Every year, new legislation comes into effect requiring businesses and households to assess how they manage their waste. This means they must adjust their operations to meet new requirements. This can be incredibly convoluted, which is why we’ve decided to break down some of the biggest changes on their way in 2026.
This way, you can keep on top of your waste and adapt to what’s new.
Here are a few changes (that we currently know of) that you should be aware of for 2026.
Committing to the Simpler Recycling deadlines.
While yes, Simpler Recycling regulations were introduced near the start of 2025, the official deadline for households is 31st March 2026. While this deadline won’t affect businesses, we know that by 31st March 2027, micro-businesses (<10 employees) will also have to adhere to the Simpler Recycling regulations.
Don’t think of this as an opportunity to relax and fall behind. Instead, take the initiative and aim to be compliant with the changes well before the deadline. This ensures that you and your team can meet this key target. By giving yourself the time to become familiar with the changes, you can ensure you’re delivering on the Simpler Recycling goals efficiently. This helps to avoid missteps after the deadline.
These regulations are in place to help your business on its path to achieving key sustainability targets. With or without a deadline, the sooner you implement Simpler Recycling into your waste management plan, the more progress you will make.
Changes to Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging
There are multiple key changes being implemented surrounding extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR) that your business should be aware of.
From 2026 to 2027, as an incentive for businesses to use more sustainable packaging, the government are changing pEPR fees based on how recyclable the materials used are.
pEPR shifts the entire cost of managing household packaging waste onto the companies that place that packaging on the market. This removes the financial burden from local councils and taxpayers. Therfore if a business uses more sustainable, easier‑to‑recycle materials they will pay less pEPR. This reduces its carbon footprint while also cutting compliance costs.
What the new changes mean, is that packaging considered ‘least recyclable’ (already warranting the highest disposal fee) will incur a 1.2x fee in 2026/27, 1.6x fee in 2027/28 and a 2x fee in 2028/29. Money raised from these fees will fund discounts for companies using ‘highly recyclable’ packaging.
Increased pEPR recycling targets for businesses.
TAs part of pEPR, businesses are required to hit certain percentages of their packaging being recycled. Depending on the material your business currently uses in its packaging and your current and revised targets, your targets will differ. Mixed-material packaging must be assessed separately, depending on the proportions of each material.
Here’s how the targets are changing:
- Paper: 75% -> 77%
- Glass: 74% -> 76%
- Aluminium: 61% -> 62%
- Steel: 80% -> 81%
- Plastic: 55% -> 57%
- Wood: 45% -> 46%
These targets are set to increase further in 2027.
What can we do to help?
As experts, part of our job is to understand the ever-changing landscape of waste management. With a thorough knowledge of your business, we can better navigate the new legislation and ensure you adapt to what’s required of you. What worked for you in 2025 might fare differently in 2025. Part of our role is helping you keep on top of your waste. We ensure it is disposed of safely, sustainably, and in compliance.
If you aren’t sure whether new legislation will affect your business’s waste processes, then we can help you find out. By getting in touch with our team today, you’ll take the first step toward compliance. After an initial audit, we can then begin preparing a clear plan to help you meet all relevant requirements before it’s too late.
