Veolia has secured an eight-year extension to its recycling and waste contract with Camden Council starting from April 2025. In the first month of the extended contract, ten new electric vehicles have already taken to the streets of the borough. Last week, these vehicles were displayed for residents at the Chalton Street Sustainable Market event.
Veolia will build upon eight years of successful operations in Camden, having agreed to an eight-year contract extension to deliver recycling and waste collections for both households and commercial businesses as well as street cleansing operations across the borough, including in iconic locations such as Bloomsbury, Camden Town, King’s Cross and Hampstead.
As a part of the contract extension, Camden Council, in partnership with Veolia, will be introducing an electric fleet including 14 new electric collection vehicles, with the first of these displayed at the Chalton Street Sustainable Market event last week, with Cllr Richard Olszewski, Leader of Camden Council and Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy in attendance.
Infrastructure will be developed at Veolia’s Alperton depot, where the vehicles are housed, to facilitate an expansion of the electric fleet in the future. The cleaner and quieter collection services will improve air quality, reducing nitrogen oxide (NOX) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions across the borough.
Recycling and waste collection routes have been updated to maximise the efficiency of the service and further reduce emissions. It includes garden waste rounds, with collection routes altered to cover one geographical zone each day, limiting the distance travelled and reducing fuel consumption.
Street cleansing services have also seen increased investment from Camden Council, with three Electric Assisted Vehicle bikes introduced to deliver more efficient operations in narrow urban streets and pedestrianised areas of the borough. Additional street cleansing teams and new pavement scrubbers add to these improvements, alongside a new night service in the busier parts of the borough, to help keep the streets cleaner for longer.
Pascal Hauret, Managing Director for Municipal at Veolia, said: ‘I am very pleased to continue our partnership with Camden Council, building on our successful track record of delivering essential recycling and waste collection and street cleansing services in the borough.
‘This contract extension demonstrates our shared commitment to innovation and ecological transformation, particularly through the introduction of electric vehicles and the focus on improving operational efficiency. Together, we’re making significant strides in improving air quality across the borough and supporting Camden’s journey towards carbon neutrality by 2030.’
Cllr Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden and Deputy Leader, said: ‘We are investing an extra £1 million in street cleaning and collections, including jet-washing pavements, beefed-up collection rounds and extra sweepers on our streets.’
‘Alongside this, we are also working with Veolia to further invest in electric collection vehicles and bikes to create a healthier, more vibrant Camden for residents, businesses and visitors while doing everything we can to reach Net Zero emissions in the borough by 2030.’
Image (Left to right): The Leader of Camden Council Cllr Richard Olszewski, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy Mete Coban MBE and Veolia Camden’s Senior Contract Manager Victor Evans reveal Veolia Camden’s new eRCV fleet
