Thank you to all who joined us on the 26^th March for our webinar exploring the rollout of Simpler Recycling reforms and the growing role of food waste collections across England.

With 86 of you fine people registered to attend, the session brought together local authority professionals to discuss progress, challenges, and practical steps towards compliance.

The session was led by industry expert Victoria Crawford, who provided a clear overview of policy changes, supported by real-time audience polling and discussion.

We’ve summarised the key takeaways here for those who couldn’t join us this time around – keep an eye on our webinar page for upcoming dates.

2026: A Landmark Year for Waste Reform

The webinar highlighted 2026 as a major turning point for waste and recycling services in England. From 31 March 2026, all local authorities are required to collect a consistent set of materials from households.

These include:

• Food waste
• Paper and card
• Glass, metals and plastics (including cartons)
• Residual waste
• Garden waste (optional, with potential charges)

This move aims to remove confusion for residents and create a standard, national system. It also supports wider environmental goals, including the transition to a circular economy by 2050.

Current Readiness Across Local Authorities

Polling during the webinar gave useful insight into where councils currently stand:

• 25% of respondents already provide food waste collections
• 11% plan to roll out collections by April 2026
• 11% expect delivery later in 2026
• 7% reported delays due to vehicle supply issues
• Over half (54%) abstained, suggesting uncertainty or early-stage planning

This shows mixed readiness across the sector. While some authorities are well advanced, many are still navigating planning, procurement, or funding challenges.

Delays and Delivery Challenges

A second poll explored whether rollout delays had occurred and why.

• 14% cited vehicle procurement bottlenecks
• 4% reported funding challenges

Fleet availability clearly remains one of the biggest barriers. Long lead times for specialist vehicles continue to slow implementation for some councils.

Key Operational Challenges

We explored several practical issues affecting rollout:

1. Infrastructure and Housing Constraints

High-density housing remains a major concern. Flats and urban areas present challenges around storage, access, and collection logistics, and space constraints can lead to bins obstructing pavements or creating visual issues.

2. Vehicle and Resource Shortages

Many authorities face delays linked to vehicle manufacturing and supply chains. Existing long-term contracts also limit flexibility, making rapid service changes difficult.

3. Public Perception and Misinformation

Media coverage appears to have caused confusion among residents with some reports suggesting large fines for non-compliance, which is not accurate. This highlights the need for clear communication strategies.

4. Service Design Choices

There is still debate around collection methods. Authorities must decide between kerbside sort and co-mingled systems - each option brings its own cost, efficiency, and quality implications.

The Role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

We also explored how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) supports the wider system. It’s designed to improve packaging design, increase recyclability, provide funding to local authorities and reduce waste at source.

However, there are ongoing concerns:

• Complexity of reporting requirements
• Risk of fraud and system misuse
• Uncertainty around full cost recovery
• Delays to implementation

There is also concern that EPR may increase costs for consumers, as producers pass on their expenses.

Deposit Return Scheme (DRS): Future Impact

Looking ahead, the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is due to launch in October 2027.

This will capture high-quality materials such as PET, aluminium, and steel, changing the composition of kerbside collections and reducing the value of materials collected by local authorities.

While DRS will likely improve recycling rates, it may also affect revenue streams for councils, and authorities will need to adapt their services to reflect these changes.

Strategic Importance of Food Waste Collections

Food waste collections are a central part of the reforms. They play a key role in reducing landfill use and improving environmental outcomes. However, rollout is complex.

Authorities must consider:

• Route optimisation
• Container distribution
• Public engagement
• Treatment capacity

This is where data and planning tools become essential. Solutions such as RouteSmart and waste composition analysis can help councils design efficient services and reduce risk.

Insights from Attendee Discussion

Feedback from participants pointed to some common themes. Over in the chat section, concerns about timelines and readiness, questions around funding and long-term costs, interest in best practice for high-density areas and demand for clearer national guidance were prevalent.

Many attendees appreciated practical examples and reassurance as they move towards implementation.

What This Means for Local Authorities

The webinar made it clear that while policy direction is set, many expect delivery to remain complex. There is no single approach that will work for all authorities.

Each authority will need to tailor its strategy based on local conditions, focussing on:

• Finalising service design
• Securing vehicles and containers
• Communicating clearly with residents
• Using data to inform decisions

Final Thoughts

Simpler Recycling represents one of the biggest changes to waste services in recent years. While the benefits are clear, including improved recycling rates and reduced confusion, the path to implementation is not without challenges.

Stuart Henshaw, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management Councillor for the North East and our very own head of Business Development, co-led the webinar and adds his comments:

“Our March 2026 webinar was well-attended and well-received. I was pleased too, with the interaction from attendees sharing their own successes and challenges.

The government aims to reduce the ‘confusion for the public’ but this is the most complex and challenging waste legislation to be delivered for 20 years.

With its many moving parts, Simpler Recycling challenges local authorities to maintain current services while simultaneously preparing for a series of future service scenarios, changing material streams, collection methods, and changes in income levels.

This was our 7th annual webinar focused on supporting local authority officers through this process. Same time, same place, next year!”

Integrated Skills will continue to support local authorities through this transition, providing expertise, technology, and insight to help turn policy into practical outcomes.

See the webinar:

Sign up for future webinars:

The post Webinar Round-Up: Government’s Simpler Recycling Strategy, March 2026 Update appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Why it's important, how it can help - everything you need to know...

Waste Composition Analysis (WCA) has climbed the ranks from a useful, insightful tool to what is now a core element of modern waste strategy.

Across the UK and beyond, organisations are using WCA to better understand what is really in their waste streams, and utilising this knowledge to support smarter decision-making, create clearer policies, and provide more efficient services.

Why Waste Composition Analysis Matters More Than Ever

The waste sector is rapidly evolving, with huge changes coming into play in recent years. New legislation, changing public behaviour, and rising operational costs have made waste management more complex

In this free webinar, we will discuss:

• The regulatory background
• Ensuring a Robust & Representative Sample
• How to ensure Safe & Accurate Fieldwork
• Detailed Analysis and Benchmarking

Join Stuart Henshaw & Matt Coe from Integrated Skills, and Paul Frith from Frith Resources

Stuart Henshaw leads the Webinar Programme at Integrated Skills (ISL), offering insights on improving waste service performance and quality. He heads business development with a special interest in the company's new next-gen software, SmartSuite, and wearing another hat - he leads ISL's Waste Composition Analysis work. Stuart is a CIWM Centre Councillor for the North East.

Paul Frith - Frith Resources

Expert in Council environmental services to enhance performance, make efficiencies, reduce carbon, consult with the public, procure services, waste comp. analysis, strategies & business cases - worked with >130 Councils. Paul has issued technical papers and written technical waste management publications for Government and other public sector bodies both nationally and internationally.

Matt Coe - Integrated Skills

Integrated Skills' WCA Field Manager and leads our work in the field. Matt has over 15 years’ experience in waste composition analysis and has led teams over many years at both Integrated Skills and previously at MEL, across a wide range of projects. He has worked in HWRC, residual, DMR, food and garden waste analysis, energy from waste - feedstock analysis. Matt's previous experience includes WRAP-commissioned food waste analysis projects, and QA work for DEFRA on Waste Composition Analysis projects.

Sign up below!

The post Webinar: Waste Composition Analysis – a Strategic Tool to Navigate Simpler Recycling appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Waste Composition Analysis (WCA) has climbed the ranks from a useful, insightful tool to what is now a core element of modern waste strategy.

Across the UK and beyond, organisations are using WCA to better understand what is really in their waste streams, and utilising this knowledge to support smarter decision-making, create clearer policies, and provide more efficient services.

Why Waste Composition Analysis Matters More Than Ever

The waste sector is rapidly evolving, with huge changes coming into play in recent years. New legislation, changing public behaviour, and rising operational costs have made waste management more complex.

Key drivers include:

• Net zero targets and carbon reduction goals
• Simpler Recycling reforms for England
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes
• Increased scrutiny on contamination and recycling quality
• Budget pressures on local authorities

WCA provides the evidence needed to respond to these challenges, providing a clear picture of material types, contamination levels, and missed recycling opportunities.

Without this data, decisions are based on assumptions. With it, local authorities can act with confidence.

From Data Collection to Strategic Insight

Traditionally, WCA is used as a data-collection exercise, with waste samples sorted and reports produced. While useful in some ways, this approach often ended at data collection and rarely reached beyond.

In 2026, expectations are higher - local authorities need insight, not just information. Because of this, WCA has been pushed to go further by:

• Linking composition data with operational data
• Identifying trends over time
• Supporting service redesign
• Informing communications and behaviour change campaigns
• Quantifying financial and environmental impacts

This shift has turned WCA into a strategic tool that now plays a key role in shaping long-term waste strategies.

The Role of Technology and Data

Technology has improved how WCA is planned and how outputs are delivered. Our team matches current LLPG address details (geo-location of collection days and addresses ) with the socio-economic profiles within the Output Area Classifications provided by ONS.

This creates a socio-economic profile for the authority, and sample streets are selected to reflect this profile. Where Integrated Skills has already provided optimised routes, service days and addresses are matched to provide sampling areas which fit within project deadlines.

Whilst AI-assisted digital recognition of waste materials is improving rapidly, there is no robust alternative to hands-on sorting by a mobile team. Once the analysis has been completed and the results have been tabulated, GIS technology come back into play once more; presenting clear, visual maps to highlight vital aspects of the analysis. For example, we can confirm the areas most likely to present unopened or partially-opened food waste in a particular area.

All the above makes it easier for decision-makers to understand and act on the results of their analysis.

A Growing Need for Evidence-Based Decisions

Funding pressures mean that every decision must be justified. WCA provides the evidence needed to support investment and policy changes.

Common uses include:

• Designing food waste collections
• Improving recycling participation
• Reducing contamination
• Planning depot and fleet changes
• Supporting procurement and contract management

By using WCA data, local authorities can evidence clear outcomes - important for both internal stakeholders and external regulators.

Supporting National Policy and Local Goals

Waste Composition Analysis plays a key role in helping organisations meet national requirements. For example, under Simpler Recycling reforms, local authorities need to standardise collections and improve recycling performance - WCA helps identify gaps and track progress.

Similarly, EPR schemes require accurate data on packaging waste. WCA provides the detail needed to support reporting and funding claims.

At a local level, WCA supports:

• Climate action plans
• Waste reduction targets
• Community engagement strategies

By aligning local actions with national policy, organisations can deliver better results.

Behaviour Change and Public Engagement

Understanding waste composition also helps improve communication with residents. It can reveal the materials frequently placed in the wrong bin and identify areas with low participation. This allows local authorities to create targeted campaigns that address real issues.

For example, if food waste is still being found in residual bins, campaigns can focus on awareness and convenience. If contamination is high, messaging can be clearer and more specific.

Financial and Environmental Benefits

WCA supports both cost savings and environmental gains. Financial benefits include reduced disposal costs, improved recycling revenue, more efficient service design and better contract performance. Environmental benefits include lowering carbon emissions, increased recycling rates, reduced landfill use and improved resource recovery.

By linking these outcomes to WCA data, local authorities can measure progress and demonstrate value.

Integrated Skills and the Evolution of WCA

Integrated Skills has been at the forefront of WCA for many years. Our approach has always focused on combining technical expertise with practical insight.

In recent years, this approach has evolved even further, with WCA now fully integrating with wider operational and strategic services, including:

• Route optimisation
• Service modelling
• GIS analysis
• Performance reporting

By connecting with these areas, WCA becomes part of a bigger picture and supports end-to-end service improvement, rather than acting as a standalone activity.

A Strategic Partnership with Frith Resource Management

A key development in 2026 is a new partnership between Integrated Skills and Frith Resource Management. This collaboration marks a significant step forward, with Frith bringing deep expertise in comparative analysis and field operations and Integrated Skills adding strength in data analysis, modelling, and strategic planning.

The partnership allows WCA to move beyond data collection into true strategic value. Key benefits include:

• End-to-end delivery: From fieldwork to final recommendations, the full process is covered. Clients receive a seamless service with consistent quality.
• Higher data accuracy: We apply robust sampling methods, improving confidence in the results.
• Deeper insights: We apply our advanced analysis to turn data into actionable insight.
• Strategic alignment: WCA findings are linked directly to service design and policy decisions.
• Scalable solutions: This combined capability supports projects of all sizes, from small studies to national programmes.

Our partnership with Frith reflects a wider trend in the industry. Clients no longer want separate services, they want joined-up solutions that deliver real outcomes.

Looking Ahead: The Future of WCA

We believe that the role of WCA will continue to grow. In the coming years, we are likely to see greater integration with digital platforms, more frequent and continuous analysis, increased use of predictive modelling and stronger links to carbon reporting.

WCA will also become more proactive - instead of looking at past performance, it will help predict future trends and support early intervention. This will be especially important as waste systems become more complex.

Conclusion

In 2026, Waste Composition Analysis has become a strategic tool that supports better decisions, stronger performance, and clearer outcomes.

Our partnership with Frith Resource Management supports this shift. By combining field expertise with advanced analysis, WCA can now deliver greater value than ever before.

For organisations facing growing pressure to improve waste services, an Integrated Skills WCA provides the insight needed to move forward with confidence.

The post Waste Composition Analysis for 2026 appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Waste Composition Analysis (WCA) has long been a vital tool for local authorities. It provides clear evidence about what is contained within household and commercial waste streams. This insight supports better decisions, improved recycling rates and more efficient services.

Integrated Skills has delivered WCA projects for many years. Now, through a new partnership with Frith Resource Management, we are strengthening our offer even further. The result is a more strategic, policy-led and future-focused approach that helps councils move from data collection to confident long-term planning.

A Strong Foundation in Waste Strategy

Integrated Skills became internationally recognised for its waste strategy expertise before expanding into Waste Composition Analysis in 2017.

Early projects took the team to Guernsey, Uzbekistan and the West Bank. These commissions built experience in different operating environments, policy settings and collection systems.

Since then, Integrated Skills has expanded its WCA services across the UK. We now deliver repeat commissions for a wide range of local authorities and major waste operators, reflecting our clients’ trust in both the technical quality and practical value we offer.

Why Waste Composition Analysis Matters to Local Authorities

Local authorities operate in a complex and changing landscape. They face financial pressures, new policy requirements and increasing public scrutiny. Waste Composition Analysis provides evidence that supports:

1. Service redesign

WCA shows what materials are present in residual waste and recycling streams. This helps councils to identify missed recyclable materials, target contamination issues, review collection frequencies and plan new services such as food waste collections.

Without composition data, service changes rely on assumptions. With WCA, decisions are evidence-based.

2. Policy compliance

New national policies are reshaping the financial and operational landscape for councils:

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
• Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)
• UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

Composition data allows authorities to forecast financial impacts, understand material flows, model future tonnages and prepare for reporting requirements.

3. Carbon reduction

Waste is closely linked to climate commitments. Knowing the composition of residual waste helps councils estimate carbon impacts and identify opportunities to divert high-carbon materials. Reducing food waste in residual bins, for example, can significantly lower emissions. Reliable data is essential to set realistic carbon reduction targets.

4. Budget planning

Waste services represent a large share of local authority budgets. Composition studies help identify:

• Avoidable disposal costs
• Recycling performance gaps
• Potential income streams

In short, WCA protects public money by supporting smarter resource planning.

Innovation in Methodology

Integrated Skills has continued to refine and strengthen its approach to Waste Composition Analysis over the years. A key area of strengthened methodology is our improvement in sampling design, using the Output Area Classification system developed by the Office for National Statistics.

This ensures that samples reflect the demographic and socio-economic diversity of an authority area, improving statistical confidence and making findings more defensible.

We also translate survey findings into GIS-based mapping outputs. Rather than presenting tables alone, results are visualised across the whole authority area.

This allows councils to:

• Identify geographic patterns
• Spot performance variations
• Target communications campaigns
• Align operational changes with specific neighbourhoods

We have also developed a new methodology for Household Waste Recycling Centre composition analysis. HWRCs are often overlooked in traditional WCA studies. Their inclusion provides a strategic understanding of:

• Material streams at site level
• Recovery potential
• Operational performance
• Links between kerbside and site behaviour

This broader view helps authorities manage the full waste system, not just kerbside collections.

Elevating WCA Through Strategic Partnership

While high-quality data is essential, this alone is not enough. Councils need interpretation, benchmarking and policy context. This is where our partnership with Frith Resource Management adds significant value.

Frith Resource Management is recognised for its expertise in waste policy and carbon assessment. The organisation supports authorities in understanding:

• The carbon impact of collection systems
• Treatment infrastructure implications
• The financial effects of EPR
• The operational implications of DRS
• Exposure to ETS costs

By combining composition data with policy modelling, councils gain a clearer picture of long-term risk and opportunity.

Carbon accounting is becoming central to local authority decision-making, and Frith Resource Management brings detailed understanding of carbon factors across collection and treatment operations.

When combined with Integrated Skills’ composition data, WCA moves beyond tonnage analysis and into climate strategy. With this information, Councils can:

• Model emissions from current systems
• Test alternative collection scenarios
• Compare treatment options
• Support climate action plans with evidence

Frith Resource Management also provides benchmarking expertise, enabling Councils to compare their performance against similar authorities. This helps answer key questions such as:

• Is our recycling rate typical for an authority of our type?
• Are we collecting the right materials?
• Are our capture rates strong or weak?

This context supports informed decisions and strengthens business cases.

From Operational Study to Strategic Planning Tool

The partnership between Integrated Skills and Frith Resource Management transforms Waste Composition Analysis into a strategic planning tool.

Together, we provide:

• Robust, statistically sound sampling
• Detailed material breakdowns
• GIS-based spatial insight
• Carbon modelling
• Policy scenario testing
• Financial impact forecasting
• National benchmarking

This integrated approach supports waste strategy reviews, service transformation programmes, procurement decisions, infrastructure planning and budget setting. Rather than a standalone technical report, WCA becomes part of a broader strategic framework.

Supporting Authorities in Transition

Many local authorities are currently in transition. They are preparing for separate food waste collections, adjusting to packaging reforms and reviewing long-term disposal contracts. In these circumstances, composition data is especially valuable.

Integrated Skills has already supported authorities undergoing significant change. By providing clear evidence on material flows and capture performance, we have helped councils make confident decisions at critical points in their strategy development.

With the added expertise of Frith Resource Management, that support now extends further into policy modelling, carbon forecasting and benchmarking analysis.

A Joined-Up Offer for a Changing Landscape

The waste sector is evolving quickly. Policy reforms, climate targets and financial pressures demand smarter planning.

Integrated Skills brings:

• International and UK experience
• Innovative sampling methodology
• GIS-driven mapping capability
• Strategic HWRC analysis

Frith Resource Management brings:

• Waste policy expertise
• Carbon modelling capability
• EPR, DRS and ETS insight
• Benchmarking intelligence

Together, we offer a solution that connects data with policy and strategy.

Looking ahead

Waste Composition Analysis remains a solid foundation for effective waste management. However, its true value lies in how it informs decisions. Through this partnership, Integrated Skills is moving beyond traditional survey delivery. We’re now positioning WCA as a strategic asset.

For local authorities facing complex challenges, this elevated approach provides clarity and confidence.

The post Integrated Skills Partners with Frith Resource Management to Elevate WCA Offering to a Strategic Level appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Hello and Happy December!

This month we'll be highlighting our recent work with Oadby & Wigston Borough Council, introducing WasteStart (our new partner for crew and vehicle scheduling software), and inviting you all to our (infamous?) Christmas Webinar!

We'll also be covering our sponsorship of the APSE Street Cleansing Seminar and our trailblazing project to utilise grass cuttings in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council.

Oadby & Wigston SmartSuite Rollout Success

It has been our absolute pleasure to assist Oadby & Wigston Borough Council with a highly successful rollout of our SmartSuite software solution.

Oadby & Wigston Borough Council cover part of Leicestershire - an area with Medieval and Anglo-Saxon roots and a population of around 60,000.

Their team approached us earlier this year with a view to utilising several modules of our SmartSuite solution, including:

WebView

All services are managed from a single, map-based platform in the Cloud that enables teams to track day-to-day service activity in real time, make instant & effective operational decisions and view service history. Apply live updates to service data for mobile operatives, and synchronise routing data.

Jobs Management

Tasks are created and assigned in Jobs Management and delivered to operatives in SmartSuite Mobile.

In-cab Service Verification & Navigation

The in-cab solution navigates drivers along optimised routes using GPS. This creates completion data and enables the users to report issues, including creating ad-hoc jobs for non-service specific tasks.

Two way messaging allows immediate communication between operations management and the crews.

Turning Grass Cuttings Into a Valuable Resource

Integrated Skills is proud to be helping South Gloucestershire Council turn grass cuttings from waste into a valuable resource; cutting carbon emissions, reducing costs, and avoiding needless biodiversity loss.

By processing collected cuttings, the council can create clean energy, fuels, and even road-surface materials.

In August 2025, Integrated Skills carried out a detailed survey of litter contamination in grass verges along the A4174 dual carriageway - before and after cutting. The analysis provided the council with vital, previously unavailable data on litter content within collected cuttings.

The survey formed part of the Live Labs 2 (Greenprint) project; a collaboration between South Gloucestershire Council, West Sussex County Council, and academic and industry partners.

The initiative explores how local authority grass cuttings can be transformed into green energy and biochar, a sustainable additive for road surfacing.

Read More About This Initiative

SmartSuite Enhancement

Never ones to rest on our laurels, this quarter has seen some key enhancements to our SmartSuite offering:

• We've introduced a mobile location search tool
• Allowed for A2B routing from selected locations
• Enabled action reminders for operators
• Allowed operators to confirm assisted collections
• Created a listed and mapped history of route completion
• Our "jobs" tool allows users to manage both ad hoc and scheduled jobs
• Users can now complete a full survey and include comments and images, all recorded digitally

Introducing WasteStart - our new partner for crew and vehicle scheduling software.

In their own words, WasteStart allows Operations Managers and Dispatchers to:

• See all schedules, employees, and vehicles in one place
• Identify and resolve gaps early to prevent disruption
• Expand confidently with scalable scheduling

This brilliant system also allows teams to evaluate the impact of absences and proactively resolve shortages as well as monitor vehicle availability and plan ahead to stay on track.

It even incorporates AI to produce accurate recommendations, allowing users to resolve scheduling conflicts with one click.

Get in touch to learn more:

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Join Our Christmas Webinar!

A festive tradition almost as beloved as (vegan)pigs-in-blankets, the Integrated Skills Christmas Webinar is back!

This year’s event features:

• Insightful waste management discussions.
• Beautiful live piano music by Simeon Walker.
• A fun quiz with exciting prizes.

We'll reflect on 2025's waste management highlights and dive into some hot topics with leading thinkers.

Sign up below:

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A Warm Welcome to SmartSuite

We’re elated to welcome Oadby & Wigston, Newcastle City and Dundee to the SmartSuite user community – we can’t wait to see the positive impact this far-reaching solution will have.

APSE Street Cleansing Seminar

For our second year, Integrated Skills are delighted to be the lead sponsors for the APSE Street Cleansing & Street Scene Seminar 2026, taking place on the 5th February 2026 at the National Conference Centre (Motorcycle Museum) in Solihull.

Last year’s event was absolutely brilliant. Local authorities presented papers on the challenges within their street scene services and describing the innovative ideas they were developing to raise service quality.

Anyone interested in attending should contact m.paton@spacehouse.co.uk

“We needed an in-depth Waste Composition Analysis to further our understanding of the various waste streams created by different areas of the community. Having worked with Integrated Skills for for nearly twenty years we knew they were the right choice.

The team were fantastic...working like a well-oiled machine to meticulously separate and analyse the waste. Their analysis included the contents of the black bags (a rarity in the sector), and this information was absolutely key.

I can't recommend them enough; lovely to work with, great at what they do and the services they offer are based on a deep understanding of what local authorities need."

Vanessa Kelly, Waste Services and Projects Manager, West Northamptonshire Council

A life-time, partnership approach to working with clients has led to decades of success since our incorporation in 1993.

We have continually developed new and innovative software and services for clients since our inception, and will continue to create the tools our sector needs for many years to come.

Helpful Links

• Digital Waste Tracking with Integrated Skills
• The Impact of Seasonal Waste on Local Authorities
• Assisted Collections: A Growing Priority for Local Authorities

The post SmartSuite Enhancements & Christmas Cheer appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Each year the seasons bring waves of consumer behaviour that create distinct challenges for waste collection and disposal services. Halloween, Easter, and Christmas are major events in the UK’s retail calendar, and their environmental footprint grows alongside consumer spending.

For local authorities, these celebrations translate into short but intense surges in waste volumes, often dominated by food, packaging, and disposable decorations that strain collection schedules, budgets, and recycling systems.

Here we’ll be highlighting the struggles Local Authorities face when handling these waste surges, as well as the environmental impact of consumer behaviour.

Halloween: A Frightening Rise in Residual Waste

Halloween is one of the fastest-growing seasonal events in the UK. In 2023, consumer spending reached an estimated £1 billion, a figure that has quadrupled in just a decade. Behind the fun and festivities, however, is a growing mountain of seasonal waste.

A recent waste composition analysis, we here at Integrated Skills revealed that in the first week of November 2024, households across six local authorities put out an average of 0.3 kg of pumpkins (here’s a reminder of how to dispose of pumpkins), decorations, and spent fireworks in their residual bins (despite food waste collections being available).

It sounds like a small amount, but as Project Director Stuart Henshaw noted, “For a typical authority of 80,000 households, that’s an additional 24 tonnes of Halloween waste. Scaled nationally, this equates to over 8,500 tonnes of residual Halloween waste to collect and dispose of.”

This data illustrates how small, one-off consumer choices can create significant operational impacts. Local authorities face not only extra collection rounds and landfill costs, but also public confusion over what can and cannot be recycled or composted. For example, while pumpkins are fully compostable, they often end up in the residual stream due to lack of awareness or convenience.

While Halloween is now the UK’s third-largest retail event, Easter falls into a close second place.

Eggs, Chocolate and Mountains of Waste

Despite its family-friendly image, the environmental impact of Easter with its packaging and food waste is striking:

• Around 8,000 tonnes of packaging are generated annually from Easter egg products.
• Roughly 3,000 tonnes of chocolate go un-eaten and discarded.
• Food waste spikes, with millions of hot cross buns, roast potatoes, and vegetable portions ending up in bins after family meals.

These figures highlight how short-lived consumption patterns, driven by marketing and convenience, continue to undermine waste reduction goals.

For local authorities, Easter’s challenge lies in collecting and processing hugely mixed waste streams: plastic inserts, cardboard boxes, and foil wrappers, all produced in vast quantities but often contaminated with food residues that make recycling all the more difficult.

Christmas: The Ultimate Test

No other time of year tests the capacity of local waste services like Christmas. Between December and early January, UK households collectively produce up to 30% more waste than at any other time of year.

For context:

• In London, households throw out an extra five bags of rubbish each, adding roughly 29,000 tonnes of waste in this one city alone.
• The country discards around 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging that goes unrecycled.
• More than one billion Christmas cards are thrown away annually.
• Food waste increases by about 30% compared to the rest of the year.

The shift to online shopping has further complicated Christmas waste management. Nearly half of all Christmas purchases are now made online, driving surges in cardboard boxes, plastic mailing bags, and filler materials as items are shipped individually. A DS Smith study found that 941 million plastic mailing bags were used by UK retailers in 2024 – that’s around 2.6 million every day.

While convenient for consumers, these trends create headaches for local authorities. They are left to process higher volumes of mixed packaging and manage overflowing recycling bins. Compounding the problem are the inevitable post-Christmas returns (especially true for the fashion sector), which generate additional transport emissions and waste when items are damaged or unsellable.

The Cost to Local Authorities

Each seasonal spike translates into tangible operational and financial impacts. Increased waste volumes require:

• Additional collection rounds, often with premium seasonal labour costs attached.
• Greater sorting and processing capacity, particularly for recyclables.
• More contamination in recycling streams as residents rush to clear festive waste.
• Higher disposal costs, especially for residual waste that cannot be recycled.

For many authorities already managing tight budgets, these short-term spikes can have long-term implications. Disposal costs rise, recycling targets are harder to meet, and collection crews face heavier workloads during periods of adverse weather and high demand.

Changing Habits and Shared Responsibility

The seasonal waste challenge highlights a broader truth: public behaviour directly shapes local waste outcomes. Convenience, habit, and awareness play powerful roles in determining whether materials are recycled, composted, or landfilled.

Encouragingly, there are signs of change. Surveys show rising public interest in sustainable packaging, with many consumers saying they would avoid brands that use excessive or non-recyclable materials. Retailers are also beginning to introduce “right-size” packaging and promote preloved or second-hand gift options.

However, there is still a significant gap between intent and action. Even when residents are aware of the sustainable option, it is not always the easiest one. Collection systems must therefore be complemented by clear communication, consistent recycling infrastructure, and behavioural nudges that make the sustainable choice the default.

Working Towards Smarter Seasonal Waste Management

For local authorities, tackling seasonal waste effectively requires data-led planning and predictive insight. By analysing waste composition and collection data (something Integrated Skills supports through its advanced Waste Composition Analysis and Route Management solutions) councils can:

• Anticipate seasonal surges and adjust collection schedules.
• Target communications to reduce contamination and promote food waste recycling.
• Monitor the effectiveness of interventions year-on-year.
• Plan future infrastructure investment based on accurate evidence, not assumptions.

Seasonal waste will never disappear entirely - celebrations are part of community life. But by aligning data, policy, and public engagement, local authorities can reduce its impact, cut unnecessary costs, and move closer to a truly circular model of resource use.

For Waste Composition Analysis enquiries please get in touch below!

The post The Impact of Seasonal Waste on Local Authorities appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Hello, and Welcome to Our October Newsletter

This month we'll be updating you on our experience at the Resource & Waste Management Expo, highlighting some of our most successful integrations and how they could work for you, and bringing some exciting new tech to your attention.

Resource & Waste Management Expo 2025

We always enjoy the RWM Expo, and this year was no different.

Our Business Development Director, Stuart Henshaw and Jonathan Uttley, our Implementations Consultant (above) manned our stand and had some great conversations with industry peers, as well as existing and prospective clients.

Simon Erskine, one of our Senior Developers, caught up with Danielle Baci from RouteSmart Technologies, our route optimisation software supplier (below). It's always a pleasure to meet with our tech partners in real life!

Some of the new tech on display was really inspiring and exciting to see too...

Integrations

We’ve been shouting about the need for integrated solutions since our formation (hence the name), and we're seeing outstanding results for our clients in this area.

Our latest integrations with other specialist software include:

• CRM Services - SmartSuite includes an Integrations API which connects to your CRM system (for example, Microsoft Dynamics), enabling your teams to view the ‘real-time’ service status for an address. We've now reduced double-handling further, and enabled CRM teams to make important service information changes within SmartSuite via our Integrations API.
• SmartSuite Power BI Connector - For Waste Managers, the routine service information gathered by SmartSuite forms powerful ‘service intelligence’ which can now be analysed - harnessing the power of Power BI via the SmartSuite Power BI Connector. Managers benefit from advanced reporting, allowing them to view trends and patterns.
• Fleetclear Vehicle Cameras - Integration work between Fleetclear and Integrated Skills means that clients with the Fleetclear Camera system can view footage within SmartSuite. Live cameras can be viewed within the SmartSuite platform, and short CCTV clips related to a specific service report (such as a non-presented bin) can be attached to the address service history, and viewed if the report is contested.
• Teltonika Telematics - SmartSuite is gaining traction in the street cleansing environment. By integrating with Teltonika, we give clients the ability to follow live routes and brushes/up/down data. Our partnership with nomix enviro also provides a live view of spray bar on/off. Clients can search for previous sweeping evidence too - we're excited about the possibilities for the further integration of telematics in the future.

Read more about our integrations in our April 2025 blog:

https://www.integrated-skills.com/intelligent-integration-technology/

Binsight has caught our eye!

While wandering around the RWM expo there is always something new to see, and one innovation that grabbed our attention was an intelligent helper/service bin solution to help authorities monitor resident’s participation in food waste collections.

The bin is wheeled along the footpath away from the vehicle, and each time the bin crew empty a food caddy into the bin, an ‘intelligent’ sensor automatically records the date/time/location stamp.

There are no codes or code-readers, and no bin-chipping required.

The Binsight system from Biffa, provides authorities with this GPS data, which can be analysed to show participation levels along each street. When linked with Power BI, it can be integrated with national statistics to identify trends and target interventions.

This tech is a free-standing project for Biffa - meaning you don't need to be an existing customer to utilise the scheme.

For more information, email binsight@biffa.co.uk.

Integrated Skills will be at the annual LARAC conference on the 8th & 9th October at the Hotel Metropole, Birmingham.

Stuart Henshaw & Andy Clewes will be presenting RouteSmart Optimize, and our SmartSuite (in-cab and back-office) solution. We’ll also be open to any waste composition analysis chat too.

Come and say hello 👋

“ISL are knowledgeable, friendly and apply both common sense and logic to their projects which is invaluable.”

Si Pocock-Cluley, Head of Operations Value & Innovation, Ubico

A life-time, partnership approach to working with clients has led to decades of success since our incorporation in 1993.

We have continually developed new and innovative software and services for clients since our inception, and will continue to create the tools our sector needs for many years to come.

Helpful Links

• Digital Waste Tracking with Integrated Skills
• Identifying Contaminated Bins: Why Modern Tech Requires Smart Management
• Intelligent Integration Technology

The post October 2025 Newsletter appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Exploring current challenges facing UK local authority commercial waste collection operations

“Its an increasingly competitive market” says Stuart Henshaw, Business Development Director at Integrated Skills and former Waste Manager of Selby District Council, “so councils that want to develop sources of competitive advantage against private sector operators must identify opportunities and capitalise on them to differentiate themselves”. The potential sources of competitive advantage can be within existing operational practices or in the market.

Stuart continues “Identifying and capitalising on additional income from side waste is one area I advise clients to look”. In years gone by crews would empty the bin and also collect whatever was next to it. Today, with mobile technology and software apps, crews can photograph side waste and log it as a potential additional collection opportunity that customer have to pay for. Conversely, customer can upload photos to their account in the waste management system via a web portal and request a quote for the side waste collection.

Automating internal business process to drive down costs is another source of competitive advantage. Where possible customer processes are automated, such as, new commercial waste customer sign-ups. However, there is a long  involved process here including the processing of duty of care and contract documentation, production of quotes by client type, waste type & location typically from a schedule of rates, data transfer from commercial waste management software with the finance (invoicing) and payment systems as well as the management of communication between the prospective client and the commercial waste team.

Applying various pricing strategies to maximise revenue is key to success requiring a functionally rich analytics and reporting element in the waste management software so that managers can apply price rises or discounts based on customer type, customer location, frequency of collections, and service history.

Operationally, software solutions need to have both in-cab and/or smartphone apps that incorporate both navigation and service verification to manage commercial (trade) waste services. Last minute requests for additional collections can be processed at HQ, including payment, added to the route sequence and downloaded to the device with additional instructions or the crews. Also, when clients have failed to pay their location can be added to the ‘stop list’ and crews alerted accordingly.

Private sector waste collectors invest in technology to derive a source of competitive advantage. Local authorities need to do the same to become competitive though technology is not the only lever: A well thought out pricing strategy is just as essential.

The post Commercial Waste Collection – Current Challenges appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Local Authorities & The Anaerobic Digestion Sector: Will They Avoid Making a Stink?

As the Government’s Simpler Recycling deadlines edge closer, we’re turning our thoughts to food waste. The reforms include a requirement for Local Authorities to provide regular food waste collection services, starting with businesses in March 2025. Households across the country can expect a weekly food waste collection from March 2026.

The Anaerobic Digestion sector will no doubt be pleased at the news, but how will this huge uplift in processing power be achieved? And how will Local Authorities guarantee the weekly collections promised by central Government?

Here we’ll be explaining why the reforms are great news for the environment. We’ll also be discussing the barriers to the successful implementation of the great food waste plan- from funding and infrastructure, to the delicate issue of plant locations…

Why is Food Waste Management So Important?

The term “food waste” will likely bring simple table scraps to mind. But the issue runs deeper than you may think. For every wasted slice of bread and discarded vegetable, all the resources used to create that food are wasted too. Think about the energy, fuel and water that will have gone into their production from farm to table.

Once the food has been discarded and those resources have been wasted, the materials then decompose. This releases methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

“When we throw away food, we also throw away the precious resources that went into producing this food. This includes the use of land and natural resources, the social cost to the environment, and our biodiversity. Food waste accounts for one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and generates 8% of greenhouse gases annually. With these statistics in place, there is a huge need to reduce this environmental footprint.” Earth.org

Food waste results from discarded, out of date produce from supermarkets, table scraps from homes and restaurants, and bi-products of food preparation such as peelings and trimmings. The Government has committed to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030 (against a 2015 baseline) in line with the UN’s sustainable development goals.

Anaerobic Digestion: The Basics

Anaerobic Digestion is the process through which food waste can be broken down into useful components, without adding greenhouse gases to our atmosphere and without the use of oxygen.

It’s a biological process whereby food waste is “digested” by mico-organisms in airtight, dark containers to produce bio-gas and organic fertiliser.

The process:

• Food waste is collected and poured into bunkers.
• A macerator then removes any packaging and chops the food waste up to speed up the digestion process.
• This mush is then mixed with liquid food waste.
• The mixture is then heated to remove any unwanted bacteria.
• It’s then moved to the digestion tanks, where bacteria break the food down

Effectively, four products are produced from anaerobic digestion:

• Digestate: Organic, nitrogen-rich fertiliser which can be used by farmers in place of chemical fertilisers.
• Biogas: Mostly made up of methane and carbon dioxide, this mixture of natural gases can be burnt to create electricity for the National Grid or upgraded into Biomethane.
• Biomethane (gas): Created by separating out the carbon dioxide and other gases, biomethane can be injected into the gas network for use in homes and industry as it’s chemically identical to natural gas.
• Biomethane (liquid): The biomethane gas can be compressed into liquid form too. This can be used as a fuel for transport.

This process is very cost-effective when compared to landfill or incineration fees. Food waste weighs far more than other forms of waste, making it very expensive to process in traditional ways. If it’s not separated out from other waste, it adds significant weight, causing local councils to pay a premium at landfill and incineration sites.

As a simple, cost-effective and environmentally friendly option, anaerobic digestion is the Government’s preferred process.

What Do Local Authorities Need to Consider?

The required food waste services will create an entirely new waste stream for many Local Authorities. This will mean changes throughout the waste management plan; from household starter kits to public engagement, new vehicles and upgraded depots.

Anaerobic digestion operators are poised and ready to handle the uplift in food waste heading their way, but what do Local Authorities need to consider when working out how they will handle this new waste stream?

Costs:

With little information forthcoming re how this will be funded and what Anaerobic digestion operators will charge, Local Authorities are currently planning in the dark.

Plant locations:

Much of the country is well-covered, but some regions do not have enough plants to handle the expected increases in demand. This may mean additional planning and costs due to the need for storing and bulking food waste in sealed skips for transportation to processing plants.

When it comes to building new plants or converting existing sites for this new purpose, the public may pose an issue. While the digestion chambers are sealed, plants still pose an issue around odour.

This issue is already in the news with a proposal halted for a site in Newhaven due to resident concerns about noise, smell and vermin.

Choosing an operator:

Many factors must be considered when arranging contracts with anaerobic digestion operators.

Location is top of the list- they must have sites in your area that are well-positioned to avoid complaints. They must also be well-designed and maintained.

Health and safety must be a clear priority for operators due to the risks of fires, explosions and pollution caused by the natural gases involved. They must also be able to demonstrate how they avoid contaminants entering the system (such as grit and plastic) which can cause downtime for cleaning.

Great questions to ask include:

• What is their protocol for contaminated tanks? Do they have a contingency plan for any downtime?
• Can they handle the packaging levels expected from your area?
• How often do they reject loads? What level of contamination is accepted?
• Are staff dedicated to working through problems in partnership with you?
• What vehicles are accepted?

How Integrated Skills Can Help

While there are so many unknowns for Local Authorities, we can help arm you with relevant information. Through our network of local authority waste management experts, we can ensure your questions are answered and put you in touch with those in the know.

Through our own effective waste composition analysis services, you can determine how much food is currently in the residual stream and prepare yourself and any future contractors for the amount of food waste expected.

Understanding the expected level of food waste to be collected is vital for your fleet. Effective planning for additional vehicles, vehicles with food pods or outsourced services can be achieved with our route optimisation and route planning software called “RouteSmart”.

Speak to us today for expert support during this challenging time.

The post Will They Avoid Making a Stink? appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Under the Government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, the UK is headed for a new era in food waste collection. Local Authorities have been tasked with arranging a food waste collection service by March 2025 for businesses, March 2026 for households and March 2027 for micro-firms.

The reforms sound like a positive step towards Net Zero, but there is substantial concern among Locals Authorities that funding gaps will put a stop to the changes before they even begin. The logistics of servicing England’s varied housing stock may also prove challenging.

Here we’ll be outlining the proposed changes (including why, on paper, the changes would be fantastic for the environment), while also examining the issues faced by Local Authorities in implementing the Government’s plans.

Why is Food Waste Top of the Agenda?

According to the most recent research by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), UK households currently produce around 6.4 million tonnes of food waste per year. They put it into perspective beautifully:

“If food waste were a country, it would be the world’s third largest emitter after China and the USA.”

Obviously, the ideal situation would be to simply reduce the amount of food wasted, but until that issue can be tackled significantly, the collection and proper treatment of food waste is imperative.

Back in 2020, DEFRA ran a consultation into the effect of kerbside food waste collection. They found that "if all local authorities provided kerbside food waste collection, the amount of food waste collected would increase by 1.35 million tonnes by 2029 - reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1.25 million tonnes per year."

The Government has committed to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030 (against a 2015 baseline) in line with the UN’s sustainable development goals.

The Funding Challenge

So, we know why it’s important. But how can Local Authorities make this happen during a time of over-stretched budgets? The District Councils’ Network (DCN) have identified an average budget deficit of £210,000 per district council.

As detailed by Let’s Recycle, the funding gap will mean that councils will struggle to acquire the vehicles and containers required to enact the new collections. This expected shortfall doesn’t take into account the funding required to expand depots, as the Government has indicated that they will not be funding these requirements.

Local authorities are right to be concerned, and surprised, as the expectation has always been that Government will cover the “reasonable costs of new burdens”, which certainly doesn’t seem to be the case here.

Cllr Sarah Nelmes (environment spokesperson of the DCN) summarised the funding issues:

“The Government’s Simpler Recycling plan will mean significant service changes at many councils. New waste lorries, bins and, in some cases, larger depots will be required, all at great expense. The funding currently on offer is nowhere near enough…”

The Logistical Challenges

The Government’s Simpler Recycling press release states that the reforms “will apply to all homes in England, including flats. Similar measures will apply to non-household municipal premises, including businesses, hospitals, schools and universities.”

Regarding non-household premises, they stated that they will be “launching a four-week consultation on expanding the definition of non-household municipal premises – so that places of worship, prisons, charity shops and residential hostels could also be covered by the rules.”

Waste management is already tricky business when it comes to blocks of flats. The new food waste requirements will mean individual caddies and liners for residents to keep in their kitchens and a shared food waste store for them to empty their liners into throughout the week. The cost of these supplies will be extensive and ongoing. The scheme also requires a commitment from residents to change their habits and make almost daily trips down to a shared container.

Fife Council recently ran a 12-week food collection trial for high rise blocks in their area. Their objectives were to:

• Maximise participation in food waste service
• Learn about barriers and enablers
• Trial communication materials
• Gather insights for food waste service rollout across high and midrise properties

They added touch-free pedal bins to properties across Fife and provided residents with individual caddies. The main complaints received when they ran a survey were that the liners broke too easily, the caddies often smelled and that getting them down to the communal bin was challenging. They also found that participants struggled to get hold of caddy liners in the local shops.

The positives reported, were that refuse bins needed emptying less and stayed cleaner. Residents also reported that the refuse chutes in the building were cleaner and less smelly too.

Fife Council found that participation was closely linked to outreach, with food waste weight peaking during weeks where residents were contacted or engaged in some way. This shows the level of commitment (and funding) needed for local authorities to encourage engagements in their communities.

The Effect on Local Authorities

The food waste services now required will create an entirely new waste stream for many Local Authorities. This will mean changes throughout the waste management plan; from new vehicles to household starter kit distribution, to public engagement and upgraded depots.

One of Integrated Skills’ clients, Guernsey Waste, recently presented at the National Food Waste Conference in London. Their presentation really drove home the level of change required for them when they began their food waste collections in 2018. The necessary changes will be similar for most Local Authorities across the country.

Guernsey is a genuine success story for the implementation of food waste collection. Their key areas of consideration included:

• Infrastructure (waste transfer station, removal of non-organic material, pumpable liquid sent for anaerobic digestion)
• Collections (parishes and contractors, weekly collection, different sizes and constraints, charges for residual, communal arrangements)
• Equipment (starter kits for households, use of liners, distribution network)
• Public Engagement (drop-ins, leaflets, social media, office resources)

Their approach saw a 92%-95% participation rate by 2020, resulting in the collection of 3349 tonnes of household food waste and 1534 tonnes of commercial food waste in 2022. That’s a 33.6% increase in collections since 2019.

Guernsey’s advice for success?

• Know your starting position & measure your success
• Communication with all key stakeholders
• Get feedback early on & act upon it
• Ensure you plan enough time to engage and roll out service
• Determine possible incentives

That informed starting position and continuous measurement of success is where Integrated Skills can help. It was a pleasure to work with Guernsey for their plans and to continue to support them in their great efforts.

It remains to be seen how England’s Local Authorities will rise to this challenge. We feel that the issue of funding will be a genuine barrier to success, and we hope to see the Government acknowledge their responsibility to work with current pricing data and to meet their obligations in funding new burdens.

The post England’s New Food Waste Plan – Will it be Countrywide? appeared first on Integrated Skills.