Updates

The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2024

  • Legal

Jurisdiction: England

Commencement: 30thJune 2024

Amends: New Legislation

Mini Summary

Stringent requirements are introduced for the separate collection of household waste and other waste of similar composition. Waste collection authorities, waste collectors and those responsible for arranging waste collection from domestic, non-domestic and business properties must ensure that waste streams are separated.

Summary

These Regulations describe the recyclable household waste and the recyclable relevant waste* that must be collected separately from households, relevant non-domestic premises** and businesses. The list of non-domestic properties that must arrange separate collections of their household waste is expanded.

*Relevant waste refers to industrial or commercial waste that is similar in composition to household waste.

**Relevant non-domestic properties are non-domestic properties that must make arrangements for the separate collection of recyclable waste streams.

The recyclable waste streams that must be separately collected by waste collectors are:

  • plastic;
  • paper and card;
  • glass;
  • metal;
  • food waste; and
  • garden waste.

N.B. Garden waste only applies to collection of household waste from domestic properties. 

Background
Section 45A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (‘the Act’) required waste collection authorities to collect at least 2 types of recyclable waste separately from residual waste. This requirement was supplemented by The Waste (England & Wales) Regulations 2011, which imposed a duty on all waste collectors to collect paper, metal, plastic and glass separately.

Section 57 of the Environment Act 2021 replaced the old section 45A of the Act and set out new requirements for the separate collection of recyclable waste from households, relevant non-domestic premises producing household waste and premises producing relevant waste, such as businesses.

N.B. Although section 57 is already in force, a transitional period is provided for waste collection authorities and for those responsible to arrange the separate collection of waste.

 

Duties

Various duties apply and are available to view on The Legislation Update Service.

 

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