Ahead of a change in rules and processes from March 2025, new research has revealed three quarters of SMEs are unprepared for the regime.
According to a study conducted by First Mile, just 24.5% of small UK businesses have begun taking steps to get ready for the new regime.
This means 75.5% of companies employing between 10 and 49 people have still not begun making preparations for a major change in recycling services for enterprises, with firms trading in the food industries a point of particular concern.
‘The fact that so many small businesses have yet to start planning for the Simpler Recycling reform is quite alarming. If they do not do so in time, they could face potential penalties, although the government is yet to reveal what these will be,’ Bruce Bratley, PhD CEO and Founder of First Mile. ‘It’s the business’ duty to conduct a waste audit to assess the type of waste they regularly produce and ensure they dispose of it in an appropriate manner.
‘Businesses in the food industry will also need to be extra careful, as they’ll need to ensure both they and their customers place their food waste in appropriate bins, since this will no longer be allowed to be bagged together with general waste,’ he continued. ‘One way to ensure this is done effectively is to seek the help of a waste management specialist, who will conduct a fully tailored audit and analysis of your business’ waste streams. A good waste management company will also provide support on implementation as well as engagement tools and resources to support your business and its employees alongside state-of-the-art data and waste tracking.’
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