Recycling and Sustainability
Our recycling and sustainability commitment is built around practical action, measurable improvement, and a cleaner future for the communities we serve. By focusing on smarter sorting, better reuse, and responsible disposal, we aim to make every collection part of a wider circular economy. A key ambition is to reach a 75% recycling percentage target, helping divert more material away from landfill and energy-intensive disposal routes. This approach supports households, businesses, and public spaces while encouraging a more resource-efficient way of managing waste.
At the heart of this work is the belief that sustainability should be simple, visible, and effective. We support mixed waste reduction by separating recyclable materials at source wherever possible, and by promoting improved sorting habits across different neighbourhoods. In many boroughs, this includes careful separation of paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, and glass, while also managing food waste and bulky items with extra care. These local differences matter, because borough-by-borough waste separation systems can influence what is collected, how it is processed, and how much can be recovered for reuse.
We also place strong emphasis on working with the right local infrastructure. Transfer stations play an important role in the recycling journey, acting as efficient hubs where waste streams can be consolidated, sorted, and sent to specialist facilities. Using local transfer stations helps reduce unnecessary transport miles, improve handling efficiency, and support a lower-carbon operation overall. For recycling services in dense urban areas, this localised model is especially valuable because it keeps collections moving quickly while still prioritising recovery over disposal.
Our sustainability strategy also depends on partnerships that extend the life of usable items. We work alongside charities and community organisations to divert clothing, furniture, household goods, and other reusable materials away from the waste stream. These partnerships help extend product lifecycles and provide support where it is needed most, while reducing the environmental impact of extracting and manufacturing new goods. In practice, this means that what one person no longer needs can often become a valuable resource for someone else.
Recycling is not only about collection; it is also about choosing the right vehicles and technologies. That is why we continue to invest in low-carbon vans for local operations. These vehicles help reduce emissions during collection rounds, particularly where frequent short-distance travel is unavoidable. By combining fuel-efficient routing with lower-emission vans, we can cut the environmental footprint of our services without compromising reliability. This is a practical step toward more sustainable waste and recycling services across busy urban areas.
To make progress across different boroughs, we support recycling systems that reflect local needs while still aiming for consistent high standards. Some areas prioritise separate food waste streams, others focus heavily on dry mixed recycling, and many boroughs use a combination of both. We adapt to these patterns by encouraging clear segregation and by ensuring that recovered materials are directed to the most suitable processing routes. This borough-sensitive approach helps improve recycling quality and supports higher recovery rates from the materials collected.
Another important part of our environmental responsibility is reducing contamination in recycling loads. When non-recyclable items are mixed in, valuable material can be downgraded or rejected, which reduces the effectiveness of the entire recycling process. By encouraging better separation and clear sorting, we help ensure that paper remains clean, plastics are correctly grouped, and metals can be processed efficiently. These simple improvements can make a significant difference to overall recycling performance and to the success of local sustainability goals.
We also look at the full journey of each item, from collection through to recovery. The aim is not simply to move waste from one place to another, but to create a system where reusable and recyclable materials are handled with care and intention. This includes prioritising reuse where possible, then recycling, and only using disposal as a last resort. Such a hierarchy supports a more circular model and encourages everyone involved to think differently about what waste really is.
Looking ahead, our recycling and sustainability work will continue to focus on measurable improvement, local collaboration, and responsible resource use. From borough-level waste separation to partnerships with charities, from local transfer stations to low-carbon vans, every part of the process is designed to reduce environmental impact and increase recovery. By combining these practical actions with a strong recycling percentage target, we are building a service that supports cleaner communities and a more sustainable future.
