Evolving and expanding recycling services for a greener London Borough of Hounslow

Dan Smyth, Director of Recycle and Sustainability Services at Lampton Group, gives an overview of the work done in Hounslow to improve greener recycling.

Efficient recycling services have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by minimising the amount of waste sent to landfills or incinerators while extending the lifespan of existing materials. As the London Borough of Hounslow works towards its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, Lampton Services is providing vital support through the delivery of high-quality and cost-effective recycling and waste management services.

Part of Lampton Group, a council-owned business operating under the Local Authority Trading Company (LATCo) model, Lampton Services delivers an efficient, flexible service with an unparalleled understanding of the local area. Providing both a domestic and commercial waste management offering, our Recycle function aligns closely with Hounslow Council’s agenda and broader sustainability roadmap. Since launching in 2016, we have achieved a 6.1% increase in recycling rates, diverting over 145,000 tonnes of waste through our state-of-the-art Materials Handling Facility (MHF).

Overcoming barriers to Food Waste Capture

Food Waste Capture (FWC) poses one of the most significant challenges in recycling for local authorities and waste management services, both operationally and behaviourally. Representing a substantial portion of overall waste, the effective management of FWC is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, however, it has historically seen lower uptake when compared to other recycling streams. 

At Lampton Services, we identified communal properties as a key area where FWC had been largely ineffective due to being underserved by local authority recycling and waste management schemes. Barriers to communal FWC include concerns around pests, odour and hygiene. To tackle this, we launched an innovative weekly clean bin-swap for communal properties in 2022, addressing residents’ concerns with the reassurance of a cleaner, more hygienic process. This resulted in a drastic increase in FWC across the borough. 
By continuing to develop this initiative, we have provided 80% of Hounslow residents living in communal properties with access to food waste recycling, up from 30% in 2022. FWC has experienced a massive 80% uplift since the project launched, increasing from 25 tonnes per month in 2022 to 45 tonnes per month in 2024.

Diversifying our service

To effectively minimise waste, it’s important for recycling services to continue expanding and introducing new solutions which drive recycling rates up and carbon emissions down. Leveraging Hounslow Council’s partnership with Podback, we launched a new coffee pod recycling service last year. Available to all kerbside properties in Hounslow via weekly collection and to communal properties via a central drop-off point, the service has seen strong uptake, outpacing similar efforts in other London boroughs. 

As local authorities strive towards net zero goals, the need to look beyond domestic waste grows stronger. By launching our Commercial Recycling and Waste collection service in 2022, we are supporting Hounslow-based businesses in reducing the carbon impact of their waste and recycling, whilst delivering a commercial return to the business and the council. With over 1,000 tonnes of waste diverted through this service since launch, our Commercial Recycling offering has scaled rapidly and further emissions reductions have been achieved through the transition from diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in our collection truck, slashing its carbon output by 90%. 

Driving resilience 

The waste management landscape is evolving rapidly, with new regulations requiring businesses to segregate waste scheduled for April 2025, and similar legislation for domestic waste on the cards for 2026. These changes underscore the urgency for local authorities and recycling providers to adapt and innovate. As one of the only recycling teams in London to deliver a successful kerbside segregated waste collection, we are well-positioned to meet upcoming legislation head-on. Our segregated waste approach delivers significant benefits compared to commingled recycling, including producing higher-quality recycling materials by preventing contamination. These superior-quality materials are also higher value, generating additional revenue for the business and ultimately the council. 

As changes to the recycling industry continue to accelerate in response to net zero targets, local authorities and waste management providers will face both challenges and opportunities. At Lampton Services, our commitment to a greener, cleaner Hounslow goes beyond meeting recycling targets. Our focus is creating a resilient, innovative waste management service that caters to the specific needs of Hounslow’s residents and businesses, while keeping sustainability and, crucially, collaboration, at its core. 

Collaboration is a cornerstone of our success. By working closely with key stakeholders including the council and wider community, we are building strong partnerships that enhance service delivery and ensure alignment with local priorities. These working relationships are vital as we strive to deliver meaningful waste reduction, improve recycling quality and contribute to Hounslow’s net-zero aspiration.