The waste management experts described the contract as one of their ‘most successful residential waste collection contracts’. It has run for 14 years in South Oxfordshire and 13 years in Vale of White Horse.

South Oxfordshire recycles 64% of its waste while Vale of White Horse has a recycling rate of 63%. This puts both districts in England’s top five local authority recycling areas – with South Oxfordshire second and Vale of White Horse fourth.

The renewed contract will see Biffa collecting residential food waste and plastic, glass, cardboard, and cans for recycling.

Cllr Sue Cooper, South Oxfordshire District Council’s cabinet member for Environment, said: ‘Our joint contract extension with Biffa is reassuring news. This partnership has been successful over the last 14 years – and I’m proud of the fact it has enabled us to be one of the top recycling areas in the country. We now have work ahead of us to create our new waste strategy – which will aim to further this good work and enable us to raise the bar on our goal to be a carbon neutral district.’

Cllr Mark Coleman, Vale of White Horse cabinet member for Environmental Services and Waste, said: ‘Our successful partnership with Biffa has enabled us to increase our recycling rates to an impressive 63%, including garden waste and food waste. I’m pleased we are in a position to continue this partnership for the next two years, whilst we work on our wider waste strategy to take us up to 2035.’

Francis Drew, Biffa’s senior business manager for South and Vale, said: ‘As the UK’s leader in sustainable waste management, this enduring partnership is a shining example of our work with local authorities and other organisations to drive positive change, sharing our expertise so more people and businesses can participate in the circular economy.’

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