Exemptions and statutory guidance for simpler recycling in England
Applies to England
Download the full outcome
Detail of outcome
We received 202 responses to this targeted consultation.
Defra consulted all English waste collection and disposal authorities and the Environment Agency. We also engaged with key membership organisations across the waste sector during the consultation period. We also received feedback from a range of stakeholders, including packaging producers, material producers, reprocessors and environmental non-governmental organisations (eNGOs).
In response to the feedback received, we are making the following changes to the simpler recycling policy.
We intend to introduce the relevant regulations in 2024, subject to the parliamentary process.
We will proceed with the proposed exemptions:
- to allow for co-collection of the dry recyclable waste streams together in one bin or container
- to allow for co-collection of food and garden waste together in one bin or container
We will publish the final statutory guidance after the regulations have been made.
Original consultation
Consultation description
The purpose of this targeted consultation was to seek views on our proposals to include new exemptions from the requirement to separately collect the recyclable waste streams.
We also asked for views on proposed statutory guidance on the:
- materials that are not in scope of the recyclable waste streams
- duties of waste collection authorities, regarding the collection of waste from households
- duties of waste collectors, regarding the collection of waste from non-household municipal premises