Recycling and Sustainability

Our commitment to sustainable recycling is central to local policy and daily practice. We describe here the strategy, the targets and the community-level actions that shape our recycling and sustainability work across the borough. Recycling and sustainability are not just phrases: they inform routing, education and the investment we make in infrastructure. We aim to lead by example by aligning household collections, transfer station logistics and partnerships with reuse organisations to reduce landfill and cut carbon.

Ambitious recycling percentage target: we have set a clear, measurable goal to increase our overall recycling rate to 70% by 2030, with an interim milestone of 60% by the end of 2026. This target applies to all municipal waste streams (kerbside collections, bulky waste and community drop-off points). To meet that objective we are scaling up food waste capture, improving source separation for glass, paper and card, and expanding textile and small electrical recycling programs. Tracking and transparent reporting keep progress visible and accountable.

Local transfer stations and household recycling facilities are the logistical backbone of our waste recycling network. Strategically located transfer stations reduce journey times for collection vehicles and lower emissions by consolidating loads before onward transport. These facilities are linked to our network of community recycling points and household waste recycling centres where residents can drop off segregated materials — glass, mixed packaging, garden waste and bulky items — for onward processing and reuse. Borough-level guidance encourages clear separation at the kerb: dry recycling, food caddies, garden waste and residual collections to maximize capture rates.

Kerbside collections, community hubs and partnerships

Our kerbside recycling services are designed to be practical and inclusive. Weekly collections for food and garden waste, alternating or weekly dry recycling depending on street type, and scheduled bulky waste pickups form the core offer. We support behavioural change by making separation intuitive: clear labeling on bins, seasonal communications and targeted outreach for high-contamination streets. In addition to municipal routes, community hubs play a vital role in collection and redistribution of reusable goods.

Partnerships with charities are a strategic priority. We work closely with local and national charitable organisations for the reuse and redistribution of household furniture, clothing and surplus food. These collaborations ensure that perfectly usable items are diverted from waste streams and given new life through social enterprises and charity shops. Food redistribution networks connect supermarkets, community kitchens and food banks to get surplus edible food to people who need it, reducing food waste and supporting local communities.

To expand circular economy activity we also partner with repair cafés, volunteer-run swap shops and small reuse enterprises. Key recycling initiatives include:

• Expanded textile collections for reuse and remanufacture
• Dedicated small electrical and battery drop-off points at community hubs
• Furniture reuse schemes through charity partners and social enterprises
• Education programmes in schools focused on waste separation and sustainable consumption

Low-carbon vans and fleet decarbonisation

The transition to a low-emission fleet is critical to our sustainability work. We are rolling out low-carbon vans — including electric and hybrid collection vehicles — to serve residential streets and run transfer station shuttles. Route optimisation software, combined with smaller, quieter electric vans for narrow streets, reduces mileage and emissions while improving service reliability. Lowering transport emissions is a direct way to make waste handling greener without compromising operational efficiency.

Monitoring, reporting and continuous improvement keep the strategy accountable. We publish annual waste and recycling reports that show progress against the recycling percentage target and provide data on contamination rates, reuse volumes and carbon savings from fleet improvements. Performance metrics inform investment decisions — for example, where to add a new transfer station, which neighbourhoods need extra recycling support, and how to scale charity partnerships for reuse.

How residents and businesses can support the recycling programme: be consistent with source separation, use food caddies for organics, rinse recyclable containers to reduce contamination, and route usable goods to charity partners. By working together — residential collections, local transfer stations, charity partnerships and a growing fleet of low-carbon vans — we can achieve a resilient, equitable and sustainable recycling system. The focus is on practical action: clearer separation at source, convenient drop-off points, and systems-level investments that reduce waste, increase materials recovery and cut greenhouse gas emissions.