For many venues, December is peak season. With the festive rush in full swing, it can be hard to look any further ahead than the next day, let alone next year. As a result, forward planning often gets pushed to the bottom of to-do lists as venues focus on keeping their Christmas customers full of cheer. But as 2026 approaches, a little preparation can have a big impact, especially when it comes to waste and recycling.
As we head into the new year, recycling legislation is tightening, customer and employee expectations are rising, and the business case for effective waste management has never been stronger. So instead of adding "sort out recycling" to your already overwhelming to-do list, let’s look at what you can do to get ahead.
START THE YEAR WITH A WASTE WALK
Looking to cut your waste management costs and serve up a sustainability boost for your venue? A waste walk can help kickstart your journey to better recycling.
Put simply, a waste walk is exactly what it sounds like: a systematic tour of your venue to assess your current waste management set-up. What waste are you generating in each area? Do you have the right recycling bins in place? Are you seeing cross-contamination of waste?
This is an opportunity to focus on what’s working and what’s not, identifying any gaps in your systems and processes, as well as any opportunities for improvement. It takes the guesswork out of your waste management, helping you to make informed decisions that move the needle for your venue without breaking your budget.
Need help with your waste walk? Check out our dedicated guide to find out what you should be looking for and how to find the right solutions for your venue.
get ahead of changing legislation
In March, Simpler Recycling legislation was rolled out across England. Since then, businesses across all sectors have been required to introduce multi-stream recycling to ensure compliance. It’s just the beginning of a series of sweeping legislative changes that will impact the way that venues manage waste and recycling in the coming years.
We understand that legislation changes can feel overwhelming. Complying with complicated new rules and regulations can take a lot of time and money. But waiting to see what comes next isn't an option. Instead, venues need to get ahead of the curve by future-proofing waste management strategies today.
Want to know what’s changing and how it will impact your venue? Our guide to the future of recycling legislation breaks down what's coming and what it means for hospitality operations.
MAKE RECYCLING IMPOSSIBLE TO GET WRONG
Cross-contamination is the silent killer of any venue’s recycling programme. One greasy box in the cardboard stream, one bottle cap in the glass and suddenly your carefully separated waste ends up contaminated and can lead to increased costs from your waste management contractor.
In fast-paced environments like hospitality, clarity is everything. When staff are rushing through a busy service, they need to see at a glance what goes where with colour-coded bins and custom labelling so your venue can enjoy clear and consistent signage that’s on-brand.
Find out more about our customisable labelling solutions here.
DON'T WASTE DECEMBER
By planning these three steps now, you're not adding to your December stress. You're getting ahead so that you can deliver better compliance, lower costs, improved sustainability and a better waste management experience for the people using it during the busiest services.
So before the December rush consumes everything, take 15 minutes to map out when you'll tackle each of these actions. Your 2026 self will thank you.
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