Recycling and Sustainability
Our recycling and sustainability approach is built around one clear aim: to keep valuable materials in use for as long as possible while reducing the carbon impact of every collection. Across our operations, we work toward a minimum recycling percentage target of 90%, helping ensure that waste is separated efficiently and directed into the right recovery streams. This means prioritising reuse, recycling, and responsible sorting before anything is sent for disposal. By focusing on better recycling outcomes, we support cleaner neighbourhoods and a lower environmental footprint.
In practice, sustainable waste handling starts with understanding the local area and the materials most commonly found there. Many boroughs now take a more structured approach to waste separation, with distinct streams for paper, cardboard, mixed dry recyclables, food waste, garden waste, and residual rubbish. We align our recycling service with these local expectations so that collections are simpler for residents and more effective for recycling facilities. That borough-level focus helps reduce contamination and improve the quality of recovered materials.
We also support the wider circular economy by making use of local transfer stations, where waste can be sorted, consolidated, and directed to specialist processors. These facilities are essential to a strong recycling collection system because they reduce unnecessary transport and allow materials to be handled closer to source. 
Using nearby transfer stations also improves operational efficiency, which in turn helps lower emissions and speeds up the journey from collection to recovery.
Our sustainability commitments go beyond sorting. We regularly assess the routes, loads, and vehicle types used in day-to-day operations to cut carbon where possible. A key part of this work is the introduction of low-carbon vans, including newer fuel-efficient and lower-emission vehicles designed to reduce air pollution and support cleaner urban travel. These vans are especially useful in dense boroughs where frequent stops, short journeys, and low-emission travel are all important for environmental performance.
Partnerships with charities also play an important role in our recycling and sustainability strategy. Reusable items that are still in good condition may be redirected to local charitable organisations, giving furniture, household goods, and other suitable items a second life. This helps reduce waste, supports community causes, and ensures that the environmental value of an item is not lost just because it is no longer needed by one household or business. Recycling and reuse work best together, and charity partnerships strengthen that connection.
For many areas, especially those with mixed housing and busy commercial streets, a successful recycling programme depends on clear separation at source. That is why we place emphasis on collecting recyclable streams in a way that reflects local borough systems, whether the focus is on paper and cardboard from offices, plastic and metal packaging from households, or segregated garden waste from communal properties. Better separation means less sorting later and a higher chance that collected items can be processed into new products.
Our recycling percentage target is not just a number; it is a practical measure of how seriously we take resource recovery. We monitor performance across collections and aim to improve results through smarter handling, reduced contamination, and better diversion of recyclable materials from landfill and incineration. Where possible, we also look for opportunities to reduce the volume of waste generated in the first place, because the most sustainable material is often the one that never becomes waste. 
This mindset supports both environmental responsibility and long-term efficiency.
Another important part of sustainability is transparency in how different waste streams are managed. Recyclable materials such as metals, paper, cardboard, and certain plastics may be separated at transfer stations or sent to specialist processors depending on their condition and local demand. Items that cannot be recycled are assessed for the most responsible onward route available. This careful handling helps us maintain consistent standards across the recycling services we provide, while also supporting the boroughs that are working hard to improve waste separation at community level.
Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in low-carbon vans, local partnerships, and improved recycling systems that support a more sustainable future. By combining borough-aware collection methods, local transfer station use, charity collaborations, and a strong recycling percentage target, we are helping create a cleaner and more resource-efficient service. Sustainability is not a single action but an ongoing commitment, and every correctly separated load, reused item, and lower-emission journey contributes to that goal.
