Bristol firms are being urged to prepare for new rules on food waste as the government sets about increasing recycling levels.
Waste management company Grundon, which has a base in Bristol, says the new food waste guidelines, which are expected to be announced imminently, are part of a bigger strategy to overhaul waste and recycling legislation for all commercial and domestic waste. 
The aim is to simplify waste collection systems nationwide to increase the overall UK recycling rate to 65%.
Other initiatives being considered by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) include a deposit return scheme and new rules on recycling plastics.
However, Grundon believes the new food waste regulations will make the biggest difference to businesses.
Currently, commercial operations are not expected to separate food waste from general waste in the same way as Bristol residents have been doing for several years.
The new legislation will affect any organisation that has employees who generate at least 5kg of food waste a week. This will include used teabags, coffee grounds, stale biscuits, unwanted sandwiches, banana skins, orange peel etc. 
The hospitality sector – from pubs, clubs, cafés, restaurants and takeaways to hotels and conference venues – will be majorly impacted along with any other business or premises where food is manufactured, produced or provided.
But research for the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) found that most businesses produce 5kg of food waste a week.
The proposals are going through a second consultation with the finer details of the legislation expected to be announced this spring. It is likely the new rules will be introduced in 2023/24.
Grundon group development and innovation manager Owen George, pictured, said: “What we’re suggesting is that businesses start to think seriously now about the changes they need to make in order to become compliant before legislation forces them to do so.
“In many cases, food waste from businesses goes to landfill. However, the problem is that as food waste biodegrades, it releases harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane and that contributes to climate change.”
He said food waste was usually quite heavy, so if a business is disposing of unwanted food in its general waste bins, it is probably costing more than it should be paying anyway, and they may also incur heavy penalties in Landfill Tax charges.
“We’re advising companies to start making changes now,” he added.
“It does not necessarily mean higher costs – many of our customers see their general waste collection bills drop once they take food waste out.
“Business owners can often reduce the number of waste collections required taking them a step closer to zero waste to landfill and helping them meet their environmental targets.”
