Covering 290,000 households, the project was one of the most extensive of its kind, leading to increased recycling rates - while ensuring that Cornwall become compliant with the new Simpler Recycling legislation ahead of implementation in March 2026.

The Challenge

By transforming its household waste and recycling services, Cornwall Council aimed to: 

  • Increase recycling rates across the region, moving to a top quartile performer. 
  • Reduce residual waste and litter. 
  • Comply with the new Simpler Recycling legislation. 
  • Drive behavioural change and improve service performance. 

Cornwall previously provided unlimited weekly residual waste sack collections and fortnightly recycling. Changing the county’s waste management system at this scale required careful planning, operational changes, and community engagement to ensure a smooth transition. 

The Solution

To support Cornwall Council's goals, Biffa helped the council implement a new, efficient, and cost-effective collection system.

The fortnightly recycling collections remained the same with separated paper, card, plastic containers, metal, and glass being collected every two weeks. 

Service Implementation 

Biffa worked in partnership with the Council to redesign and implement Cornwall’s new waste collection system, covering over 290,000 households. The close collaboration with Cornwall Council and Suez – which provides the treatment and processing facilities - ensured a seamless integration of the new service and compliance with Simpler Recycling legislation. 

The new service rollout included:

Route design and scheduling
Biffa redesigned collection rounds using Routeware modelling tools and input from depot teams. This approach incorporated local knowledge of the area, ensuring routes efficiently served Cornwall's diverse geography, from dense urban areas to remote rural and coastal communities.
Container distribution
Over 850,000 containers were distributed to households, tailored to suit individual property types, space limits, and access requirements.
Fleet upgrades
A new fleet of dedicated food waste vehicles was procured to support the updated collection model.
Staff recruitment and mobilisation
More than 80 new staff members were recruited and trained to support the expanded service. To ensure consistent performance from day one, experienced Biffa drivers were redeployed to more complex rounds.
Resident engagement
Cornwall Council led a comprehensive engagement programme, supported by Biffa and Suez. Together, they delivered over 500 community engagement events, including roadshows, school talks, and site tours.

The rollout was phased across the five depots between January 2024 and March 2025. Each phase lasted 11 to 14 weeks, enabling real-time adjustments throughout the new service implementation and effective management of residents’ demand. 

Four waste transfer stations and materials recycling facilities (MRFs) were modernised by the Council and Suez to accommodate food waste and increased recycling. Additionally, a new integrated transfer station and MRF is being built to prepare Cornwall's waste infrastructure for future growth in recycling and food waste. 

As the delivery points were also being upgraded and expanded, these changes were addressed through flexible planning and teamwork, with temporary routes and delivery points set up to manage this together. 

Results

The new waste management system has already delivered significant environmental and operational benefits.

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44.3%
recycling rate achieved to date, up from 35%, with a projected 52% once fully finalised.
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36%
reduction in kerbside residual waste, helping to cut litter and improve local environments.
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14,000 tonnes
of food waste recycled since January 2024.
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New facilities
3 waste transfer stations and 1 MRF modernised, with 1 new integrated facility under construction.
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290,000
households now served under the new collection system.
Through our partnership with Biffa, our introduction of food waste collections and fortnightly rubbish collection to homes in Cornwall has been a resounding success. Biffa's operational expertise was instrumental in delivering these service changes to our 290,000 households. These changes have already led to an increase in recycling from 35% to 44%, representing a significant shift in behaviour. These outcomes not only support compliance with the Simpler Recycling legislation but also contribute to providing a thriving and sustainable Cornwall for generations to come.
Jackie Ward
Head of Waste and Community Protection, Cornwall Council

Conclusion

Biffa's successful delivery of the new waste collection system in Cornwall demonstrates its ability to manage large-scale, complex end-to-end service transformations that provide environmental and operational benefits. Through a phased collaborative rollout, Biffa helped Cornwall Council in introducing weekly food waste collections and implementing a more efficient and cost-effective service that complies with upcoming Simpler Recycling legislation and improves recycling performance. Community involvement was central to the project's success. Biffa and Cornwall Council engaged with residents to make sure they felt confident and informed about the new system, resulting in a smoother transition and a more sustainable way of managing waste across the region. As a trusted partner to local authorities, Biffa continues to support clients in meeting regulatory targets, reducing environmental impact, and building future-proof and cost-effective waste management systems.