Simpler Recycling is coming – here’s what you need to know:

• New rules: Under the UK’s Simpler Recycling laws, businesses of 10+ employees must separate dry recyclables, food waste, and residual waste; by March 2026, local authorities must introduce weekly food waste collections, followed by kerbside plastic film collections from March 2027.
• Why it matters: Waste management sites will face higher demand, stricter waste segregation, and rising costs, making containment and site preparedness essential.
• How to prepare: Galebreaker screens and doors can help sites stay compliant by containing litter, reducing cross-contamination, and preventing equipment clogging risks – all while maintaining safe, efficient operations.

Recycling legislation is changing — is your waste site ready?

The UK government’s new Simpler Recycling laws are reshaping waste management across the country. Under this new policy, all businesses in England with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees must now separate waste into three categories:

• dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal, glass, paper and card)
• non-recyclable waste (residual waste)
• food waste

The goal is to standardise recycling practices, ending the ‘postcode lottery’ confusion of varying local collection schemes for consumers and businesses. The legislation aims to improve the quality of recyclables, reducing cross-contamination with better recycling segregation, and to support the UK’s push toward a circular economy and net-zero by 2050.

Who must comply with the new Simpler Recycling legislation?

All manner of businesses must comply including retail, leisure, hospitality, educational facilities, charities, agriculture, construction and manufacturing.

The need for efficient waste segregation does not stop at these premises but expands into handling, processing and storing at waste management sites.

Local authorities and private contractors must prepare their sites now, as the legislation’s impact will soon be felt across both public and private sectors.

Local authority waste regulations: the role of waste management sites

Waste management sites will play a key role in complying with and supporting businesses to meet these new requirements.

Key dates include:

• By 31 March 2026: local authorities must collect all dry recyclable materials from households and provide weekly food waste collections.
• By 31 March 2027: businesses and waste management sites will need to introduce kerbside plastic film collections.

While a positive step for sustainability, for operators the changes come with a range of operational impacts and will increase waste management costs.

Initial estimates suggest that the transition to new collection systems could cost upwards of £900 million as local authorities will need to invest in site preparedness, new vehicles, containers, and infrastructure to manage the increased flow of segregated materials.

Particular attention will need to be given to reducing cross-contamination of waste streams and improving recycling rates, while keeping operations running as smooth as possible.

Waste management challenges under new recycling laws

As we head into autumn and winter, waste management sites face an additional challenge: keeping waste contained and segregated in poor weather conditions.

High winds and adverse weather can scatter airborne waste, dust and debris, making it harder to maintain the separation of different refuse streams.

Not only does uncontrolled litter affect site cleanliness, but it poses health and safety risks – attracting vermin, creating obstructions, trip hazards and fire risks. It can also potentially clog sorting and processing equipment.

Against this backdrop, waste management operators must also maintain optimal working conditions.

The solution – controlling waste, litter and contamination at recycling sites

Galebreaker’s fabric engineered solutions help local authorities and private contractors alike create a clean, controlled and comfortable environment for waste site compliance.

Our clip-on mesh screens and durable door systems offer protection against wind-blown dust, debris and adverse weather conditions, and are custom-made to fit your site’s needs.

Manufactured in the UK and backed by a 10-year guarantee, our solutions provide reliable weather protection while offering various mesh types for retaining light and ventilation.

Waste containment screens for recycling sites

Galebreaker Spanscreens are clip-on mesh screens that attach to existing buildings, acting as a robust barrier to retain waste within designated areas, reducing the risk of it spreading across the facility and contaminating other groups.

The benefits of Spancreens include:

• Made to measure – screens are designed and manufactured to fit your site’s specifications
• Robust – a wide range of fabrics are available which still allow for light transmission and ventilation. Screen materials are flame retardant, rot proof, and fray and tear resistant. Perfect for screening off waste compartments
• Quality components – screens include high-strength webbing straps to tension the fabric securely to the building, ensuring a stable, long-lasting installation
• Versatile – screens can be used as internal partitions or as external barriers for temporary or permanent installations

Find out how an ash bunker in Wales benefitted from our screens

Spanscreens are an ideal durable, high-performance solution for a range of facilities from private contractor depots to local authority recycling centers, waste transfer stations and composting facilities.

By minimising windblown debris, these systems enhance operational efficiency, boost safety, and help ensure compliance with recycling and waste regulations.

For internal segregation, Galebreaker also produces Flexipart internal partitioning. Available in solid or opaque options, this made to measure partition solution can provide temporary or permanent divider walls to control debris in industrial buildings, ideal for waste sorting areas.

Explore our internal partitioning solutions and external screens

Industrial doors for waste sites and recycling facilities

Galebreaker’s industrial doors enhance efficiency, safety and environmental control on waste facilities – helping you conform with waste management compliance.

With the ability to fit wide openings, our motorised Maxidoor Fold offers a versatile barrier that can be closed off during downtime yet opened wide during peak times for easy access by large vehicles and machinery – ideal for waste transfer sites and depack facilities.

The benefits of Galebreaker’s industrial Maxidoor Fold and access solutions include:

• Easy to use –the Maxidoor range is lightweight and easily operated via simple controls
• Durable – UV stabilised and rot proof, the doors are built to withstand harsh environmental conditions, ensuring long-lasting protection for high-traffic areas
• Adaptable – the range can be tailored to fit a wide range of facilities, with the ability to span openings up to 20m wide and 10m high
• Versatile purpose – a range of materials available to suit specific purposes, from wider mesh for more ventilation and light or more solid options for enhanced weather protection. Motorised and manual options available
• Reliable – all doors meet European Standard EN13241 requirements

 Explore the door range or contact the team for support

For sector-specific recycling guidance, visit the WRAP website.