Recycling and Sustainability
Our recycling and sustainability approach is built around practical action, local responsibility, and measurable progress. Every item that can be reused, repaired, or recycled helps reduce the amount of material sent to landfill and supports a cleaner environment for the community. We aim to reach a recycling percentage target of 90% across suitable collected materials, while continuing to improve sorting, recovery, and reuse wherever possible. This target reflects a commitment to better resource management, lower emissions, and a more circular local economy.
Across the boroughs, waste separation is becoming increasingly important, with many households and businesses asked to sort paper, plastics, metals, glass, and food waste more carefully. That borough-based approach to waste separation helps improve recycling quality and reduces contamination, making it easier for materials to be processed efficiently. Our sustainability work supports these local expectations by handling waste streams responsibly and ensuring recyclable items are directed into the correct recovery channels.
We also make use of local transfer stations as part of a responsible collection network. These facilities provide a practical link between pickup and onward processing, allowing loads to be consolidated, sorted, and sent to the appropriate specialist sites. By using local transfer stations, we help reduce unnecessary transport miles and keep the recycling and waste management process efficient. This local focus supports lower emissions while improving the reliability of the service.
Our recycling activity covers a wide range of everyday materials and bulky items. Items such as cardboard, mixed plastics, metals, wood, white goods, and green waste can often be separated for recovery, depending on condition and local processing rules. We place emphasis on careful segregation at source, because better sorting leads to better outcomes. In many boroughs, there is also a growing focus on food waste separation and dry mixed recycling, which helps increase the volume of material that can be processed into new products.
We work in partnership with charities to ensure that usable items are given a second life before they are recycled. Furniture, office equipment, household goods, and other reusable items may be redirected to charitable organisations where they can support community projects, resale schemes, or donation programmes. These charity partnerships are an important part of our sustainability strategy because they extend the lifespan of goods and reduce the demand for new raw materials. Reuse always comes before recycling when an item is still fit for purpose.
By supporting charitable reuse, we help reduce waste and create social value at the same time. This includes working with groups that can refurbish, redistribute, or repair items for families, individuals, and local causes. The result is a more sustainable system that benefits both the environment and the community. It also helps keep perfectly serviceable items out of the waste stream, which is a simple but effective way to improve overall recycling performance.
Transport is another major part of our sustainability plan, which is why we operate low-carbon vans as part of our collection fleet. These vehicles are chosen to help reduce tailpipe emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and support cleaner urban journeys. In busy boroughs where stop-start driving is common, using lower-emission vehicles can make a meaningful difference to air quality and carbon output. Where suitable, route planning is also used to minimise travel distance and avoid unnecessary return trips.
Low-carbon vans are especially useful for smaller collections, scheduled pickups, and repeat visits to locations that need efficient but flexible service. They support a modern waste and recycling operation that is better aligned with climate goals. As regulations and environmental expectations continue to evolve, investing in cleaner vehicles is one of the clearest ways to reduce the footprint of daily operations.
Our recycling and sustainability model also depends on continuous improvement. Material streams are reviewed to identify where more can be recovered, separated, or diverted from disposal. In boroughs with stricter waste separation systems, this can include improved sorting of dry recyclables, better handling of food waste, and more attention to contamination prevention. Small changes in how waste is presented and collected can significantly improve the final recycling rate.
We recognise that effective recycling is not only about collecting waste, but also about understanding what each area needs. Some boroughs place strong emphasis on separate collections for food, paper, and mixed containers, while others are expanding their recycling requirements for commercial premises and communal properties. By adapting to these local approaches, we can support compliance and help residents and businesses take part in better waste separation. This attention to local detail makes the system more efficient and easier to improve over time.
In addition to recycling, we promote a wider sustainability mindset that values repair, recovery, and responsible disposal. Items that cannot be reused are assessed for recycling opportunities wherever possible, and non-recyclable residual waste is handled in a compliant and environmentally aware way. This balanced approach means the recycling percentage target is pursued without compromising safety or service quality.
Looking ahead, our commitment remains focused on practical environmental results: higher recycling performance, stronger charity partnerships, smarter use of local transfer stations, and a cleaner fleet of low-carbon vans. Together, these measures support a modern recycling and sustainability programme that reflects the needs of local boroughs and the expectations of a greener future. By improving waste separation, extending reuse, and reducing emissions, we help create a more sustainable system for everyone.
