Business recycling in Scotland

Last reviewed 25 October 2026

In Scotland every business presents key dry recyclables for separate collection. Food businesses that produce 5kg or more of food waste a week also present that food waste separately, unless a published exemption applies. SEPA and the Scottish Government duty of care code explain the duty. The SortProof check uses the England rules.

Dry recyclables

The duty of care code says waste producers take reasonable steps to present glass, metals, plastics, paper and card, including cardboard, for separate collection. SEPA says dry recyclables may be collected together when that does not produce a lower quality than collecting them separately, and that systems which mix paper and glass together should be avoided.

The same Scottish Government code says recyclable plastic film and flexible packaging is to be presented for separate collection from 31 March 2027. Read the code’s definition of plastic film before you treat every wrapper as in scope. Residual waste can still be collected. It sits alongside the recycling service, rather than instead of it.

Food businesses

A food business is an undertaking that processes, distributes, prepares or sells food. Restaurants, cafés, hotels, schools with canteens, and pubs that serve food are examples in the code. A food business that consistently produces 5kg or more of food waste a week must take reasonable steps to present it for separate collection.

Two published exemptions matter. A food business that consistently produces less than 5kg a week does not have to present food waste separately. A food business in an area the Scottish Government defines as rural does not have to either. Use the postcode guidance on gov.scot. Do not guess from a town name. The code also says an office staff room, where people bring in food bought elsewhere, is not this food-business duty. Food waste must not be discharged to a public sewer where the ban applies. Check the code for rural sewer wording.

In short

Present paper, card, glass, metals and plastics for collection. Ask the contractor how they want them separated.
Avoid a mix that puts paper and glass in the same collection.
If you are a food business, weigh a typical week. At 5kg or more, present food waste separately unless a published exemption applies.
Check the rural postcode list before you rely on that exemption.
Hand the waste to an authorised person and keep the transfer note for the period the code requires.

Questions

Does every Scottish office have to collect food waste?

The food-waste duty is aimed at food businesses. The Scottish Government code says a staff room where food is brought in from elsewhere is not that duty. Dry recyclables still apply to the office.

Can all the recycling go in one bin?

SEPA says co-mingled dry recycling is acceptable when the quality is not worse than separate collection, and that paper and glass should not be collected together. Ask your contractor which system they run.

Is this the England staff-number date?

No. Scotland does not use the England full-time-equivalent dates. Use the Scottish Government code and SEPA.

Related guides

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