BASILDON Council’s Waste and Recycling team has been shortlisted for three prestigious national awards, recognising its innovative approach to service delivery, sustainability, and operational excellence.
The team has been named a finalist in two categories at the Fleet Vision International Awards, alongside fleet contractor NRG Riverside. These awards celebrate excellence across the entire fleet industry, beyond local government and waste services.
Basildon Council has been shortlisted for:
- Fleet Team of the Year– recognising strong partnership working to deliver frontline public services, proactively meeting evolving legislative requirements, and leading the adoption of new technologies.
- Most Innovative Fleet Management Strategy– highlighting the council’s electric fleet initiative, including the introduction of the UK’s first fully electric food waste collection service, ahead of many other local authorities.
In addition, the council has been shortlisted at the Awards for Excellence in Recycling & Waste Management 2026 in the Service Change at a Local Authority Level category. This nomination recognises the council’s in-cab technology project and wider digital transformation of waste and recycling services.
The digital improvements have delivered significant benefits, including reducing missed collections, cutting service request resolution times by 60%, and increasing compliance with service level agreements by 35%. The initiative has also boosted staff engagement and accountability, while fostering positive competition between crews, all while generating savings of over £200,000.
The Fleet Vision International Awards will take place on 23 April, with the recycling and waste management awards following on 13 May.
James Hendry, Assistant Director for Environment, Climate Change and Open Spaces at Basildon Council, said:
“Being shortlisted for these awards is a fantastic recognition of the dedication and innovation shown by our Waste and Recycling team and our partners. They have embraced new technology and ways of working to deliver real, measurable improvements for our residents.
“From pioneering food waste collection using electric vehicles to transforming our services through digital tools, this work demonstrates what can be achieved through strong teamwork and a clear focus on outcomes. I’m incredibly proud to see their efforts recognised on a national stage.”
These nominations highlight Basildon Council’s ongoing commitment to delivering efficient, sustainable, and resident-focused services, while leading the way in innovation across the sector.
