Biffa waste contract for South Oxfordshire to cost £16m

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have awarded a new Waste Collection and Street Cleansing contract to Biffa Waste Services.

The new contract extends its 15-year success and starts next month (June). It could run for a maximum period of 16 years, costing almost £260m.

There is a minimum period of eight years and a break possible after four years to give maximum flexibility. 

While they will continue to focus on an all-in-one bin approach for recycling with the decision kept under review, they are also preparing for law changes with the national ‘Simpler Recycling’ scheme that comes into effect by March 2027, allowing residents to recycle soft plastics.

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Vale of White Horse District Council said this country-wide approach will reduce confusion.

It said: “With a single set of core materials collected kerbside, it will lead to clearer labelling for the public on packaging and greater volumes of the correct items being picked up and sorted for re-processing by the councils.”

But with no immediate changes, residents in Abingdon, Farringdon, Wantage, Dicot, Henley, Thame and Wallingford, can expect the same services until then.

Just short of half of Biffa’s fleet is either new and already in service or arriving as new vehicles within the next six months.

The remaining replacement process, pending councillor approvals, should be concluded by March 2028.