Countdown to 2026: Simpler Recycling for Flats Explained

What is Simpler Recycling?

Simpler Recycling is the UK government’s initiative to standardise which household waste streams should be collected, make recycling easier for residents and improve recycling rates nationally.

Key points:

Local authorities must, by 31^st March 2026, provide weekly food waste collections to all households (unless a transitional arrangement applies).
Every household must receive a collection service for the “core” recyclable streams: glass, metal, plastic, paper and card.
From 2027, plastic films (bags, wrappings, etc.) will also be brought into kerbside collections.
Authorities have some flexibility. For example, food and garden waste may be co-collected if certain conditions are met.
Some local authorities have transitional arrangements allowing extra time if they are bound by long-term residual waste disposal contracts.

In short, the landscape of waste collection is being overhauled and all housing providers, especially those with flats, will be pulled into this change.

What does this mean for flats and communal housing?

Flats and communal housing make up around 25% of all dwellings in the UK, rising to as much as 80% in some council areas. Research from ReLondon shows that around two thirds of a typical rubbish bin in flats is recyclable, with food waste making up nearly one third of the total. Yet capture rates remain stubbornly low, with 94% of food waste from flats still going into general waste. This underlines why flats and communal housing are central to the success of Simpler Recycling and why targeted action is needed.

Key challenges for flats include:

High food waste in residual bins

In many flats, residents currently put food waste into residual (general) bins, either because separate food waste services do not currently exist or or because they are not sufficiently accessible or user-friendly.

Space constraints & configuration

Many existing bin stores or waste areas in blocks of flats were not designed for multiple segregated waste streams. Adjusting for food caddies, extra containers, signage and safe access is not always straightforward. Retro-fitting outdated infrastructure can be complicated and costly.

Access, fire safety and transport logistics

Bin stores are often tucked away, located in out-of-sight positions or poorly kept. Recycling containers must comply with design, access and fire guidance (for example, maintaining safe distances from buildings), especially when containers are stored externally.

Resident behaviour, motivation & knowledge

The ReLondon experts shared the three pillars of success; ease, knowledge and motivation. Even with the correct infrastructure in place, additional measures are required to encourage proper use, including clear signage, clean and inviting bin rooms and in-home caddies for residents.

Shared responsibility

Unlike single houses, in flats there is often a split in responsibility between landlords, managing agents, local authority services and residents. This means that coordination is essential. Housing providers and councils must work in partnership, to create infrastructure, communication and logistics that function in the real world of flats and communal properties.

What does the law mean for landlords, housing managers and estate teams?

As Simpler Recycling becomes law, the roles and responsibilities of housing providers will change in practice.

Teams will be required to:

Ensure adequate infrastructure

Housing providers should assess whether bin rooms or waste enclosures can support separate food waste, dry recycling, residual waste and possibly co-collection of garden waste.

Support access & logistics

Container access, safe collection points and pathways for waste vehicles must be considered. Housing teams may need to reconfigure bin store layouts, widen routes, or relocate containers.

Signage and resident engagement

Clear wayfinding, consistent branding (e.g. WRAP’s Recycle Now icons) and regular communication are critical. WRAP has published a Household Food Waste Collections Communications Guidance with templates specifically for flats and communal properties.

Coordinate with local authorities

Housing teams should engage early with their council or waste collection authority to align on container types, colocation, collection schedules, agreements and operational constraints.

Plan for contamination & auditing

Monitor contamination rates, audit use and iteratively adjust signage or layout.

Futureproofing

Prepare for inclusion of plastic film streams in 2027 and further shifts under the wider Resources & Waste strategy (e.g. Extended Producer Responsibility).

Flats often lag in recycling performance and so landlords who act early and intelligently may find they save on operational waste costs and improve resident satisfaction.

Conclusion

By April 2026, weekly food waste collection will be the law for all households, including flats, under the Simpler Recycling regime.

The metroSTOR webinar made clear that councils cannot deliver this change alone. Housing providers must step up, working closely with local authorities and drawing on resources such as ReLondon’s Flats Recycling Package to ensure that services succeed.

As it stands, the responsibility for infrastructure upgrades lies with landlords. While this may appear an additional burden, in practice it offers an opportunity to reduce long-term costs. Better recycling provision can lower waste disposal charges and, when measured across the whole lifecycle, reduce carbon impacts including Scope 3 emissions.

If adequate provision is not made, landlords may face enforcement action, and missed opportunities to engage residents positively around recycling. The most robust, efficient and resident-friendly solutions will come from collaboration and operational readiness. Starting now allows for adjustments to be made, risks reduced and a smoother transition to Simpler Recycling.