The Month in One Line
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme launch in October 2026 is producing urgent waste procurement across English councils — June was the busiest month for waste notices since 2019.
What Moved in June
Kerbside recycling infrastructure: the EPR scheme requires councils to offer seven-stream kerbside recycling from October 2026. Nineteen councils that do not currently meet this standard published procurement notices in June for collection vehicles, bins, and processing capacity. Total estimated value of June EPR-related notices: £180m.
Waste collection contract renewals: eight councils awarded major waste collection contracts in June. The largest: Wakefield Council's integrated waste and recycling contract (£124m over 8 years, awarded to Suez). Leeds, Bristol, and Wiltshire also awarded contracts.
Food waste collection: mandatory food waste collection (England) begins October 2026. Thirty-one councils without current food waste services published procurement notices in June. Caddy distribution, food waste vehicles, and anaerobic digestion capacity are all in scope.
Street cleansing: eleven councils published street cleansing and environmental maintenance contracts in June, with environmental enforcement as a standard lot addition.
Who Is Buying Right Now
- District councils in two-tier areas: district councils bear the EPR kerbside obligation. 74 district councils have active or imminent procurement for EPR-compliant collection services.
- Unitary authorities: 28 unitary authorities published waste-related notices in June.
- Waste disposal authorities: county-level waste disposal authorities are procuring additional processing capacity ahead of the EPR dry recyclables flood.
Forward Signals for July
DEFRA publishes EPR compliance enforcement guidance in July. Councils that are not compliant will face intervention — and will procure urgently to avoid it.
The Simpler Recycling Regulations come into force for non-household premises in July. This opens a new commercial waste service procurement market as businesses seek compliant solutions.
The Number That Matters
31 — councils with no food waste collection service as of 1 June 2026 that must be compliant by October. Each one is an urgent procurement event.
AtlasRevenue tracks waste and water procurement across England daily. Run a scan to identify which councils in your area have live EPR and waste procurement now.
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