In 2023 the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs introduced Simpler Recycling, a legislative reform to the recycling system which comes into effect from 31st March 2025.
Simpler Recycling is designed to introduce a more practical system which prevents councils from being hit with extra complexity, while making sure all local authorities collect the required recyclable waste streams: glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, food waste and garden waste.
It will enable waste collectors to collect dry recyclables together, in the same bin, and collect organic waste together in a separate bin.
From 31st March 2025, all UK businesses, organisations and non-household premises with 10 or more Full Time Employees will need to have collections set up for:
- Paper and cardboard
- Steel and aluminium (e.g. cans, foil, aerosols)
- Plastics (bottles, pots, tubs, trays and cartons)
- Cartons & Tetra Paks
- Glass
- Food waste
To support this transition and ensure compliance, businesses and organisations are advised to review and overhaul their waste management processes and resources. For many, it will require new bins with clearly marked instructions reflecting the new collection arrangements.
Clear labelling and colour-coded bins for waste separation is one of the most effective strategies for improving recycling rates and minimising contamination. Research demonstrates that these methods enhance operational efficiency, support a business’s sustainability goals, and contribute positively to corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The importance of waste separation
Effective recycling depends on accurate waste separation at the source. When waste is not properly sorted, it frequently ends up in landfill due to contamination. Furthermore, contaminated recyclables are often costly to clean, sort, and process, making them less viable for recycling and diminishing the overall efficiency of waste systems.
Businesses that use clear labelling and colour-coded bin systems achieve higher recycling rates and reduced contamination compared to those with unlabelled or single-bin systems. Clear labelling encourages correct disposal practices, alleviating the strain on waste-sorting facilities.
Colour coding as a visual cue for waste types
Colour coding is widely recognised as an effective, universal method for communicating information. In a business setting, where employees and customers may come from diverse backgrounds, colour-coded bins make it easy to identify the correct receptacle for specific waste types.
In the UK, colour coding for recycling bins is widely standardised to simplify waste sorting for both households and businesses. Generally, the system is as follows:
- Blue denotes paper and cardboard recycling, including items like newspapers, magazines, and cereal boxes.
- Green denotes mixed recyclables, such as glass bottles, jars, cans, and certain plastics.
- Brown denotes organic waste like food scraps and garden waste.
- Black and grey denotes non-recyclable waste.
Some areas in the UK may vary slightly in their specific categorisations, but these colours are generally used to maintain consistency across regions. For further details on the UK’s recycling colour codes, you can visit Climate of Our Future or Everdurance’s guide.
Research supports the use of a standardised colour-coding system. A study by Recycling & Waste World found that businesses using consistent, universal colours saw improved compliance and understanding from both employees and customers. A uniform approach to colour coding, across both public and private sectors, allows users to quickly interpret and follow the system, reducing human error and contamination.
The role of labelling and iconography in waste sorting
While colour coding provides a powerful visual cue, clear labelling and iconography offers specific guidance on what can and cannot be placed in each bin. Clear labels and imagery reduce confusion over ambiguous items, such as mixed-material packaging or plastics of different recyclability. A study in Behaviour & Information Technology found that when bins were clearly labelled with both text and images, correct sorting increased and contamination levels fell in workplace environments.
Behavioural science indicates that people are more likely to comply with instructions when the process is intuitive and requires minimal cognitive effort. Colour-coded and clearly labelled bins with easily recognisable graphics support this behaviour by providing straightforward visual and textual cues, enabling users to make quick, informed decisions. Research in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that businesses using multiple visual prompts, such as colour and images, had greater success in encouraging employees to participate in sustainable waste practices.
Many businesses have implemented these techniques with measurable results. Additionally, positive reinforcement—like signs showing recycling success rates or waste diversion achievements—can help sustain compliance by fostering a sense of collective responsibility and pride.
Twinplast can help businesses and organisations to optimise the ease and efficiency of their waste management processes. We design and manufacture bespoke bins that support efficient recycling and waste collection with custom printing, labelling, colour coding, and iconography which provide total clarity.
Our products are manufactured from corrugated polypropylene, a versatile and robust material that is water-resistant and chemical/grease resistant, making it ideal for waste collection. Twinplast’s bins help to reduce contamination, improve separation, increase recycling rates, and decrease landfill waste.
For expert advice, contact our team today:
Tel: 01582 361720
Email: sales@twinplast.co.uk