Following Biffa Group’s acquisition of Greenstar UK in late 2010, Verdant has changed its operating name to that of Biffa.
A bright new future
After several months of detailed planning, the Verdant business and its 24 local authority contracts were merged with Biffa’s municipal division. This restructuring has substantially expanded Biffa’s presence, capacity and expertise in the local authority sector, and will help the company to identify business growth opportunities and secure new clients.
As part of one of the country’s biggest recycling, waste management and energy-from-waste businesses, the now-enlarged municipal division today provides refuse, recycling, street cleansing and grounds maintenance services for 40 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.
In 2011, the division won two new contracts tendered by three local authorities (two in partnership), while its South Oxfordshire District Council client was ranked best in England by industry website letsrecycle for its 70% recycling, reuse and composting rate in 2010-11.
Another client, Surrey Heath Borough Council, won the Local Authority Target Success category of the prestigious National Recycling Awards. Its new recycling scheme helped it beat its 60% recycling and composting target some 15 years early.
Fast and flexible response
The municipal division’s ability to respond quickly and flexibly to customer needs is enhanced by its flat management structure and short lines of communication. Two regional directors work closely with five regional managers to ensure service standards and quality are operational reality, while local business managers are empowered to make autonomous decisions.
They are all supported by a ‘hands on’ board of directors who lead business strategy and development, client satisfaction and liaison with other Biffa divisions.
Biffa's municipal division employs over 2,500 staff and deploys some 1,000 vehicles to deliver efficient, high quality services to nearly two million households. It makes around three million collections every week, delivering refuse to landfill and recyclable materials to Biffa processing facilities and other reprocessor partners.
