Amanda Quinn,
Education Procurement Category Manager at YPO
In this blog post, Amanda Quinn, Education Procurement
Category Manager at YPO, highlights new, simpler recycling
regulations coming into force in 2025 and the action that schools
and trusts will need to take to be compliant.
In 2023, the UK Government announced a new recycling plan that
aims to create a new, simpler common-sense
approach to recycling. The new requirements aim to improve
recycling rates and standardise recycling practices by having a
simpler recycling system where we can recycle the same items at
home, work or school.
All schools in England must comply with the new regulations. From
31 March 2025, recycling and collection measures for all types of
recyclable waste are required to be in place in your school,
except garden waste and plastic film.
For schools, this includes:
• Food waste
• Glass (bottles, jars)
• Metal (aluminium and steel tins, cans, foil)
• Plastic (bottles, tubs, trays, containers)
• Paper (envelopes, magazines, copier paper, shredded paper)
• Cardboard (cardboard boxes, corrugated cardboard)
The legislation changes how food waste is collected and aims to
stop food waste from going to landfill. Food waste can no longer
be placed in general/non-recyclable waste bins or mixed with
other recyclable materials and must be put into a specific food
waste container for collection.
Schools can use the same bin for dry mixed recycling of glass,
metal, plastic, paper and cardboard. This means that you will
need a minimum of three waste containers (bins, boxes or bags).
These changes should help schools cut recycling costs as well as
increase recycling rates to support your sustainability goals.
The plan also aims to crack down on unscrupulous waste operators
who do not follow proper procedures to ensure waste ends up where
it is supposed to. A digital system for waste tracking will be
introduced to gather data on what is collected and reduce illegal
waste activity.
The collection of plastic film will begin from 31 March 2027.
How schools and trusts can get ready for 31 March 2025
deadline
To get ready for these changes, make sure that you have
appropriate bins and enough of them. You might want to think
about colour coding and labelling your bins so that everyone can
easily identify which bin is for what waste stream.
It is crucial to note that where the new recycling criteria were
not initially included in a framework's specification before the
announcement of the new legislation, these criteria should be
incorporated into your specification during the further
competition stage. This ensures that your procurement process
aligns with the latest environmental requirements and promotes
sustainable practices, even if the original framework predates
the new recycling regulations.
You should ensure staff and pupils alike understand the
importance of recycling and how to do this properly.
It is also a good idea to provide signage, posters and guidelines
on what needs to be recycled and in what bin. You may want to
undertake a waste audit to assess your school's waste management
processes.
If you are already separating and recycling food waste, your next
step is to assess your current practices to ensure they comply
with the new recycling plan. You can ensure compliance by using
commercial waste collection services and licensed waste carriers
who adhere to the new regulations.
Do you need help to buy waste management
services?
Use the DfE's Find a Framework tool
to explore the range of DfE approved frameworks that offer waste
management solutions.
One of the DfE approved frameworks that covers waste management
is YPO's Building in Use - Support
Services (879) Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). The DPS is
open to new suppliers to join at any time, providing they meet
our selection criteria.
This means any new suppliers or local waste management providers
you might already use can apply to join at any time. You can
include the requirement to meet the new recycling criteria set to
come into effect from March 2025 in your procurement, ensuring
your waste management solutions are future-proofed.
If you need help with your buying, contact Get help buying for schools
for support to buy for your school or trust. We can help you
navigate the buying process, including incorporating the new
regulations to buy compliantly, save you time, and secure great
value for your school or trust.
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