SUEZ has been awarded a new contract by South Gloucestershire council worth over £120 million to help improve the area's recycling rates. 

The new contract will replace the council’s current 25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) which is soon to expire. South Gloucestershire has some of the highest recycling rates in England, currently sitting at 58.6%. However it is hoped that SUEZ will help improve value for money, as well as continue to improve recycling rates and reduce residents’ environmental impact.

While there will be no change to how residents sort their waste, there will be improvements to how the service is operated behind the scenes, including better live reporting, communication with the crews and monitoring of day-to-day operations. There are also plans to launch an app for residents which provides general waste and recycling information, including collection days, and the opportunity to report issues.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the council to drive up recycling rates and enhance collection services,” said Chief Executive Officer for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, John Scanlon. “With an added focus on social value in line with our triple bottom line approach, we will bring lasting benefits to local communities across South Gloucestershire over the eight-year life of the contract.”