We’re proud to share that All Safe, our behavioural safety campaign, has won Health & Safety Initiative of the Year at the Letsrecycle Awards for Excellence.
Launched in 2024/25, All Safe was created as a business‑wide programme to embed safer behaviours, strengthen our safety culture and empower every colleague — from frontline operatives to senior leaders — to take ownership of safety.
Built around insight, collaboration and clear communication, the campaign has delivered meaningful cultural change.
Since being rolled out: ✔ 600+ colleagues and 58 managers trained ✔ 420+ safety conversations recorded ✔ 9.2% reduction in workplace accidents ✔ 11%+ increase in hazard and near‑miss reporting
This award reflects the commitment of our people and the shared belief that safety isn’t just a process — it’s a collective responsibility.
#AllSafe #SafetyCulture #BehaviouralSafety #LetsrecycleAwards #PeopleFirst #FCCEnvironment
We are excited to share the next edition of 'The Beauty in our Waste World' series...
Where we share photos taken by our employees from around our sites, far and wide, to share another side of FCC and to show the beauty in who we are and what we do!
April's winning submission was made by one of our drivers, Christien Heslop, based at our CWGs Kingmoor Depot.
Christien's stunning shot was taken from the roadside below Cat Bells, looking over Derwentwater near Keswick.
I think we can all agree this photo is a worthy winner and fully demonstrates 'The beauty in our Waste World'.
Thank you for your submission, Christien!
Keep your eyes peeled for the May winner in the coming weeks!
FCC Environment & Severn Waste Services Among First in the UK to Deploy AI for Environment Agency Compliance Reporting
FCC Environment & Severn Waste Services lead on AI-powered outbound stream sampling - a first for the UK sector to support with the expanded Material Facilities (MF) regulations.
Severn Waste Services, an FCC Environment company, are among the first waste management companies in the UK and globally to submit AI-derived waste composition data on outbound material streams directly to the government’s Environment Agency (EA), as part of their existing compliance reporting. The work represents an important operational milestone in exploring how digital tools could support regulatory reporting.
Since October 2024, expanded Material Facilities (MF) regulations have significantly increased operational demands on UK materials recovery facilities (MRFs), with an aim to improve the accuracy and consistency of composition reporting. As a result, operators continue to apply different methodologies across inbound and outbound material streams to meet these expectations. Recent work by FCC Environment with Greyparrot has focused specifically on how AI‑supported sampling can be applied to selected outbound products as part of compliance reporting.
FCC Environment's SWS MRF (EnviroSort) facilities have been running Greyparrot Analyzers for several years, which use AI cameras to monitor waste streams in real time across conveyor belts. This represents the latest capability added to Greyparrot Analyzer. Rather than periodic manual samples in outbound material streams, the system generates continuous, shift-by-shift compositional data that can be used to inform and support reporting activities.
Check out the full story here: /2026/05/11/fcc-environment-among-first-in-the-uk-to-deploy-ai-for-environment-agency-compliance-reporting/
Turning waste into art – installations at Rotherwas to feature recovered and recycled items
Visitors to the Rotherwas Household Recycling Centre are invited to experience a unique artist residency, during which Herefordshire-based artist @juliamarygoldsmith will create work from found and donated items brought to the site for disposal or recycling.
Julia will be on site on Friday 8 May - 10 to 3pm, Saturday 9 May - 11am to 2pm, Tuesday 12 May - 10am to 3pm, Wednesday 13 May - 10am to 3pm, this will be weather-dependent.
While you’re dropping off items, you may be approached by the artist to take a look at what you’re bringing in, and, where appropriate, Julia may ask whether your item can be used within her developing installation. (No pressure: nothing will be taken without your agreement.)
Julia said: “I am here to give some of the waste you are bringing onto this site a chance to have a last moment, rescuing it from the brink of disappearance, and to suggest new ways for it to exist in the world by becoming artworks.”
Jenny Hope, Education and Communications Officer at Severn Waste Services, an FCC Environment company, said: “Household Recycling Centres are places where positive environmental choices are made every day, and this residency brings a creative and engaging dimension to that experience. By supporting projects like this, we can help people see the potential in everyday items, encourage reuse and spark conversations about how we all value resources.”
Working with found and appropriated objects, Julia creates assemblages, sculptures, film and photography that reframe everyday materials and ask what we value, and what we throw away.
Her recent projects have drawn on objects recovered from the River Wye, builder’s skips, reclaimed bedding textiles, and, most recently, cardboard boxes and tubing.
This residency offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at art-making in an unexpected setting.
Julia is a Hereford-based artist and is undertaking the residency project as part of her studies for a Fine Art MA at Hereford College of Arts.
Give her a follow here: @juliamarygoldsmith
Wigan Borough residents urged to sort batteries and vapes correctly to help prevent fires at recycling centres
FCC Environment is reminding residents across Wigan Borough to take extra care when disposing of batteries, vapes and disposable BBQs, as warmer weather increases the risk of fires at recycling centres.
Items containing batteries – including lithium batteries hidden inside vapes, small electricals and toys – are one of the leading causes of fires within waste and recycling facilities. When crushed or damaged, these batteries can ignite, putting staff, visitors and recycling operations at risk.
As spring turns to summer, FCC Environment is also reminding residents not to place disposable BBQs in household bins or recycling, particularly if they have not fully cooled. Hot embers can remain trapped inside long after use and can easily spark fires when mixed with other waste.
FCC Environment is urging residents to:
Remove batteries from items where possible
Dispose of batteries and vapes separately using designated battery recycling points
Never place batteries, vapes or electricals in black bags
Allow disposable BBQs to cool completely before taking them to recycling centres and always follow site guidance
Placing batteries or vapes loose inside bags makes them much harder to spot and significantly increases the risk of ignition when waste is compacted or processed.
Contract Manager Tracy Roe of FCC Environment said: “Many of the fires we see are entirely preventable. By taking a few extra moments to sort batteries, vapes and electrical items correctly, residents can help keep recycling centres safe and protect the people working there every day.”
FCC Environment works closely with Wigan Council to manage waste and recycling safely and efficiently. Residents can find information on how and where to dispose of batteries, vapes and other hazardous items via the Council’s new recycling A-Z Guide where residents can search how to properly recycle many items. https://lnkd.in/eg97ZbAc or by speaking to staff on site.
♻️ Making a difference in Doncaster 💚
Colleagues from FCC Environment were proud to support the Keep Doncaster Tidy clean-up, rolling up their sleeves to help care for the local environment.
A team of five colleagues (Naomi Smith- Internal Communication & Engagement Advisor, Ruby Cook- Graduate Management Trainee, Zoe Hayhurst- Paralegal, Harry Butterworth- Payables Apprentice, and Eleanor Trinh- Payables Administrator) joined businesses from across the region to collect five large bags of litter in just a few hours – showing how small actions can make a big difference.
Events like this highlight the power of working together to protect our communities and the places we live and work 🌍
A huge thank you to everyone involved!
#KeepDoncasterTidy #CommunityAction #EnvironmentalResponsibility #FCCEnvironment #ProudToCare #TeamFCC
Severn Waste Services sponsors nature‑inspired show garden at RHS Malvern Spring Festival
Severn Waste Services (SWS), an FCC Environment company, is proud to sponsor a major show garden at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026, one of the UK’s leading horticultural events celebrating gardening, nature and sustainability.
The sponsored show garden, titled “Lifted by Birds”, will be showcased as part of the Festival’s prestigious show garden line‑up. Designed by Skylark Garden Design, Bud and Bird Gardens and Intrinsic Link in collaboration with specialists in ecology, ornithology and horticulture, the garden demonstrates how science‑led, bird‑focused design can create resilient, biodiverse spaces that benefit both wildlife and people.
“Lifted by Birds” uses reclaimed and reused materials throughout and features a carefully considered mix of native and cultivated planting to provide food, shelter and habitat for birds and other wildlife. Designed as an “island of resources”, the garden illustrates how individual green spaces can collectively support biodiversity across a wider landscape.
The RHS Malvern Spring Festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year and is widely recognised for championing sustainable horticulture, peat‑free growing and innovative garden design. Following the show, the garden will be relocated for long‑term use at a children’s hospice in partnership with Greenfingers Charity, ensuring a lasting environmental and social legacy.
Severn Waste Services’ sponsorship reflects its wider commitment to sustainability, resource efficiency and environmental responsibility across the region. As a waste and resource management provider, SWS operates a range of services focused on keeping materials at their highest value, including its composting operations, which transform organic waste into high‑quality compost that supports soil health and natural growing cycles.
By sponsoring “Lifted by Birds”, Severn Waste Services is supporting practical, visible examples of how waste reduction, reuse and nature‑based solutions can work together to deliver environmental benefits beyond waste management alone.
FCC Environment brings reuse to Sustainable Amersham event
It was a gloriously sunny day on 25 April outside St Michael’s Church, Amersham, as Amersham Town Council hosted its annual ‘Environment Day’ event, bringing together residents and environmentally focused organisations from across the area.
FCC Environment was pleased to take part, setting up a pop up reuse shop, with a spot in the welcome shade. A wide selection of toys, baskets, chairs and bric a brac found new homes during the day, extending the life of reusable items and preventing them from going to waste.
The event also sparked conversations with residents keen to learn more about reuse. Visitors were delighted to hear that unwanted but usable items can be donated at their local Buckinghamshire Household Recycling Centre, where they are transferred to the Aston Clinton Re Use Shop.
Tracy Elrington, Waste Awareness, Communication & Education Manager at FCC Environment, was on hand to offer advice on recycling services in the area, including food waste recycling, and distributed food waste bins to residents who needed them. The response from the community was extremely positive, with several visitors stopping by specifically after attending a reuse and household recycling presentation held the previous day at Amersham Methodist Church.
The Mayor of Amersham joined the event and lent a hand on the stall, alongside Buckinghamshire Waste Busters, Sustainable Amersham and many other organisations committed to sustainability. FCC Environment would like to thank everyone involved in making the event such a success — and for playing their part in keeping the circular economy working.
FCC Environment to host pop up reuse shop at Amersham Environment Day
Residents are invited to discover the benefits of reuse when FCC Environment hosts a pop up reuse shop as part of Amersham Environment Day on Saturday 25th April.
The event, taking place at St Michael’s Church, Amersham, will bring together a range of stalls, demonstrations, guest speakers and activities focused on sustainability and practical actions people can take in their everyday lives. FCC Environment’s reuse pop up shop will give visitors the chance to browse a selection of pre loved items that have been rescued from the waste stream and are being given a second life.
The pop up reuse shop reflects FCC Environment’s ongoing commitment to promoting reuse as the most effective way of reducing waste and cutting carbon. By taking part in a wider community event, the team hopes to inspire more residents to think differently about unwanted items and see the value in reuse.
A spokesperson for FCC Environment said:
“Reuse sits at the very top of the waste hierarchy and has the greatest environmental benefit. Being part of Amersham Environment Day gives us a great opportunity to talk to residents, share practical ideas and show how much value is still left in items that might otherwise be thrown away.”
Visitors are encouraged to stop by the FCC Environment stall, have a look around and find out more about how reuse can play a role in a greener future.
Local artist brings reuse to life at Northamptonshire recycling centre
A new reuse collection container at one of West Northamptonshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HRWCs) has been given a striking new look thanks to a collaboration between FCC Environment and local graffiti artist Binty Bint.
Northamptonshire based artist Binty Bint has designed and painted the reuse container at Sixfields Household Waste Recycling Centre, creating bold, eye catching artwork aimed at encouraging residents to think twice before throwing items away. The design celebrates creativity, reuse and recycling, helping to make reuse areas more visible and inviting for site users.
The project forms part of FCC Environment’s commitment to delivering social value across the West Northamptonshire waste and recycling contract, combining environmental messaging with support for local talent.
Alexander Walsh, FCC Environment Contract Manager said:
“Reuse is one of the most impactful ways we can reduce waste, and making reuse areas more visible and engaging really matters. Working with a local artist like Binty has allowed us to bring that message to life in a creative, community focused way, while supporting local skills and talent.”
Reuse areas at Household Recycling and Waste Centres play a vital role in keeping valuable items in use for longer, reducing waste and supporting a more circular economy. The newly designed container helps highlight this service, encouraging residents to donate items that could be reused rather than disposed of.
Ruth Bain, Head of Commercial, Cynthia Spencer Hospice Charity, said:
“We are so grateful to Binty for her amazing artwork at our reuse shop showcasing Cynthia Spencer Hospice in such a delightful way.
This wonderful artwork really stands out and draws attention to the reuse shop and will help to encourage more people to donate items that can be given a second life, shop with us, while also supporting local creativity. It’s a win win for us all.”
FCC Environment works in partnership with local authorities to manage waste responsibly and deliver services that are sustainable, innovative and rooted in local communities.
FCC Environment shares safety journey at national health and safety conference
London, Monday 20 April – FCC Environment was invited to present at the annual ESA and Pinsent Masons Health & Safety Conference, held at Pinsent Masons’ offices in London, which this year focused on “Vehicle–Pedestrian Segregation: Keeping people safe from vehicle movements.”
The conference brought together industry leaders, safety professionals, and legal experts to explore one of the most significant risks facing the waste and recycling sector: the interface between vehicles, mobile plant and pedestrians.
FCC Environment’s presentation, delivered by Mitch Gibson, shared the organisation’s 12 year journey with the Site Zone Proximity Warning System (PWS) and demonstrated how the technology has evolved from an initial safety intervention into an ingrained part of FCC Environment’s culture and day to day operations.
Vehicle and plant movements remain one of the highest risk activities across the sector, and the conference provided valuable insight into the ongoing challenges the industry faces, alongside emerging solutions and technologies designed to mitigate those risks.
Speakers represented a wide range of operational environments, and several presentations served as a stark reminder of the potential consequences where vehicle pedestrian risks are not effectively managed. The discussions reinforced the importance of continued focus, investment and learning to ensure the safety of people working in and around operational sites.
FCC Environment’s participation highlighted its long-standing commitment to learning, innovation and the practical application of safety technology to protect colleagues, contractors, and visitors across its operations.
Today is Earth Day – a reminder that environmental progress is built on everyday actions.
At FCC Environment, caring for the environment isn’t something we focus on for just one day a year. It’s central to what we do, every day.
From collecting, sorting and processing materials, to maintaining plant, planning services, supporting customers, and keeping the business running safely and efficiently, your work helps protect resources and reduce waste.
Earth Day is a reminder that small actions add up. Doing the basics well – following procedures, reducing contamination, working safely, using energy responsibly and looking after equipment – all contribute to better environmental outcomes.
When everyone plays their part, the impact is real.
It’s also a moment to recognise the skill, commitment and professionalism across our teams. The work you do supports communities across the UK and helps turn waste into a valuable resource, protecting the environment for future generations.
Today, take a moment to reflect on the role you play and one simple action you can take – at work or at home – to make a positive difference.
Whether it’s switching off unused equipment, improving recycling quality, or sharing an idea that could reduce waste or improve efficiency, it all matters.
Thank you to all the people and businesses supporting more sustainable ways of working.
#EarthDay2026 #CircularEconomy #FromWasteToResource #EarthDayEveryDay #OurPowerOurPlanet
