South Warwickshire food waste implementation

The solution 

Biffa was brought on board in November 2021 and worked closely with the two local authorities to introduce the new 123+ waste collection system, which features:

• Weekly food waste collections: Food waste is collected weekly in a dedicated caddy and sent to an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility, where it’s converted into biogas. 
• Fortnightly dry recycling & garden waste collections: Dry mixed recycling and compostable garden waste is collected fortnightly and sent to facilities for recycling and recovery. 
• Three-weekly residual waste collections: Residual waste that can’t be recycled is collected every three weeks and sent to Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities. 

With food waste accounting for almost a third of household waste (WRAP, 2023), separating it from garden and general waste helped reduce landfill use. Processing it into biogas improved household recycling rates and encouraged residents to recycle more effectively. 

Strategic planning 

From the early planning stages, Biffa worked closely with Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils to ensure a seamless transition to the new 123+ waste collection system and efficient operational rollout of the service, minimising disruptions, and supporting sustainability objectives

Implementation

During the implementation of the new 123+ waste collection system we supported Stratford-on- Avon and Warwick District Councils to ensure a timely rollout, despite challenges. 

At a time of national resource shortages, we leveraged our recruitment network to bring in 20 temporary workers, ensuring the service launched on time. By April 2023, all crews were staffed with 38 new permanent employees.

Following delays in vehicle deliveries caused by the war in Ukraine, we externally hired food waste trucks, leveraging suppliers’ relationships. We introduced dedicated vehicles across 16 rounds, ensuring consistent service from day one. 

To help residents prepare for the new service, we distributed 1,645 food waste caddies on behalf of the local authorities, ensuring the majority of households received their containers before the service launch. 

We successfully rerouted collection schedules for over 70,000 properties - 54% of the area – to meet higher demand than initially anticipated and to effectively introduce the new waste streams. By optimising routes and continuously monitoring operations, we improved service reliability and reduced missed collections by 75% in just two months. 

Biffa's proactive and flexible approach, combined with strategic resource management and a strong partnership with the local authorities, ensured that, despite challenges, the new 123+ waste collection system launched smoothly and on time.

Benefits and results

The new food waste collection service has transformed waste management in Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils. Food waste is now converted into biogas at Severn Trent Green Power's AD facility, generating electricity or being upgraded for us in the national gas grid. This process not only diverts waste from landfill and incineration but also promotes renewable energy generation.

The new 123+ waste collection system has proven highly effective in recycling food waste, enhancing overall recycling performance, and optimising operational efficiency.