GuidesEngland
Workplace recycling deadlines in England
Last reviewed 25 October 2026
Workplaces in England separate dry recyclables, food waste and general waste. The date depends on the full-time-equivalent staff of the whole business, not one site. Ten or more FTE has applied since 31 March 2025. A micro-firm with fewer than 10 FTE has until 31 March 2027. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
Why the date is a staff figure
Simpler Recycling in England uses the full-time-equivalent staff of the whole business. Add the full-time people, then add part-time hours divided by a full-time week. A usual full-time week is 37.5 hours. Cut the total after one decimal place. 9.9 stays under 10. Do not round 9.9 up to 10.
Ten or more full-time-equivalent staff means the duty has applied since 31 March 2025. Fewer than 10 means a micro-firm, and the duty applies from 31 March 2027. One busy site does not set the date on its own, and staff at the other sites are part of the same total.
What the date does, and what it does not do
The date tells you when the separation duty applies. It does not tell you that a collection happened, and it does not produce a certificate. After the date, the workplace separates food waste, paper and card, and other dry recycling from general waste, then keeps the arrangement on record.
If the site is in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, read the guide for that nation. The streams and dates there are different. The free check on SortProof uses the England rules.
In short
- Confirm the workplace is in England.
- Count full-time staff, then add part-time hours divided by a full-time week. A usual full-time week is 37.5 hours.
- Volunteers, contractors and self-employed workers do not count.
- Cut the total after one decimal place. Do not round it. 9.9 stays under 10.
- Use the free check if you want a list of streams still to separate. The result is not a certificate.
Questions
Does headcount at one site decide the date?
No. Use the full-time-equivalent staff of the whole business. Part-time people count in proportion to their hours.
What if the published date changes?
Check the current GOV.UK guidance at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england before you rely on a date.
Is a SortProof result a certificate?
No. It records what you tell it. It is not issued by Defra or the Environment Agency.
Related guides
SortProof stores the record you enter. It is guidance, not a certificate, and it is not issued by Defra or the Environment Agency.