allmanhall is helping its education clients prepare for 2025’s new food waste legislation.
As well as an award-winning and trusted food procurement solution, allmanhall is renowned for its expert support, from nutrition and dietetics to operational consultancy.
Rachael Venditti, allmanhall’s Development Manager, outlines what catering teams in the Education sector need to do to comply with this legislation.
Known as the ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms, new food waste legislation is coming into effect in England from 31st March 2025. Its intention?
To streamline and simplify the recycling of waste, improving the existing recycling system. It applies to private businesses and public sector organisations in England (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already have their own legislation in place).
If you’re a school meals provider creating more than 5kg of food waste per week, you will be required to store food waste in separate bins and arrange for collection by licensed waste collectors. Biodegradable materials such as vegetable peelings, bones, eggshells, coffee grounds, and tea bags are to be included as food waste.
The result of non-compliance? Failure to comply could result in financial repercussions in the form of fixed penalty notices and there is also the risk of reputational damage owing to ethical considerations.
Now, if you’re producing less than 5kg of waste per week, you are exempt and micro businesses (less than 10 employees) will have until 31st March 2027 to comply to this new legislation, but there is encouragement to introduce good practices earlier than that 2027 deadline.
“A robust and compliant approach to waste reduction is not only soon to become a legislative requirement, but it makes huge sense with regards to efficient operations and the best use of your food and catering budget, too,” comments Rachael Venditti.
“If you can make sure every penny spent is being put to best use, you can further enhance the dining experience.”
As food procurement experts managing the efficacy and impact of the food supply chain, allmanhall sees this focus on waste at the end of the value chain as a welcome and positive move.
It seeks to address and reduce the circa 9.5 million tonnes of food that currently go to waste in the UK every year. But at the same time, the company fully recognises and appreciates the challenges it may create for a sector already under pressure.
