Plastic recycling rules are changing in 2026, here’s how it will affect you
Rules around it plastic recycling A significant change is being made to the way household waste is collected in England from April 2026.
The good news is that more plastic will be recycled from kerbside collections. government’s Simpler Recycling scheme.
For households, this will mean a change in what can and cannot be put in the bin, as well as a potential increase in the number of bins outside your home.
Read more: Litter collection rules change for everyone in 2026, here’s what you need to know
Official figures show recycling rates have ‘steadied’ since 2015, remaining around 44-45%. The government hopes a series of initiatives will increase this figure to 65% of municipal waste by 2035.
Claire Shrewsbury, director of insight and innovation plastic recycling Campaign organization WRAP said: “Simpler Recycling will do exactly what it promises – it will make recycling easier. It will eliminate the postcode lottery of what can and cannot be recycled, with all local authorities recycling the same basic materials.”
“It will help people form new habits around recycling because these will now also be reflected in our recycling workplaces.”
What are the current rules?
Currently the rules vary from council to council and can be quite confusing.
Products that are often, but not always, accepted for recycling include plastic containers such as beverage bottles, milk jugs and margarine. However, items such as plastic food trays at the supermarket may be rejected if they still have non-recyclable plastic film on them.
It’s clear that many households are confused: less than two-thirds (58%) of British households are confident they’re recycling the right things, while just 9% of us are very confident. Recycling Tracking Research by plastics charity WRAP.
More than four in five people (82%) put the wrong items in the recycling bin, potentially contaminating their recycling.
Recyclable materials in material recovery facility. (Alamy)
What changes are happening in plastic recycling in 2026?
Simpler Recycling is an ongoing UK government initiative that aims to simplify waste collection for homes and businesses.
From 31 March, all households will have four containers for residual (non-recyclable) waste; food waste (mixed with garden waste where appropriate); paper and card; and all other dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal and glass).
Read more: A staggering amount of plastic is thrown away in every household every year
Additionally, food waste will be collected weekly in each municipality area.
The key change is that everything is standardized in every council area and almost all bottles, pots, tubs and trays are recycled, no matter what plastic they are made of.
This was not the case before; Some council areas and recyclers were refusing to accept pots, tubs and trays made from various materials.
Food and drink cartons will also now be recycled everywhere (they are not currently recycled in many council areas).
However, plastics labeled as ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’ will still not be recycled in kerbside plastic collections and will not be thrown out with food waste, which will also be composted.
This includes popular items like coffee pods; these pose a problem for recyclers because they contain more than one ‘composite’ material and are small and difficult to recycle.
Specialist recycling has emerged to deal with coffee pods such as Podback; You can find out how to recycle in your area on their website. website.
Another important (and common) plastic that cannot be recycled is polystyrene, the white ‘foam’ often used in packaging.
What changes will happen in March 2027?
From March 2027, the rules will change again to allow councils to collect flexible plastic, which normally refers to packaging that stretches easily and can be made from both single and multi-layer materials. Examples of this include plastic bags, wrapping paper and other things that are ‘squashed’.
Because paper is recycled separately, recyclers will be able to handle it. flexible plastics alone, this avoids problems at recycling facilities.
WRAP says flexible plastics make up almost a quarter of household plastic packaging, but they have previously been difficult to recycle in kerbside collections, meaning only 7% is recycled.
What else is being done to reduce plastic pollution in Britain?
government’s upcoming Deposit Refund Program for beverage packaging It will come into force from 1 October 2027 and will see collection points for glass and plastic bottles and metal cans in major supermarkets.
Consumers will pay a deposit on their beverage bottles, which will be refunded when the bottles are sent for recycling.
The government is also consulting on further bans on single-use plastics, including plates, cutlery and polystyrene cups.
Read more: A staggering amount of plastic is thrown away in every household every year
Another measure that the government has already implemented is the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme, which comes into force in October 2025. This new tax requires companies to report comprehensive information about the composition and quantity of packaging they place on the market.
The tax applies to all companies that produce packaging that is purchased and disposed of by households, including retailers and brands.
This essentially means that councils will be paid by plastic companies to collect plastic which is then purchased by recyclers.
Businesses have warned that 80% of the cost of the new packaging tax is likely to be passed on to consumers.
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