Workplace recycling across the UK

Start with the nation of the site

Look at where the premises are, not where the head office is registered. A café in Cardiff follows the Welsh rules even if the company is registered in England. A second site in Glasgow follows the Scottish rules. Record each premises as its own site.

England uses Simpler Recycling and a full-time-equivalent staff date: 31 March 2025 where the whole business has 10 or more, and 31 March 2027 where it has fewer than 10. Wales has required separate workplace collections since 6 April 2024. Scotland requires dry recyclables from every business, and food-waste separation from many food businesses. Northern Ireland has a food-waste duty for food businesses and a duty of care for every workplace.

What is shared, and what is not

Across the UK, business waste should be stored safely and handed to an authorised person with a description of the waste. That is the duty of care. The list of materials that must be separated, and the date that applies, is set by the nation.

SortProof keeps the record you enter and checks it against the England rules. Use it for an English site. For a site in another nation, read that nation’s guide, follow the official page, and keep the paperwork the collector gives you. SortProof is guidance and a record. It is not a certificate, and it is not issued by Defra, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, SEPA or DAERA.

Can one business have sites under different rules?

Yes. Each site follows the nation it is in. The England staff total is still counted across the English business. It does not set the Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish duty.

Does SortProof issue a UK certificate?

No. It stores the record you enter. The readiness check uses the England rules. It is not issued by a government body.

Where is the official page?

England uses GOV.UK. Wales uses GOV.WALES. Scotland uses the Scottish Government duty of care code and SEPA. Northern Ireland uses DAERA. The links are at the end of this guide.