SUEZ recycling and recovery UK have been awarded an eight-year contract worth £18 million annually by Southend-on-Sea City Council to deliver recycling, waste, and street cleansing services.
SUEZ will assume responsibility for recycling and waste collections from Southend’s 85,000 households from April 2025.
As part of the contract, SUEZ will also manage two Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs), a transfer station, and the city’s street cleansing operations.
The contract will also include transitioning to a full-wheeled bin collection scheme with alternate weekly collections from October 2025.
SUEZ is also launching a new Resident App to allow resident to keep track of their collection schedule, which is compatible with Alexa and has a dedicated website.
The contract includes an annual commitment to decrease CO2 emissions by more than 4,000 tonnes, as part of Southend-on-Sea City Council’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030.
SUEZ said it will utilise the latest technology, such as a partially electric street cleansing fleet, and use recycled vegetable oil (HVO) for all plant machinery and route optimisation to lower vehicle mileage to cut emissions.
Commenting on the deal, John Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said: “We are thrilled that SUEZ has been given this opportunity to provide recycling, waste, and street cleansing services for Southend-on-Sea City Council from 2025.
“We look forward to embarking on this new partnership which will roll out new customer service benefits for residents, together with an ambitious strategy to help the Council realise its carbon neutral aspirations, increase recycling rates and deliver lasting benefits for the local community.”
We look forward to embarking on this new partnership which will roll out new customer service benefits for residents.
SUEZ said it will improve Southend’s two HWRCs to boost the city’s recycling rate by allowing people to recycle a wider range of items.
The waste management company also said the reuse shop at Stock Road will be revived and joined by a brand-new shop at Leigh Marshes – 100% of profits from both shops will go to a local charity partner.
Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Waste at Southend-on-Sea City Council, Councillor Lydia Hyde, commented: “The new scheme will start from October 2025, and there will be a transitional period to support residents ahead of collections changing.
“We recognise that the move to alternate weekly collections and the introduction of wheeled bins is a significant adjustment for residents.
“We want residents to understand the new scheme and how collections will work, and so we will be providing lots of information and engaging with residents throughout the transition period.
“In the meantime, reducing black bag waste and increasing recycling rates is vital, so please keep on recycling everything you can, including your food and garden waste and reducing black bag waste.”
