Changes coming to Croydon bin collections in 2025

Veolia bin men in Hammersmith and Fulham
-Credit: (Image: Hammersmith and Fulham Council)


Changes are coming to Croydon's waste collection and street cleaning services as part of a new council contract starting next year.

The council has agreed a new eight-year deal with Veolia UK, set to begin in April 2025, and promises enhanced services for residents including improved collections for those living above shops and a new night-time cleaning operation in busy areas. The Executive Mayor or Croydon promised that the streets of Croydon will be tidier and residents will notice a better service as a result.

Under the new contract, households will keep their current alternate weekly waste and recycling collections - a system the council says residents wanted to maintain. However, a more tailored approach to street cleaning will be introduced, with extra attention given to areas that generate more waste..

For residents and late-night businesses, one notable change will be the introduction of overnight waste collection in busy areas, aimed at keeping streets clearer during daytime hours.

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The contract was awarded following what council officials describe as a "comprehensive procurement exercise" and will cover waste and recycling collections, vehicle maintenance, street cleaning and winter pavement maintenance across the borough.

Environmental considerations feature in the plans, with the council moving away from pesticides for weed control in favor of more eco-friendly methods. Veolia has also committed to reducing their carbon footprint and creating local job opportunities through apprenticeships.

The new service will introduce dedicated council officers to oversee specific local areas, working directly with communities to address their needs. This forms part of what the council describes as an enhanced contract management approach to ensure value for money.

Executive Mayor Jason Perry said: "This contract is a significant milestone in implementing my business plan and is a key priority in delivering a cleaner Croydon and restoring pride to our borough. Our streets will be tidier, and residents will notice a better service.

"More will be done to make sure that the contract will be monitored and if the service is not performing, the contractor will be held to account. I firmly believe that the 'look and feel' of the borough is vital to driving investment and restoring pride for those who live and work in Croydon.

"This new contract is about keeping what works and changing what doesn't. It offers value for money and an improved service for residents."

It comes as the council has launched a Croydon Council has launched the Cleaner Croydon campaign – working with residents, businesses and partners to help keep our streets clean and "restore pride".

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