FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has partnered with Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) in support of the newly established Change Network, aimed at facilitating the implementation of Simpler Recycling in England.
From 31 March 2026, new household collection requirements are coming into force meaning significant changes across local authorities, waste management companies, businesses, and the public.
In recognition of the challenge ahead, Defra has created the Change Network to bring together local authorities and the waste sector. This collaborative platform is designed for sharing endorsed guidance, practical insights from early adopters, and co-developing new resources and solutions to assist in the transition towards Simpler Recycling.
As part of this partnership, CIWM will host the Change Network session videos and supporting resources on its Circular Online platform. The content, agreed upon with the Change Network Strategic Board, aims to equip local authorities with vital information needed to plan and implement the necessary changes. Key topics already covered on Circular Online include procurement of vehicles and containers, rerouting, communal collections, adding missing dry materials to collections, and MRF contract renewal.
Additionally, CIWM will lead a highly relevant webinar at 10:00am on 3 February, addressing the critical need for training as part of this transition to ensure organisations are adequately resourced and have the skills needed to deliver on the objectives of Simpler Recycling.
Katie Cockburn Senior Director of Policy and Education at CIWM said: “At CIWM, we believe that collaboration is key to successful waste management transformation. Our partnership with Defra’s Change Network allows us to leverage our training and skills development expertise to play a pivotal role in helping all stakeholders adapt to the forthcoming changes.”
According to the 2026 UK Facilities Management Market Research Report by askporter, facilities management professionals want clear, verifiable evidence of work being delivered, with teams that can communicate progress in real time. This requires technology that is affordable, intuitive, and quick to adopt.
Yet the report found that:
Over three quarters of FM professionals (76 per cent) experience operational inefficiencies caused by siloed software which results in a lack of real-time visibility.
Communications challenges lead to maintenance issues, with 73 per cent of teams being forced into reactive problem-solving on a weekly basis.
A worrying level of compliance gaps, with 44 per cent of admitting that half or less of their compliance tasks are tracked and automated within their systems.
Closing this gap requires the establishment of transparent and consistent communications using affordable software that gives FM teams the ability to track, evidence and improve their services.
This webinar provides a valuable overview of the main findings of the report by askporter followed by a panel discussion by FM thought leaders on practical, strategic solutions that can help close this communications gap.
To register for the webinar taking place 29 January 2026 at 11:00am click here.
