement an effective recycling system. If you’re not sure where to start, we can help.
Why Internal Recycling Matters
Recycling non-compliance can start inside the building, not at the skip. It’s a common misconception that having separate external waste containers makes you compliant. You actually need to be separating waste streams internally, at the first point where waste is thrown away.
Cross-contamination of waste streams at any point in the process risks breaking Simpler Recycling rules. It can also increase your business’s waste disposal costs because general waste is more expensive to dispose of than recyclable waste due to landfill tax*.
To avoid this, build an internal recycling system that is visible, easy to use, and unambiguous. Every member of your team, as well as any customers or visitors, needs to understand what waste goes in which bin.
To create a clearer recycling system, use consistent colour-coding and labelling for each waste stream. It’s important that the system you choose stays consistent throughout your facility, from back-of-house to customer-facing areas and everywhere in between.
Invest in Waste Management Infrastructure
The Environment Agency’s consultation on Simpler Recycling charges found that some of the biggest barriers to compliance are limited waste processing infrastructure and difficulties sourcing appropriate bins.
Recycling stations and material handling tools, such as those from Rubbermaid Commercial Products, are designed with uniformity, safety and ease in mind. RCP Slim Jim® Recycling Stations are modular and snap together to include all four mandatory waste streams, with additional options available for more tailored waste management. A modular solution also gives you the flexibility to adapt the recycling unit as your needs change, without having to invest in a new system.
To learn more and choose the right containers for your recycling strategy, see our updated Workplace Recycling Legislation Brochure or contact your Lyreco Account Manager, who will be happy to help.
