NEW SEPARATION OF WASTE REGULATIONS 2025
Waste Segregation Regulation: What Scaffold Contractors Need to Know in 2025
In March 2025, new and updated waste segregation regulations came into effect across the UK and Ireland. This has had a major impact on how scaffolding contractors handle waste on-site and in their yards.
The Waste Segregation Regulatory Requirements
In England, the new Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025 came into force on 31 March 2025. These rules require all businesses to separate recyclable materials, such as paper and card, plastics, glass and metal from general waste. Food waste must also be collected separately (where produced in significant amounts), for example, in welfare units or canteens.
Wales introduced similar requirements under the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2024, and Scotland has had comparable rules since the introduction of the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, enforcing separate collection of recyclables and food waste.
In Ireland, the Waste Management (Collection Permit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 came into effect on 1 July 2023, introducing mandatory measures for commercial waste collection companies. Waste collectors must provide to all commercial customers a three-bin service: a residual waste bin, a mixed-dry recyclables bin, and a bio-waste (food/wet organics) bin.
In the Channel Islands, the regulatory frameworks are less uniformly national (each island has its own legislation).
For Guernsey, the Waste Control and Disposal (Specially Controlled Waste) Regulations 2010 still apply, and a “pay-as-you-throw” scheme (for general waste) has been introduced, to drive stronger segregation behaviour. Whilst in Jersey, commercial waste loads arriving at its main facility must meet strict segregation and contamination criteria, mixed loads risk being rejected or incurring higher charges.
Wherever you operate, the message is consistent. Separating waste correctly is no longer optional.
Why It Matters to Scaffold Contractors
The scaffolding sector produces a wide range of waste, from site-based waste, such as timber and tube offcuts, scrap materials, used sheeting and debris netting to office-based waste such as cardboard, paper and canteen waste. Simply throwing everything into one mixed waste skip will no longer meet regulatory requirements.
By introducing proper segregation:
You’ll stay compliant and avoid fines or enforcement.
You can reduce disposal costs by diverting recyclables from landfill.
You’ll boost environmental credentials, something increasingly valued in prequalification documents, tenders and framework contracts.
Who’s affected?
The rules apply to all non-domestic premises, including scaffolding yards, offices and construction sites. In England contractors with fewer than 10 full-time employees have until March 2027 to comply, however early adoption is encouraged.
What should scaffold contractors do?
Review your waste arrangements. Talk to your waste carrier to make sure your collections meet the new standards.
Add extra bins or skips. Provide separate containers for metal, timber, cardboard, plastics and residual waste.
Brief your teams. Include waste segregation in site inductions and toolbox talks.
Keep good records. Maintain waste-transfer notes and recycling data to demonstrate compliance.
The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025 are part of a UK and Ireland wide push towards a more circular, resource efficient economy. For scaffold contractors, this is an opportunity to review waste segregation practices, cut costs and strengthen sustainability credentials.
If you act now to segregate waste and stay compliant, you can show leadership in building a cleaner future.