Veolia, the UK’s leading resource management company, has been awarded a new waste and recycling collection and street cleansing contract by Joint Waste Solutions (JWS), the shared client team that acts on behalf of Elmbridge Borough Council, Mole Valley District Council, Surrey Heath Borough Council and Woking Borough Council. The contract, valued at up to £25m annually, will commence on 6 June 2027 and run for an initial seven years, with multiple extension options up to 21 years.
As part of the mobilisation of the contract, Veolia will introduce new round structures across all authority areas, starting from September 2027, delivering improved efficiency for the local authorities and residents. Services provided will mirror current arrangements which include:
● Fortnightly household residual waste and dry recycling collections
● Weekly food waste collections
● Fortnightly chargeable garden waste collections
● Bulky waste and clinical waste collections
● Street cleansing across Elmbridge, Mole Valley and Surrey Heath
Street cleansing services will be delivered utilising Veolia’s extensive expertise and integrated cleansing methodology. This combines the high uniform standards of mechanical cleansing, using a range of sweepers including electric powered ones, with the precision of targeted manual litter removal, delivered by mobile and location-based teams.
To support an increase in recycling rates, Veolia will also introduce a bookable small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), batteries and textile collections service, drawing on Veolia’s expertise in delivering this service in other local authority areas. Residents will be able to access this service through an online booking system. The contract will also include Mobile Community Household Waste Recycling Centres delivered in each local authority area to provide additional recycling avenues for residents.
Innovation will also play a significant role in delivering industry-leading comprehensive waste management and environmental services across the four authority areas. Veolia will deliver trials of AI-enabled systems on vehicles to identify possible contamination in recycling and advanced bin sensors to inform dynamic collection schedules to prevent on-street litter bins from overflowing. Bin weighing technology will also help inform targeted improvement plans to raise recycling participation.
Veolia is also committed to ensuring local services are delivered by and for local people. To support the social, environmental and economic wellbeing of the communities in Surrey, the company has committed to significant local employment as well as supporting apprenticeships, opportunities for long-term unemployed, NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and work experience placements. Communities will also be able to benefit from Veolia’s Sustainability Fund and schools Orchard programme. For the initial seven year term, the company has pledged almost £5m in social value delivery.
Richard Kirkman, Chief Executive Officer for Veolia UK said: “We are incredibly proud to be working alongside Joint Waste Solutions to deliver community-led, innovative recycling and waste services and street cleansing to the residents of Surrey.
“Our operations are tailored to reflect the needs and requirements of residents, not just for the next seven years, but also for the future to provide environmental security. Our AI approach, which is central to Veolia’s GreenUp strategy, will unlock data for the local authorities to help increase recycling rates and keep Surrey’s public services at the forefront of innovation.
“The environmental, economic and social wellbeing of the communities we serve is paramount and we look forward to working with Joint Waste Solutions, local residents and groups to make their areas cleaner, safer and more circular.”
Councillor Ashley Tilling, Chair of the Joint Waste Collection Services Committee, says: “I would like to thank JWS and the four district and borough councils for their efforts in procuring and appointing Veolia as the new waste contractor for residents in Elmbridge, Mole Valley, Surrey Heath and Woking. Work now begins on mobilising the new contract for the unitary authorities to ensure a seamless transition next summer.”
Veolia was identified as the Preferred Bidder as a result of a complex and robust procurement process that was formally ratified by the four councils and the East and West Surrey Shadow Authorities in July.
JWS will work closely with Veolia to set up the new contract on behalf of each authority. Together, they will implement a mobilisation plan to ensure that waste collections and street cleaning run continuously from the point of handover, next June. Alongside this, JWS will continue to oversee Amey’s day-to-day running of the waste contract over the next 10 months, as well as administering their exit plan.
