How the North East Recycling Forum is supporting regional businesses to reduce carbon emissions through effective waste management
Jo Holmes, Managing Director of Genee Consulting Ltd and Secretariat for the North East Recycling Forum (NERF), spoke to us about how new legislation on workplace recycling in England is helping businesses reduce carbon emissions, save money, and support the transition to net zero.
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Can you please introduce the North East Recycling Forum (NERF)
The North East Recycling Forum (NERF) is a network for the public, private and community sector to share best practice in waste, recycling and resources issues. NERF is supported by key actors from across the sector who prepare informative and valuable agendas for NERF quarterly meetings and the Annual Conference.
Genee Consulting Ltd act as the secretariat, event managing the quarterly meetings and coordinating the dissemination of information to NERF members.
Why is the work of the North East Recycling Forum (NERF) important for the region’s business community?
Our waste sector has made amazing progress in addressing the challenges of the climate crisis, halving the greenhouse gas emissions associated with its activities over the past thirty years by dramatically phasing out landfill and increasing recycling.
But as the climate emergency grows ever more pressing, managing the UK’s waste still accounts for eight per cent of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing the sector’s emissions further is an urgent issue if the UK is to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
We’ve been working with key partners Net Zero North East England to strengthen regional partnerships and emphasise the connection between resource management and climate action. Our Waste Aware North East campaign is a testament to the power of collaboration, making it easier for organisations to embrace sustainable practices and contribute to the region’s net zero ambitions.
Government has recently introduced new legislation as part of its Simpler Recycling initiative. What are the key takeaways for North East businesses?
Simpler Recycling is new mandatory government legislation that requires any organisation with over 10 full-time employees to separate recyclable materials from general waste. The new legislation came into force on Monday 31 March 2025.
The materials that now legally require separation and collection are:
Dry recycling
- Paper
- Card Plastic – including bottles, tubs, trays and food cartons
- Glass – including bottles and jars
- Metal – including cans, aerosols, foil, jars and tubes.
Food waste
- Food leftovers – including all food intended for human or pet consumption, and biodegradable material such as bones and teabags.
Black bin waste or residual waste
- Absorbent hygiene products – including nappies
- Highly contaminated materials – including food packaging that cannot be washed.
The official government guidance can be found on gov.uk
What are some of the current challenges businesses face in managing waste, recycling, and resource management?
Businesses face growing challenges in managing their waste, recycling and resource use due to increasing regulatory pressure and initial investment in disposal and recycling costs.
It can also be difficult to effectively engage staff and teams when it comes to waste management, and ensuring that a new waste management system is adhered to correctly. However, staff can quickly become accustomed to new processes, and the cost savings from increased resource efficiency soon benefit the bottom line.
How can effective waste management support businesses to reduce their carbon emissions and save money?
Being aware of the waste you produce as a business helps identify where you can start to make reductions. Many organisations are completely unaware of the volume they produce, and that can often be the stimulus to take action – particularly when it leads to cost savings.
Effective recycling is also a manageable starting point for businesses looking to reduce their carbon emissions and support the drive to net zero. Often, businesses think they have invest in major projects, like installing solar panels or switching to electric vehicles, to start their carbon reduction journey. Whilst they may be options in the future, effective waste management has a significant impact on carbon emissions and is a great place to begin. It’s also a good way to involve staff and ensure they feel part of the positive change across the business.
Any businesses starting out on their net zero journey will find a lot of useful downloads, guides, and other resources on the Net zero for businesses toolkit, which can be found on the North East Growth Hub.
What makes good waste management?
Conducting a waste audit and drafting a waste management plans is a very good place to start.
A waste audit helps businesses understand what waste they produce – including the composition (is it mainly card and paper, for example), and the quantity. By collecting and sorting waste, you’re able to measure each type and record the results month on month. This then feeds into the creation of a waste management plan, which details how waste is managed and separated, and how the business aims to drive reductions. We’ve found having a waste management plan in place encourages staff to be actively involved in recycling too.
It’s essential that items are such a food waste; paper and cardboard; and metals (cans, tins, foil), plastic (pots, tubs, trays), and glass (e.g., bottles, jars) are all separated for recycling. Even small amounts of food waste can create harmful greenhouse gases from landfill. Items like fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, bones, and leftovers should be recycled correctly too.
How can businesses make sure they’re complying with government’s Simpler Recycling initiative?
As part of our Waste Aware North East campaign, we’ve created a helpful checklist for businesses to support them in meeting the new Simpler Recycling regulations:
Identify your waste streams – know what materials you generate and need to recycle.
Set up an internal system – ensure there are designated bins and clear labelling for recyclable materials.
Contact a waste collection company – arrange for the correct waste collections to be in place.
Educate your staff and customers – make sure everyone understands the changes and how to recycle properly.
Monitor and adjust – review your waste management practices to remain fully compliant.
Where can businesses go for more help and advice on effective waste management and working towards net zero?
There are lots of free resources and guidance available on our Waste Aware North East website - www.nerf.org.uk/waste-aware-north-east - including downloadable toolkits and assets. We also have a pre-recorded webinar available that covers lots of the questions we received from businesses about the new legislation.
I’d also recommend visiting the Net zero for businesses toolkit on the North East Growth Hub as that too has lots of free resources, including details of business support programmes and finance and funding to support businesses in reducing their carbon emissions. There is also news and insights that demonstrate how other North East businesses are working towards net zero.
Finally, our partners Net Zero North East England - a collaboration between local government, business, education, the public sector, and civil society to drive a comprehensive regional approach to tackling the climate emergency – are using data, evidence and expert knowledge to create a greener, fairer and more sustainable region. As well as providing lots of information via its website, Net Zero North East England also host an annual summit, which brings together delegates from across the region to showcase the work happening here in the North East to deliver net zero. You can find more information at www.netzeronortheastengland.co.uk.
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