SUEZ UK food waste management

Now that Simpler Recycling is underway across England, businesses with 10 or more full-time employees have been making changes to meet the new food waste rules.

From offices to logistics hubs to cafes, school cafeterias and manufacturing sites, food waste bins are in place, staff have been briefed, and many businesses are already doing the hard work of making these changes stick.

It’s been a necessary and practical step – but it’s also opened a door to something bigger. Now that the initial flurry has passed, it’s worth asking what opportunities this shift reveal not just for meeting requirements, but also for running better businesses.

Food waste has always been a part of working life – it just wasn’t always visible. Half-eaten lunches in the fridge. Leftover sandwiches from meetings. The odd forgotten fruit on a bowl. But now that this waste has to be collected separately, it’s a lot more noticeable, and this is turning out to be useful.

Because when you start seeing what’s being thrown away and on a regular basis, you can’t help but think if there’s too much food being ordered and how much is being wasted. For businesses, schools and hospitals now required to separate food waste, it matters to look beyond ticking the box.

It matters because it’s not just about cutting waste but it’s also about getting more value from the effort these businesses have already put in.

Once food waste is separated, it’s often taken to anaerobic digestion facilities, where it’s turned into renewable energy and natural fertiliser. This means less waste being sent to landfill, lower methane emissions and a tangible solution to the UK’s circular economy. In other words, you are helping turn a problem into a resource not just for your operations but for the wider system.

For your business, this can mean lower costs compared to general waste disposal. It also helps businesses to work towards their sustainability goals and social value commitments without the huge investments.

Looking at it practically, some businesses are starting to rethink ordering habits or streamlining food preparation. Others are using waste insights to open up internal conversations, adjust staff behaviours or spot early signs of inefficiency. For SUEZ recycling and recovery UK customers, the benefits aren’t just environmental – they’re also operational, financial and reputational.

The good news is you don’t need a full overhaul to get started. Often, it’s the small changes, including putting bins in the right places, making things clear for staff and encouraging shared responsibility that have the biggest effect.

This early phase of Simpler Recycling is crucial. Attention is still high and systems are still flexible. Businesses that act now – not just to comply, but to learn – are more likely to stay ahead of future reporting expectations, environmental scrutiny and shifting customer values.

So what’s in your food bin? More than waste, definitely. It’s insights and opportunities. Now’s the moment to turn that effort into something meaningful not only for your business but also for your employees, the community and the planet.

Want to explore better food waste management? We’re here to help. Contact our friendly team at 0800 083 0504.