Stream 1
Dry recyclables
Plastic, metal, glass, paper and card. Paper and card are collected separately unless your collector holds a written assessment allowing them together.
Paper and card rules explainedSimpler Recycling · workplace recycling rules in England
Is your business ready for Simpler Recycling?
Every workplace in England must separate dry recyclables, food waste and general waste. Micro-firms with fewer than 10 full-time-equivalent staff must comply by 31 March 2027. Check where you stand in two minutes, then build a record you can show.
- No account needed
- Answers kept only if you ask for the report
- Sources shown for every result
Last reviewed against GOV.UK guidance on 14 Sep 2026 · rule set ENG-SR v3
app.sortproof.com/app
Are we ready?Generate pack
Status · all sitesAction requiredDeadline31 Mar 2027
Food-waste collectionMissing at HeadingleyAction required
Paper & card separationWritten assessment neededEvidence required
Dry recyclingAll 3 sitesReady
- UKHosted in LondonData stays in the UK
- GDUK GDPRDPA and subprocessors published
- 2FTwo-factor sign-inRequired for owners and admins
- ALFull audit logEvery change, who and when
- GVChecked against GOV.UKSources linked on every result
What Simpler Recycling asks every workplace to separate
It covers businesses, charities and public sector workplaces in England. The Environment Agency can issue compliance notices. Read the GOV.UK guidance.
Stream 2
Food waste
Leftovers, preparation scraps, coffee grounds and tea bags. Kept apart from all other waste and collected separately.
Food waste for businessesStream 3
General waste
Everything that can’t be recycled, kept separate from the two streams above.
What counts as general wasteSimpler Recycling deadlines for businesses
Your deadline depends on how many full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees the whole business has. Part-time staff count in proportion to their hours; volunteers, contractors and the self-employed don’t.
How to work out your FTE| Business size | Must comply from |
|---|---|
| 10 or more FTE employees | 31 March 2025 (already in force) |
| Micro-firms: fewer than 10 FTE | 31 March 2027 |
| Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland | Separate rules · see where to look |
From “are we affected?” to a record you can show
- 1
Check
Six questions tell you whether the rules apply and by when. Free, no account.
- 2
Assess each site
Waste you produce, who collects it, bins and staff instructions, premises by premises.
- 3
Close the gaps
A plain action plan with owners, due dates and the evidence each action needs.
- 4
Keep the evidence
Contracts, transfer notes, collection records and a dated Compliance Pack, with reminders before anything lapses.
Workplace recycling compliance, explained on one screen
Are we ready, what needs doing, by when? Every status explains itself: select “Why?” to see the answers that triggered it, the rule applied, its effective date and the official source.
- —Multiple premises, each with its own status
- —Collector records, collection documentation, carrier checks and secure document storage
- —Roles for owners, admins, supervisors, managers, staff, viewers and advisors
- —Alerts when a rule change affects one of your sites
SortProof statusDeadline 31 Mar 2027
Action required3 actions
Food-waste collectionAction required
Dry recyclingReady
Paper & card separationEvidence required
Staff instructionsMissing
Workplace recycling guides
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The free check uses the England rules.
Across the United KingdomEngland, Wales, Scotland and Northern IrelandWalesSeparate collections since 6 April 2024ScotlandDry recycling and food businessesNorthern IrelandFood waste and the duty of careFood wasteKitchens, cafés and staff rooms in EnglandRecords to keepContracts, notes and written assessmentsCafés and coffee shopsGrounds, cups and milk bottlesRestaurants and pubsKitchen food waste and glassShops and retailCardboard, packaging, staff roomsOfficesKitchens, paper and shared buildingsHair and beauty salonsSmall sites, landlord binsNurseries and schoolsMeal waste and classroomsGyms and leisureCafés, changing rooms, bottlesDental and GP practicesNon-clinical waste only
Pricing
Prices exclude VAT. Cancel any time.Deadline Pack
One-off£49 /siteEverything to be ready by 31 March 2027. Runs until 30 June 2027.What’s includedEssentials
£190 /yearOne site, evidence storage, Compliance Pack, reminders. Or £19 a month.Choose EssentialsMulti-site
£490 /year5 sites included, then £50 a year per site. Team roles, activity log. Or £49 a month.Choose Multi-siteShort on time? Add done-for-you setup: we complete your assessments with you on a 30-minute call. £99 per business.
About setup serviceFor accountants, waste collectors and landlords
Help your clients or tenants get ready under your own brand. Manage every client’s status from one place, with wholesale pricing per site.
Simpler Recycling: common questions
When does Simpler Recycling apply to my business?
If you have 10 or more full-time-equivalent employees, it has applied since 31 March 2025. Micro-firms with fewer than 10 must comply by 31 March 2027.
Do part-time staff count towards the 10 FTE limit?
Yes, in proportion to their hours. Volunteers, contractors and self-employed workers don’t count.
Can paper and card go in the same bin as other recycling?
Only if your collector has a written assessment explaining why separate collection isn’t practicable. Otherwise keep them separate.
My landlord arranges the bins. Am I still responsible?
You still need to separate your waste. Keep your landlord’s written confirmation of the arrangements as evidence.
Is the Compliance Pack a government certificate?
No. It’s a dated record of your arrangements, evidence and the rules they were checked against. It isn’t issued by Defra or the Environment Agency.
I advise several businesses. Can I manage them all?
Yes. Partners get a portal listing every client’s status, under their own brand, with per-site pricing.