Help for your business at each step of the journey.
This guide, prepared by WRAP Cymru, should be read in conjunction with the Separate Collection of Waste Materials for Recycling: A Code of Practice for Wales. This guide provides supplementary advice for individual sectors and should not be read as standalone guidance.
It applies to workplaces across a variety of sectors such as offices, retail and hospitality. There are separate guides available for the following sectors that may also be classed as SMEs which you may find useful:
- Hospitality and food services;
- Retail;
- Residential settings (including care homes);
- Outdoor events (For example festivals) and
- Entertainment and leisure facilities (including campsites, chalets, lodges, hotels, caravans)
Content overview
Why you need to recycle?
From 6 April 2024, the new law will mean all workplaces have to present the following materials separately for collection for recycling and arrange for the waste to be collected separately from other waste.
How to better understand your waste and recycling
To identify the different types of waste you produce, you could undertake a waste audit by examining the contents of general waste bins and take note of any waste reduction or recycling efforts that are already in place to help identify further opportunities for waste prevention and recycling.
Preventing waste in the first place
Reducing or preventing how much waste you produce will help to save money and reduce the size of bins you will need.
Setting up recycling across your organisation
For SMEs the biggest challenge is often finding the time to make necessary changes when new rules or regulations are introduced. The Workplace Recycling Regulations are a legal requirement and so the responsibility to be compliant will fall on the business owner. Non-compliance could result in fines being issued.
How to arrange a new recycling service
If you need to organise a new recycling service, it’s worth thinking about the following:
Space for your bins?
It’s important you consider where and how you will store your waste and recycling.
Food waste and hygiene
There are guidelines on food waste to help you dispose of waste properly to meet the existing waste Duty of Care law.
Staff training ideas
Use our resources when engaging with your employees, clients, visitors, suppliers, and third-party vendors.
Resources
Additional resources and information