Waste Management in 2025: Key Trends and Predictions

Whether you're a business looking to enhance your recycling waste management strategy or a single person aiming to reduce your environmental footprint, in this guide, you can explore how waste management has changed in 2025 so far and how it will continue to evolve throughout the year. We'll delve into recent regulatory changes and technological advancements that are shaping the industry.

Key Regulation Changes

Since 2025 began, there have been some key regulatory changes that have changed the way businesses and individuals manage their waste. Each change is designed to promote better recycling and waste practices, helping to reduce the number of reusable and recyclable items that end up in landfills.

Landfill Tax Rising

As of 1st April 2025, Landfill Tax is increasing in cost in both England and Northern Ireland. The purpose of this is to make landfilling more expensive, prompting businesses to instead recycle their waste when possible. The new standard rate is £126.15 per tonne, compared to the previous standard rate of £103.70 per tonne. Similarly, the new lower rate is £4.05 per tonne, compared to the previous lower rate of £3.30 per tonne.

Simpler Recycling

A significant change to waste management for companies is the government’s approach to Simpler Recycling. As of 31st March 2025, businesses with more than 10 full-time employees will be required to separate and recycle the following:

●      Food waste

●      Metal

●      Paper and cardboard

●      Glass

●      Plastic

This is aimed at reducing confusion over what can and cannot be recycled, helping to reduce the number of recyclable materials that are being wasted unnecessarily.

Ban on Disposable Vapes

From 1st June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply disposable vapes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This ban is being enforced as single-use vapes are often discarded as litter or thrown into non-recyclable waste.

Vapes contain harmful substances, which can seep into the earth and cause harm to biodiversity if disposed of improperly. The increased focus on vape waste highlights the growing importance of proper disposal of electronic waste and the need for innovative solutions for recycling and managing these materials.

Technological Innovations in Waste Management

This year, technology is set to play a pivotal role in transforming the waste management industry. As environmental concerns continue to grow, the need for smarter, more efficient solutions has never been more pressing. Innovative technologies are not only streamlining waste collection and recycling processes but also reshaping how we manage waste at every stage of its lifecycle.

Robotics in Waste and Sorting

As an alternative to doing things by hand, robots are fantastic for effectively sorting and managing waste. Many can handle hazardous materials with greater precision, reducing human exposure to dangerous substances. This also helps alleviate the challenges posed by worker shortages in the waste management industry, making sure waste can still be managed effectively even if staff are not present.

Automation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can have a transformative impact on the ways we manage waste, helping to streamline processes and make recycling more efficient. Waste management machines that are powered by AI can identify and sort materials more effectively than humans can, reducing the chances of mistakes. Additionally, AI can continuously learn and adapt to new materials, improving its accuracy over time.

Waste-to-Energy Technologies

Another innovation that has been rising in popularity in recent years is Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies. These technologies use the treatment of waste collected from households and businesses to generate energy. It helps to reduce the volume of waste in landfills while converting waste into usable energy, which also reduces our reliance on fossil fuels.

Our Services at Cherry Hill Waste

As we move towards a more sustainable future, it can be beneficial to partner with a waste management provider that understands the importance of innovation and efficiency. At Cherry Hill Waste, we are committed to using eco-friendly solutions to help businesses and communities manage waste more effectively.

Skip Hires

Designed for residential and commercial needs alike, we offer a range of skip sizes to hire at Cherry Hill Waste. From 2-yard skips to roll-on, roll-off skips, we can easily provide you with a vessel able to hold your site waste. When you hire with us, you can rest assured that we will recycle as much waste as possible, preventing it from ending up in a landfill.

Grab and Tipper Hires

For commercial recycling and rubbish removals, grab and tipper hires can be incredibly helpful. Designed to take the hard work out of moving your waste from your site, our grab and tipper trucks feature large arms that can easily collect and lift waste and place it in the tipper bed.

Once collected, this waste can then be taken to our specialist site, where it will be carefully sorted and disposed of with the environment always in mind.

Contact Us

If you need waste management services in Newcastle, let our team at Cherry Hill Waste help. Visit our website to learn more about us or contact us directly to learn how our waste management services can help you ensure your waste is managed and disposed of properly.