Workplace recycling is changing

From April 6 2024, it will become law for all businesses, charities and public sector organisations to sort their waste for recycling.

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It also applies to all waste and recycling collectors and processors who manage household-like waste from workplaces.

Welsh Government is introducing this law to improve the quality and quantity of how we collect and separate waste.

What waste needs to be separated

The following materials will need to be separated for collection, and collected separately:

There will also be a ban on:

You can mix paper and card together in the same container, and you can mix metal, plastic, and cartons together.

All businesses, charities and public sector organisations will need to separate their waste.

This includes:

Agricultural premises
Hospitality and tourism – restaurants, bars, pubs, bed and breakfasts, hotels, campsites and caravan parks, holiday accommodation, and licensed premises
Showgrounds
Service stations and petrol stations
Entertainment and sports venues including leisure centres
Transport – bus stations, railway stations, seaports, airports, and heliports
Care and nursing homes
Pharmacies, GP surgeries, dental surgeries, and other primary care settings
Construction sites
Factories and warehouses
Car garages
Education – universities, colleges, and schools
Garden centres
Heritage buildings
Libraries and museums
Offices and workshops
Places of worship
Prisons
Outdoor markets and festivals

The only workplace that has an additional two years to comply is NHS and private hospitals. For more information visit Welsh Government’s workplace recycling page.

You can also learn more on WRAP Cymru’s The Business of Recycling Wales page.