Oxfordshire councils extend Biffa bin collection contracts

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils announced that their shared contract with Biffa has been extended beyond June 2026.

The Waste Collection and Street Cleaning contract with the company has run for 16 years in South Oxfordshire and 15 years in Vale of White Horse.

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The councils jointly said theirs is ‘one of the country’s most successful residential waste collections services’ and has kept the districts in the top 10 of the English recycling tables for more than a decade.

Biffa has been awarded the South and Vale bin collection contract again (Image: South and Vale District Councils)

No major changes are proposed to bin collections or waste services with the extension of the long-running contact.

Councillor Sue Cooper, South Oxfordshire District Council‘s cabinet member for environment, said: “Our waste partnership has been successful over the last 16 years – and I’m proud of the fact it has played a big role in setting us amongst the top recycling areas in the country, which is also thanks to the great effort made by our residents. 

“I’d like to congratulate Biffa for coming out of the robust procurement process as the preferred contractor. 

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“We clearly need to have an eye on the future reorganisation of councils when making contract decisions, but a contract of this magnitude couldn’t be delayed so it has a range of flexible options built into it, to reflect the potential future needs of a new council structure, whatever that may look like.”

Councillor Robert Clegg, cabinet member for environmental services and waste for Vale of White Horse Council, added: “With the new contract secured and our Waste Strategy in place, I look forward to us achieving even greater results with our focus on reusing items and avoiding waste. 

Biffa will continue collection bins in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse (Image: Newsquest)

“I’d also like to reassure residents they can look forward to the same great service going forward – we have no plans at present to make any major changes, other than to encourage more waste reduction and reuse.”

The council’s Waste Resources and Street Cleansing Strategy launched in 2024 and aims to build on ‘existing recycling success’ while encouraging and enabling people to reuse and repair items instead of throwing them away.

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Law changes with the government’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ scheme that will come into effect next year are also being prepared for, which will mean households can recycle soft plastics.

The main significant change with the introduction of the new Biffa contract will be a proposed move to a new council owned vehicle depot, alongside a new Dry Mixed Recycling transfer station contract.

Biffa’s new waste and street cleaning contract could run for a maximum period of 16 years, subject to further agreed extensions, with a minimum period of eight years and a break clause after four.