From 31 March 2025, workplaces in England, including fashion and textile offices, studios, factories and other business premises, will be legally required to separate recycling and food waste from non-recyclable waste. This covers all businesses and non-domestic premises.

For fashion and textile businesses, this may involve:

• Reviewing and upgrading waste management systems to include separate bins for recyclables, food waste and general waste.
• Training staff on how to properly sort textile scraps, packaging materials and other industry-specific waste.
• Engaging suppliers and manufacturers to ensure waste separation happens across the supply chain.

Failure to comply with these regulations could result in fines or penalties. To support businesses in making the transition, DEFRA hosted a webinar on 29 January 2025, featuring experts from WRAP, the Environment Agency, and insights from the hospitality sector. A recording is available on YouTube.

UKFT encourages firms to plan and implement changes to ensure your workplace is ready for the new requirements.