Salons, spas and beauty businesses in England must comply with the new Simpler Recycling reforms by March 31, 2025, or risk receiving compliance notices, fines or even prosecution.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has not yet confirmed the exact fines, but businesses failing to meet the new requirements will face enforcement action from the Environment Agency.
Who needs to comply?
The regulations apply to any business in England with 10 or more full-time employees, requiring them to separate waste into:
-
Food waste
-
Cardboard and paper (can be combined)
-
Dry recycling (plastic, metal, and glass – also combined)
These materials can no longer be disposed of with general waste. The rules apply even if employees are spread across multiple locations – for example, if a salon chain has two sites with five full-time employees at each, it must still comply.
Responsibility for compliance
Businesses must ensure waste is separated and collected correctly. Defra has confirmed that compliance notices will be issued to businesses not following the rules, and in some cases, landlords or facilities management companies could also be held accountable if they handle waste on behalf of salons or spas.
Mark Hall, waste management expert at businesswaste.co.uk, warns that many salons and beauty businesses remain unaware of the upcoming changes due to poor government communication.
“Many business owners are still in the dark about how the rules work and what penalties they might face. While these regulations have clear environmental benefits, many salons and spas are worried about the extra costs of compliance.”
Some beauty business owners have also expressed concerns about food waste disposal in salon environments. Hall adds, “Salons don’t produce as much food waste as hospitality businesses, so is a dedicated food waste collection necessary? Many business owners feel there is a lack of clear guidance on issues like this.”
How can salons and spas prepare?
To avoid potential fines, beauty businesses should:
-
Review waste management processes and set up the required recycling bins.
-
Confirm arrangements with waste collection providers to ensure compliance.
-
Train staff on correct waste separation procedures.
- Discuss responsibilities with landlords or property managers if they handle waste disposal.
Find out other ways to make your beauty business more sustainable here.
Read more about the Government's Simpler Recycling reforms here.
