Recycling and Sustainability
Our recycling and sustainability approach is built around practical action, measurable progress, and a cleaner future for the communities we serve. By making reuse, sorting, and recovery part of everyday operations, we help reduce the amount of material that ends up in landfill and support a more circular local economy. A key part of this commitment is a recycling percentage target of 95% for suitable collected materials, with continual improvement reviewed through waste audits and route data. This means we aim to divert as much recyclable content as possible through the correct local channels, while keeping contamination low and recovery rates high.
Across the areas we cover, different boroughs often use slightly different waste separation systems, so our recycling activity is designed to fit local expectations. In some places, dry mixed recycling is separated from food waste, while other boroughs ask residents and businesses to sort paper, glass, cans, and plastics into distinct streams. We support these local approaches by prioritising correct segregation at collection and by directing material to approved facilities where it can be processed efficiently. This borough-by-borough awareness helps improve recycling outcomes and reduces avoidable sorting issues downstream.
Small changes in how waste is separated can make a significant difference. That is why we focus on clear material handling, better load planning, and responsible disposal routes that favour recovery over disposal. 
From cardboard and metals to mixed plastics, green waste, and reusable household items, our recycling process is designed to keep valuable material in use for longer. We also encourage a shift toward reuse where possible, ensuring that items with life left in them are assessed for donation or refurbishment before any recycling route is considered.
One of the strongest parts of our sustainability work is our connection with local transfer stations. These facilities provide an important bridge between collection and final processing, allowing waste streams to be sorted, bulked, and sent onward with greater efficiency. By using reputable transfer stations close to the communities we serve, we reduce unnecessary miles, improve logistics, and help ensure that recyclable loads are handled in the most appropriate way. This localised model also supports better oversight of material quality and recovery performance.
Our sustainability plan is not only about recycling rates; it is also about the way we move and manage waste. 
We continue to expand the use of low-carbon vans within our fleet, helping to lower emissions from daily collections and service journeys. These vans are selected for their improved fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact, which makes a meaningful difference across frequent urban routes. In dense residential areas, where stop-start driving is common, lower-emission vehicles help us reduce carbon output while maintaining reliable service.
We also recognise the role of charity partnerships in extending the life of reusable goods. Items that are suitable for donation, such as furniture, bric-a-brac, books, and household equipment, may be directed to charitable organisations that can pass them on to people in need. This collaboration supports local communities, reduces waste, and turns discarded goods into resources with real value. In practical terms, it means fewer items are treated as waste and more are given a second purpose through reuse.
Our recycling and sustainability strategy includes careful attention to materials that commonly appear in borough waste streams. Food waste is separated where local systems allow, helping to support composting and anaerobic digestion pathways. Paper and cardboard are kept clean and dry to improve recyclability, while metals and rigid plastics are collected with a focus on minimising contamination. We also deal responsibly with items that require special handling, ensuring that batteries, electricals, and other sensitive materials are routed through approved recovery processes rather than mixed with general waste.
Beyond collection, we measure performance and look for ways to improve. We track diversion from landfill, fuel efficiency, and the quality of separated loads, using those insights to strengthen our recycling process over time. This data-led approach helps us maintain high standards and keep our recycling percentage target realistic yet ambitious. It also supports better collaboration with transfer stations, processors, and charitable partners, creating a joined-up system where every part of the chain contributes to sustainability outcomes.
We know that sustainability is most effective when it works with the realities of local life. 
In busy boroughs, residents and businesses may face limited storage space, differing collection calendars, and varying waste rules, so our service approach remains flexible and responsive. We adapt to local separation systems, local facilities, and local reuse opportunities, making sure waste is handled in a way that supports both compliance and environmental responsibility. This creates a better balance between convenience, efficiency, and environmental care.
As we move forward, our focus remains on practical improvements that make recycling simpler and sustainability stronger. That includes expanding low-carbon vans, strengthening charity partnerships, and continuing to route suitable materials through trusted local transfer stations. It also means keeping pace with borough-specific waste separation approaches, so that collections and sorting reflect the needs of each area. By combining operational efficiency with environmental responsibility, we aim to deliver a recycling and sustainability service that supports cleaner streets, lower emissions, and a more circular future.
