We are proud and honoured to announce that Veolia London has been shortlisted in multiple categories at the 2020 National Recycling Awards. Organised by Material Recycling World publication, these are the most prestigious awards in the recycling and resource management industry.
National Recycling Awards - Shortlisted Projects
Social Value Initiative: Road to Work
In partnership with Westminster City Council, Veolia designed and piloted the Road to Work scheme to provide a pathway to employment to vulnerable communities experiencing homelessness. The scheme combines specialist support services like counselling and advice, with flexible workplace arrangements. Since the introduction of the trial, Veolia's ongoing return to work programme has provided over 150 employment opportunities to homeless people, with 18 candidates currently in employment, including 13 in long-term employment.
Partnership Excellence (Public/Private Sector): Waste Matters
Commercial Waste Services (CWS), Westminster's waste and recycling collection service for businesses, is operated by Veolia on behalf of Westminster City Council. CWS launched Waste Matters in partnership with Heart of London Business Alliance - a Business Improvement District operating in the West End - with the aim to drastically improve the street scene in the target area. The successful pilot substantially decreased the number of bags presented outside of designated time bands, achieving a 69% decrease in the first trial (targeted in Piccadilly and St James) and a 45% decrease in the second trial (Leicester Square).
Partnership Excellence (Commercial): Central Hall Westminster
Over the course of two year, Commercial Waste Services worked with Central Hall Westminster to ensure that the venue gained sustainability credentials to match its ambitions to become one of the greenest event venues in central London. The project propelled Central Hall Westminster from a recycling rate of just 11% in 2017 to and average of 68% recycling rate in 2019 - a rise of 57%, with zero contamination of recycling. Between 2017 and 2019, the 57% increase in recycling saw Central Hall Westminster's carbon savings improve by 601%.
Partnership Excellence (Commercial): Wellington House
Commercial Waste Services (CWS), the waste partnership between Veolia and Westminster City Council, launched an ambitious waste consolidation project at Wellington House, to slash vehicle movements in the local area. Road vehicles are the main cause on London's air pollution, contributing to the early deaths of over 9,000 Londoners every year. The streamlining of the waste services for Wellington House prevented an estimated 2080 vehicle movement in the Strand per year, equating to a 66% annual reduction. This not only significantly reduced congestion, but the fewer emissions produced has positively impacted the local air quality. Wellington House recycling rate increased by 15% during this time and they have also managed to achieve a cost saving as part of this project.
Circular Economy Initiative: Reverse Vending Machine
Veolia partnered with LEON Restaurants and King's Cross Estate to introduce a reverse vending machine in King's Cross. The installation of this was backed by YouGov research, which showed 81% of people would go out their way to deposit a bottle or can. Any user who returned a bottle received a voucher worth 10% off the bill at the nearest LEON restaurant. The innovative circular economy pilot ran for six months - during that time over 1,100 bottles were returned using the scheme and 800 LEON discount vouchers were provided.
Small Campaign of the Year: The Giving Bear
Veolia partnered with New West End Company (NWEC) and Westminster City Council to launch The Giving Bear - a life-size light sculpture of a polar bear, made from 3,000 reused milk plastic bottles. Built from reused and reclaimed materials, the project promoted sustainable waste behaviour and charitable giving over the festive season. The installation was connected to tap point technology raising money for the Hidden Network, a campaign dedicated to ending rough sleeping in Westminster. The project raised £750, making the Bear the most popular tap-point installation across Westminster's Hidden Network campaign.
Team of the Year: Veolia Communications Team for South London Waste Partnership (SLWP)
The Veolia South London Waste Partnership (SLWP) Communications and Education Outreach team consists of Sheila Chauhan (Manager), Maria Kampioti (Team Leader) and three Officers - Craig Brice, Daniel Knight and Ellen Lands. The team successfully communicated the high profile service changes and helped increase the recycling rates from 37% in Sutton, 38% in Croydon, 38% in Merton and 48% in Kingston to near or above 50% across all boroughs. The work was complex and challenging, but the teams' personalities and strengths combined have created a strong team that helped them deliver successful communications in an extremely short period of time, and effectively engage with just under one million people to convince them to recycle more, waste less and lead a more sustainable life.
Rising Star: Sofia Knowles
Sofia joined Veolia as Communications Lead in April 2019, on the same start day of its new contract with Bromley Council. In five months time, a major service change would launch requiring a multi-channel campaign and bespoke information that would have to be correctly delivered to every household. Joining the business at 23 as a one woman team, Sofia has excelled. She developed a new brand for Bromley that has been applied across recycling and waste services in the borough and delivered the complex requirements of the service change smoothly and successfully. Sofia has received extensive praise from councillors and the client for the clarity, educational value and charm in the now well-recognised brand and associated communications.
