Are you ready for the new food waste legislation?

New food waste legislation, known as the ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms, is coming into effect in England from 31 March 2025. 

It’s intention? To streamline and simplify the recycling of waste, improving the existing recycling system.

It is applicable for businesses as well as for public sector organisations in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already have their own legislation in place.

Those businesses and organisations producing more than 5kg of food waste per week will be required to store food waste in separate bins and arrange for collection by licensed waste collectors. And, importantly, biodegradable materials such as vegetable peelings, bones, eggshells, coffee grounds and tea bags are to be included as food waste.

Businesses and organisations producing less than 5kg of waste per week are exempt and micro businesses (less than 10 employees) will have until 31 March 2027 to comply to this new legislation but are encouraged to introduce good practices earlier than that 2027 deadline.

The result of non-compliance? Failure to comply could result in financial repercussions in the form of fixed penalty notices and there is also the risk of reputational damage owing to ethical considerations.

As food procurement experts managing the efficacy and impact of the food supply chain, at allmanhall we see this focus on waste at the end of the value chain as a welcome and positive move. It seeks to address and reduce the circa 9.5 million tonnes of food that currently go to waste in the UK every year. But at the same time, we fully recognise and appreciate the challenges it may create for a sector already under pressure.

Chris Webster, allmanhall (food procurement experts)

Practical tips to help you prepare

1. Understand the types and quantities of waste produced by your foodservice operation.
2. Partner with a food waste collection service. This must be a licensed food waste collector who can provide appropriate waste containers and arrange to collect your food waste.
3. Review the waste bins you currently have on site, implementing ‘Food Waste Only’ bins where required.
4. Training and signage should also be implemented to ensure the food waste bins are used correctly.
5. Monitoring of your food waste volumes will need to be in place in preparation for the reporting requirement is brought into force. Many food waste collectors will weigh the bins on collection, so a simple tracker where these volumes can be recorded would suffice.

Point 5 also leads to encouraging initiatives to gauge and report on waste reduction initiatives in your foodservice operation.

Seeking support?

There are a number of food waste collection carriers operating nationally within the UK. As a trusted procurement partner with established food waste collector relationships, allmanhall is able to support clients with the most appropriate arrangement. At allmanhall, we can also advise on ways to reduce food waste in your foodservice operation.

As well as an award-winning, expert food procurement solution, allmanhall is renowned for its consultative advice. Its team includes a number of people who have managed catering operations themselves and who truly empathise with foodservice operational challenges and how best to overcome them.

• Take a look at some such food waste reduction strategies here
• To read more about reasons to reduce waste, even without the new legislation, click here

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