Guidance for GP practice/primary care on ‘Simpler recycling’ reforms in England
As of 31 March 2025, all businesses and non-domestic premises in England, including GP practices, will be required to arrange for the collection of core recyclable waste streams: glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, and food waste. The types of waste below will need to be in three separate bins:
- dry recyclable materials
- food waste (includes left over food, fruit skins, teabags, and coffee grounds)
- black bin waste
Garden waste is excluded from this requirement. This is for all businesses with 10 or more employees.
What does this mean?
- You should discuss the requirements with your waste collector and arrange separate dry recycling, food waste and black bin waste collection. The waste collector can be a private waste collector, or your local authority may also provide services.
- If your current waste collector does not offer the full range of collection services, you will need to arrange these services from other providers.
- You must make sure that the organisation is registered on the Public Register of Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers. Simpler Recycling Government Guidance
- Government guidance has been published Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England – GOV.UK
- If you do not comply with these requirements, you are at risk of receiving a compliance notice from the Environment Agency.
Support for Practices (see below and attached)
- Guidance for Primary Care ‘Simpler Recycling’ – https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/15947d70-9404-4d54-921d-79cf246e9dc0/downloads/892a6525-65bb-4903-9309-5da391cf5f12/Spring%202025%20Waste%20Management%20Guidance%20for%20GP%20p.pdf?ver=1740571001634
- Links to posters from NHS property services – https://www.property.nhs.uk/media/3914/correct-waste-segregation_recycling-and-general_v2.pdf, https://www.property.nhs.uk/media/ysxbt5i0/waste-management-labels-2023_v1-1.pdf and https://www.property.nhs.uk/media/2689/waste-segregation-posters.pdf
- Simpler workplace recycling https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england#workplaces-that-must-follow-these-rules
- For pharma waste guidance refer to HTM07-01 Health Technical Memorandum 07-01: Safe and sustainable management of healthcare waste
Greener Practice Platform
For those practices interested in pursuing further green initiatives, there is the Greener Practice Platform, which is a clinician-developed platform that offers easy, practical, step-by-step projects for general practices to improve patient health, boost efficiency, save money, and reduce carbon emissions. The platform will connect users to a network of engaged professionals across the UK to activate, engage and support action.