New UK Food Waste Legislation
MAX RECYCLE
New UK Food Waste Legislation
As a customer you will be aware from previous mail shots (What’s Buzzing; What’s in your bin and Food Waste Regulations frequently asked questions) that the final Regulations were published on the 10th February 2025 (including exemptions) and for you to comply with the Regulations as the primary producer of Food Waste you must;
- separate Food Waste from other waste streams; and
- have a dedicated Food Waste bin; and
- put in place the collection of that waste.
These are the obligations placed upon you as the producer of Food Waste as from 1 April 2025. We have ensured that you are compliant, insofar as (ii) and (iii) above by providing a dedicated Food Waste bin and arranging a collection service with this Company as a licensed waste carrier. The service charge for Food Waste collection is for the administration, its collection, separation and disposal.
Currently all waste companies are sourcing additional vehicles for the collection of Food Waste even those companies that already provide a food waste collection service. But the demand for food waste collections could not be anticipated until the Regulations came into force recently which has been recognised by DEFRA who are allowing time for all waste collection companies to put in place specific waste collection vehicles and services to meet the demand. For this reason, you may see the same vehicle being used for general waste and food waste collections for a short period of time, noting, it is our responsibility to separate the waste once collected. It is the Environment Agency that will enforce compliance with the Regulations by waste carriers and to whom reports of non compliance should be made.
Your obligations as the producer of Food Waste are separate from ours as the licensed waste carrier of the Food Waste and other waste streams that we collect, carry and dispose of under the Environment Act 2021 and its Regulations. It is our responsibility how we separate and dispose of the Food Waste once collected. You have no liability whatsoever, for our compliance with the Act or Regulations.
What’s Changed?
From the end of March 2025, new commercial food waste legislation in the UK will require most businesses to separate food waste from other waste streams. This important change means companies must store food waste in designated bins and arrange collections through licensed waste carriers.
These regulations are part of Defra’s broader initiative to simplify recycling, improve sustainability, and reduce the environmental impact of waste. By mandating food waste separation, the goal is to divert waste from landfill sites, ensuring it is recycled or disposed of responsibly. This shift will support better waste management practices and contribute to a cleaner, greener environment.
- Improve the quality and quantity of waste collections
- Eliminate food waste from landfills by 2030
- Turn waste into resources like bioenergy or fertilizer
Other requirements of the new regulations include:
- Working with licensed food waste carriers
- Reporting on the amount of food waste generated and how it is disposed of
- Holding businesses accountable for the waste generated by the products they produce
For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england
Our reliable food waste collection services are designed to ensure compliance with the new legislation, so you can focus on running your business without worrying about waste disposal.
With our expertise and commitment to sustainability, we make food waste management easy and affordable. From providing specialised bins to scheduling regular collections, we offer tailored solutions that meet your needs and align with the upcoming legal requirements.
At MaxRecycle.com, we’re here to help businesses of all sizes across the UK prepare for these changes. The ensure your business is prepared for the upcoming changes, we will be installing a food waste bin (with a 90kg weight allowance) to all customers for the new regulation change before the deadline date. This new container will be clearly marked up and is purely designed for Food Waste Only. You will also receive an information leaflet of what exactly should be placed into the container.
If you require more than 1 bin, please feel free to contact us and our Sales Department can discuss further options. Click Here >
What’s in your bin?
Your food waste can help fuel the future.
We take the food waste you would have sent to landfill and convert it by anaerobic digestion into renewable resources. These are fed into the national electricity and gas grids powering local businesses and communities. Organic fertiliser is also produced and this is returned to the fields where farmers grow the food we eat.
See what you can and can’t put in your bin below…
What we can accept
Our 240-litre food waste wheelie bins are designed to handle a variety of biodegradable items, making waste disposal convenient and eco-friendly. Acceptable items include bread, cakes, and pastries, as well as tea bags (without filters) and coffee grounds. You can also dispose of meat and fish (raw or cooked), plate scrapings, and vegetable peelings. Eggshells, dairy products, and cooked or raw fruit and vegetables are also welcome. Additionally, rice, pasta, cereal, and even small amounts of bones can be included.
For liquids like milk or orange juice, it’s best to freeze them first to prevent leaks. By placing these items in your food waste bin, you help ensure they are recycled into nutrient-rich compost or renewable energy, reducing landfill waste. Please avoid non-food items, large quantities of liquid, and oversized bones to keep the bin functioning optimally.
Together, we can create a cleaner, greener future!
Breads, cakes & pastries
Tea bags & coffee grounds (no filters)
Meat & fish(Inc raw & uncooked)
Plate scrapings & peelings
Egg shells
Dairy products
Rice, pasta & cereal
Bones in small quantities
Fruit & vegetables(raw or cooked & peelings)
Liquids such as milk & orange juice in small amounts – preferably frozen.
Remember food waste must be:
Naked waste – loose and unpackaged such as plate scrapings or peelings
Cat 3 ABP – animal bi-products fit for human consumption such as raw chicken or ham
Packaged food waste – food presented in cardboard or plastic (no glass or metal)
What we can’t accept
To ensure smooth processing, certain items should not be placed in food waste wheelie bins. Black bags are prohibited as they prevent visibility of contents, making contamination checks impossible. Large bones, such as those bigger than a chicken leg, cannot be processed. Avoid placing glass, which grinds into a powder and damages machinery. Similarly, metal can jam the plant’s mechanisms, causing costly repairs.
Compostable packaging and packaging materials are also not accepted. We can process food waste in its primary packaging (e.g., bananas in plastic wrapping), but secondary packaging (e.g., outer cardboard boxes) must be removed.
Meat not intended for human consumption and full bins of liquid waste should also be excluded, as they disrupt the waste treatment process. Following these guidelines ensures efficient, safe, and sustainable waste management.
Glass
This grinds down to a powder which acts like sandpaper
Metal
This can get caught in the plant’s mechanism and damage it
Large bones
Nothing bigger than a chicken leg
Full bins of liquid waste
Meat
That is not intended for human consumption
Compostable packaging
Black bags
These prevent the driver and processing plant identifying the contents which means it can’t be checked for possible contamination
Packaging material or containers
We can take the waste in its primary packing but not secondary packaging. For example, pre-packaged bananas; we can take the bananas but not the outer box they are delivered in
Keeping your bin clean
Pre-bagging your food waste in clear bags will help with bin cleanliness.
Don’t overload your bin
If you have excess food waste, put it in a clear bag and request an additional collection. Our maximum bin weight is 90kg for your 240L food waste bin as our lifting mechanism can only take up to 90kg. Anything over this is a health and safety risk. If your bin is overweight, our driver will mark it with an overweight tag and you or the site will need to decant the material into clear bags to be stored for the next collection.
IMPORTANT: A maximum fill line sticker has been applied to bins, to ensure this can be safely moved by our staff and the container is not overfilled and can still be lifted by the vehicle. Please ensure that the waste does not go above this fill line sticker, as it will result in the bin collection being failed, and your service will need to be re-booked with our office. We offer weekly services for food and can also increase the number of bins required should you wish to increase.
Frequently Asked Questions!
Under the Environment Act 2021 (commencement No 9 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024 (“the Act”) ; the Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2024 and the Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025 (“the Regulations”), if not exempt, has to separate six described recyclable waste streams as from 1st April 2025, which includes Food Waste.
Please use this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england
You must have the ability to deal with Food Waste. You are required to separate “Food Waste” as a waste stream and have provision for the collection of “Food Waste” as from the 1 April 2025. Examples would include part eaten or uneaten sandwiches, crisps, sweets, cakes and fruit.
Under Part 6 of the 2024 Food Waste Regulations The food waste stream includes—
(a) all food intended for human or household pet consumption regardless of whether it has any nutritional value,
(b) biodegradable material resulting from the processing or preparation of food and drink including inedible food parts such as bones, eggshells, fruit and vegetable skins, tea bags and coffee grounds.
From 1st April 2025 Food Waste is now a separate recyclable waste stream and has to collected separately from all other waste streams.
Yes, as defined in the Act and Regulations.
Please see the link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england#micro-firm-exemption-until-31-march-2027 but any exemptions only apply until 31.03.2027.
We are supplying a 240L bin initially to allow customers to assess whether they need more bins. This is base level service that will keep you compliant with the new Regulations.
It is the same size as a domestic household bin.
Due to weight related Health and Safety Issues 240L bin is the maximum that can be provided for food waste which can often be very dense. However, you can have additional food waste bins.
The bin will be;
- Black bodied with yellow lids
- Branded SkipsAndBins.com; and
- Marked as being for food waste only
Food waste falls within the EWC 200108 code. You will not immediately require a separate Duty of Care Waste Transfer Note. We will issue you with a fresh Duty of Care to take effect from the 1 April 2025 which will detail the service provision.
Unless you are a micro business, the Act and Regulations require you to have provision for the separation of Food Waste and collection at every location whether you employ 1 or 100 at each location, as only a licensed waste carrier can transport Food Waste.
As a base level service, we will collect the bin every two weeks.
Food waste attracts vermin. Food waste deteriorates quickly and as with your domestic household collections more than two weeks may start to present a health risk and lead to action being taken by your local council. Therefore, two weeks is the minimum collection frequency.
In most cases we should be able to provide a weekly collection but, in some cases, this may not be possible for a variety of reasons. Please check post codes with us.
Yes. There is no minimum weight under the Act or the Regulations. You have to have a provision for the separation and collection of any food waste i.e. a food waste bin, so it can be stored and collected. The idea being you should always be in a position to deal with Food Waste no matter how little, whenever it arises.
The cost will be £10.50 +VAT for 90 kilos maximum weight of Food Waste for health and safety reasons per bin.
It should be placed with other bins you have or a designated space but will still have to brought to the position agreed for the collection of other general waste/recyclable waste bins.
You should be aware that DEFRA are introducing “Mandatory Digital Waste Tracking” to facilitate more “efficient and effective waste regulation and intervention” by knowing who has waste bins e.g. a “Food Waste” bin.
Under your contract you agreed that we would “exclusively” provide all services whether similar or associated. This includes food waste collection.
We will allow you current contract to expire and then provide your food waste services. However, you must provide us with the expiration date of any food waste contract as soon as possible. We appreciate that you may be committed to a contract for up to 12 months. However, in the absence of any expiration date being supplied we will install a bin and commence services from the 1 April 2024.
We are indifferent to the Regulations; we all merely have to comply with them under primary legislation. However, if you feel strongly and wish to object to the new regulations relation go to this link to sign a petition: https://chng.it/xZ6pNvz78p
When it comes to reliable food waste disposal services, MaxRecycle.com stands out as a trusted provider for businesses of all sizes. Here’s why you should choose us:
- Convenient and Cost-Effective Solutions
We offer tailored food waste disposal services designed to fit your business needs. With flexible collection schedules and competitive pricing, we ensure you’re never overpaying or overwhelmed with waste management. - Eco-Friendly Practices
At Max Recycle, we prioritize sustainable waste disposal. Our processes minimize landfill contributions by ensuring that food waste is processed responsibly, helping you meet your environmental goals while reducing your carbon footprint. - Comprehensive Service Coverage
We handle a wide range of waste, from kitchen scraps to food manufacturing by-products, ensuring your business remains compliant with all regulations. Our team will guide you on what can and cannot go into our bins, helping you avoid contamination. - Top-Quality Equipment and Support
We provide high-quality 240-litre wheelie bins and other equipment that are robust, hygienic, and easy to use. Additionally, our experienced customer service team is always ready to assist with any queries or support your business needs. - Trusted by Businesses Nationwide
Our reputation for reliability and professionalism has made us a preferred choice for food waste disposal across the UK. With Max Recycle, you can trust that your waste will be managed efficiently and responsibly.
By choosing Max Recycle, you’re partnering with a company that values sustainability, affordability, and outstanding customer service. Contact us today to discuss your business food waste disposal needs and discover why so many businesses trust us to handle their waste.
Don’t like the change? Join our Petition:
This new legislation has been set by the government and is out of our control. Join our petition to have your say today: