One of the most successful residential waste collection contracts in the UK has been extended until June 2026.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have expanded their agreement with the waste contractor, Biffa, for two more years.

Cllr Sue Cooper, South Oxfordshire District Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: "Our joint contract extension with Biffa is reassuring news.

"This partnership has been successful over the last 14 years – and I’m proud of the fact it has enabled us to be one of the top recycling areas in the country.

"We now have work ahead of us to create our new waste strategy – which will aim to further this good work and enable us to raise the bar on our goal to be a carbon neutral district."

A recent waste satisfaction survey has produced positive results, confirming high resident approval for household waste collections.

According to the survey, 82 per cent of respondents express approval or high approval for the service’s overall quality.

The councils' joint contract with Biffa has been in operation for 14 years in South Oxfordshire and 13 years in Vale of White Horse.

During this time, recycling rates have increased to 64 per cent in South Oxfordshire and 63 per cent in Vale.

These figures place both districts in the top five of the ranking of England's top ten recycling authorities - South Oxfordshire is ranked second and Vale of White Horse fourth.

Cllr Mark Coleman, Vale of White Horse cabinet member for environmental services and waste, added: "Our successful partnership with Biffa has enabled us to increase our recycling rates to an impressive 63 per cent, including garden waste and food waste.

"I’m pleased we are in a position to continue this partnership for the next two years, whilst we work on our wider waste strategy to take us up to 2035."

The councils have witnessed significant benefits, such as the food waste process producing biogas that powers up to 4,800 homes.

In addition, it provides nutrient-packed bio-fertiliser sold to local farmers, and over 20,000 tonnes of compost gathered and processed annually from residents' garden waste is spread on farmland by local farmers.

Francis Drew, Biffa’s senior business manager for South and Vale, said: "As the UK’s leader in sustainable waste management, this enduring partnership is a shining example of our work with local authorities and other organisations to drive positive change."

The contract extension decision was due to the delay in the central government’s clear outline of upcoming changes in the waste industry following the Environment Act 2021.

The added two years will provide the requisite time to devise a fresh waste strategy for the next ten years.