England recycling policy updates 2026‑27

In March 2026 England rolled out the “Simpler Recycling” system mandated by the Environment Act 2021, standardising four collection streams – food & garden waste, paper & card, dry recyclables (glass, metal, plastic) and residual waste – and prohibiting a list of items such as thermal receipts, multi‑layer crisp tubes, disposable coffee cups with plastic linings and many garden‑waste materials from being placed in recycling or garden‑waste bins. Local authorities may charge for garden‑waste collection to address a stalled 44 % household recycling rate caused by contamination.

From 31 March 2027 councils will also collect plastic bags, crisp packets and other plastic film together with other kerbside plastics, creating the same four streams. Educational warnings will precede any refusal of non‑recyclable items; metallised crisp packets must still be placed in residual waste because they cannot yet be recycled at home.

In August 2026 Somerset Council introduced a temporary limit on household fridge, freezer and other cooling‑appliance recycling: each household may drop only one item at any of the county’s 16 recycling sites. The restriction responds to a national shortage of re‑processing capacity after a fire and other outages at specialist facilities, combined with higher summer demand. Residents are urged to use retailer take‑back schemes, reuse or donate appliances where possible.

The broader Simpler Recycling reforms also ban drinking glasses, glass cookware, ceramic crockery, cutlery and certain pots and pans from recycling collections, directing them to general waste, scrap‑metal centres or charity donations. Some local authorities remain exempt from these changes until as late as 2040.