Workplace recycling: separating your waste for collection

All workplaces must separate certain recyclable waste ready for collection.

Waste and recycling collectors and processors must collect this waste separately and keep it separated.

Waste you must separate

Workplaces must separate the following types of waste for collection:

  • Food waste
  • Glass
  • Paper and cardboard
  • Metals and cartons
  • Unsold textiles
  • Unsold small waste electrical and electronic equipment

To find out exactly what waste should be placed in a particular waste stream - and what should not - go straight to annexes 1-6 of the Separate collection of waste materials: Code of Practice for Wales (GOV.WALES).

The annexes will tell you, for example, that till receipts, scratch cards and paper towels should not be placed in the ‘paper and card’ waste stream.

How to comply with the law 

Read the Separate collection of waste materials: Code of Practice for Wales (GOV.WALES). It includes information about, for example:

  • workplace, collector and handler separation requirements
  • wastes not covered by the requirements
  • what wastes to include, or not include in each stream
  • what is meant by 'non-domestic premises'

Workplace recycling guidance from WRAP includes sector-specific guidance, and guidance for small and medium enterprises.

Guidance for waste collectors on how you can prepare your customers (GOV.WALES) explains what the law means for you.

How we regulate you

We are the regulator for the separate collection of waste for recycling requirements in Wales.

We may visit or contact you to check that you are complying with the law.

We might ask you to provide information and evidence about your waste collection arrangements.

Keep records to show compliance

Keep relevant records to show compliance to us.

This evidence could be documents that you already keep, including:

  • waste transfer notes
  • agreements or contracts that you may have in place with
    a waste management company
  • contracts you have with your customers if you are a collector

If you do not comply with the law, it could mean a fine for your workplace. 

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