Recycling and Sustainability: A Local Vision for Cleaner Streets and a Low-Carbon Future

Recycling and sustainability are central to our borough's environmental goals. This page outlines our practical plans for improving the local recycling rate, expanding reuse partnerships, and deploying low-emission collection vehicles. Our approach to waste recycling and resource recovery combines community collection, transfer infrastructure and collaboration with local organisations. We emphasise a balanced mix of kerbside services and neighbourhood recycling hubs so that everyone can take part. The plan uses a mix of behaviour change, investment in transfer stations and better logistics to convert more material into valuable resources and reduce landfill. Together, we can close the loop on everyday materials.

Our headline recycling percentage target is clear: to reach a 65% recycling rate by 2030, with an interim target of 55% by 2026. These recycling targets are supported by measurable milestones and routine reporting so progress is visible. The recycling programme focuses on increasing capture of food waste, paper and cardboard, mixed packaging, glass and garden waste. The borough's sustainable recycling strategy includes source separation trials, expanded tonnage reporting and incentives for businesses and flats to improve separation performance. We will measure progress against both weight diverted and carbon avoided to ensure our waste reduction contributes to climate goals.

Local transfer stations are a backbone of our logistics network. The borough operates two main transfer hubs — an East Transfer Station and a West Transfer Depot — plus satellite consolidation points where material is sorted, baled and routed to recycling partners. These facilities reduce vehicle miles by allowing small collection vehicles to tip locally and larger low-emission transfer trucks to move consolidated loads to processors. Key services at transfer stations include:

• Bulky material consolidation for reuse partners
• Temporary storage for separated food and garden waste
• Material sorting and baling prior to onward recycling

Partnerships with Charities and Reuse Organisations

We actively partner with charitable organisations to extend the life of household goods and divert reusable items from waste streams. Local furniture banks, clothing charities and electronic refurbishment groups collect items from kerbside bulky collections and transfer station drop-offs, giving items a second life and supporting community needs. Our reuse partnerships prioritise safe reuse: items are inspected, repaired where necessary and redistributed to families in need or sold to support local services. The reuse network also includes repair cafes and freecycle-style swaps that complement our formal recycling programme and reduce demand for new products.

Community Recycling Activity and Borough Waste Separation

The borough's approach to waste separation is pragmatic and neighbourhood-focused. Most homes have a kerbside dual-stream or tri-stream collection: separate containers for food waste (in caddies), mixed recyclable packaging and paper, and garden waste in seasonal brown bins. Communal blocks have dedicated glass banks and textile collection points. Source-separated food and garden waste is prioritised for composting and anerobic digestion, reducing methane emissions compared with landfill. We also run pilot projects for separated plastic streams in high-contamination areas to improve material quality and marketability.

To support reuse and recycling, we run targeted campaigns in multi-occupancy developments and high-footfall streets where contamination or non-participation is highest. Education is tailored by ward, recognising that dense urban neighbourhoods and suburban streets require different solutions. We partner with local schools and landlords to install labelled containers and provide regular collection calendars so everyone knows which materials go where. These practical steps feed directly into meeting our recycling rate objectives.

Low-Carbon Vans and Greener Collections

Our fleet strategy includes a phased replacement of diesel vehicles with low-carbon vans and trucks. We are rolling out electric light commercial vehicles for neighbourhood collections and last-mile transfer, and trialling hydrogen-assisted medium-duty vehicles for longer transfer routes. Route optimisation software is reducing mileage and time; in denser areas we supplement vans with cargo bikes and e-cargo solutions to lower emissions further. The investment in low-emission vehicles supports both air quality improvement and carbon reduction targets and demonstrates how modernising the fleet is integral to sustainable waste services.

How Residents Can Help and What Comes Next

Residents play a vital role in achieving our sustainable recycling ambitions. Simple actions — rinsing containers, using food caddies for organic waste, and placing materials in the correct stream — significantly improve recycling quality. Our action plan for the next five years includes strengthening reuse partnerships, upgrading transfer station infrastructure to accept more separated streams, expanding low-carbon vehicles, and piloting deposit and return schemes where feasible. We will publish annual progress reports on diversion rates and carbon savings while iterating services based on operational learning.

By combining a clear recycling percentage target, improved transfer infrastructure, strong charity partnerships and a modern low-carbon fleet, the borough aims to transform waste management into a resilient, circular service. Recycling and sustainability are not abstract goals — they are everyday actions, municipal investments and community partnerships working together to secure cleaner streets, lower emissions and a healthier environment for everyone.