FCC Environment Sustainability Report 2020 2 FCC Sustainability Report 2020 Welcome to FCC Environment from waste to resource United Nations sustainable development goals The United Nations has adopted 17 global goals to build a better world by 2030. Together with our employees, customers and partners, we are contributing to many of the goals, from clean energy to sustainable cities and climate action. Front cover Gemma Green Buckinghamshire Waste Awareness & Education Manager This page Alan Shayler Banksman at Bletchley Welcome CEO Foreword Who We Are FCC in Numbers Highlights and Environmental People Focus Doing the Right Thing Forward Thinking Get in Touch and What We Do Investments Commitment 3 FCC Sustainability Report 2020 Foreword Paul Taylor Chief Executive Officer FCC Environment UK Last year will go down in history as a state of Our achievements show a robust, adaptable emergency not seen since the last war, and business, but the underlying story is all I would like to thank every one of the staff about our people. While Key Worker status that makes up FCC Environment for helping enabled us to keep vital services running, to deliver essential services at a time of our staff were under enormous pressure to national crisis. ensure the safety of colleagues, members of the public and other businesses. They As a business, we have not just stayed responded by adapting, supporting each afloat; we have progressed. Despite tough other and displaying a strength of spirit that conditions, we triumphed in the prestigious has been rewarded by a huge outpouring of British Safety Council International Safety goodwill from the public. Award 2020. We mobilised collection operations in Central Bedfordshire and FCC Environment has always thrived thanks HWRC management in Kent, and also to the strength of its people. In 2020, this formed a new partnership with iCon, to has done us proud, and we look forward to invest into our energy business and the 2021 knowing we are hardy, flexible, and formation of Green Recovery Projects. prepared. Welcome CEO Foreword Who We Are FCC in Numbers Highlights and Environmental People Focus Doing the Right Thing Forward Thinking Get in Touch and What We Do Investments Commitment 4 FCC Sustainability Report 2020 United Nations sustainable development goals Who We Are and What We Do After an unprecedented year of change for us all, living through a global pandemic, our sector has now been given Key Worker status, with the value we deliver to society widely recognised by the public and politicians alike. land FCC Environment is a modern, Our vision is to create development progressive company that sustainable, carbon-neutral prides itself on innovation. We communities. Our portfolio focus on UK infrastructure and of strategic brownfield land match steady growth with a holdings can play a significant commitment to employees that role that will unlock land for has been rewarded with multiple development, create jobs and awards. boost productivity, while also Business & Recycling Green Energy Waste Processing Land Development promoting economic growth. Municipal Services Our award-winning Our energy recovery We provide a fully- Our vision is to create As the UK prepares to FCC Environment provides a household waste recycling capacity continues to grow, comprehensive service sustainable, carbon-neutral revolutionise the way it While contract wins make wide range of environmental centres and materials helping to keep Britain’s to all our customers, communities. At the heart recycles with the adoption of the headlines, the seamless services across the UK and recovery facilities provide lights on without costing managing complex and of this process is the DEFRA’s Resources and Waste running of day-to-day delivers a superb level of the highest quality materials the earth. The heat and hazardous waste streams need to build on effective Strategy, we are preparing for operations is a testament to the service to both business and for reprocessing into new electricity generated by our as well as providing advice partnerships – in close change. Our diverse range of professionalism of our teams local authority customers. products. Our food waste facilities replaces the need on compliance, waste liaison with the community – infrastructure continues to grow, on the ground. We look to the Our facilities manage collections provide valuable for fossil fuels and imported reduction and circular to respond to housing enabling us to extract maximum future, encouraging apprentices commercial, industrial, green energy and return energy, while providing economy opportunities. needs, and create value from waste that cannot and young people to learn municipal and third party nutrients to British farmland, a safe and sustainable Our customers value our employment, training and be recycled. Increasingly, with us, as we thrive from their waste, ensuring consistent supporting a restorative, disposal route for non- cost-effective, trouble-free education opportunities, our contracts include new enthusiasm and fresh ideas. As throughput and a thriving circular economy. recyclable wastes. and dependable service. all within sustainable ways to add value – reuse and our staff take care of collections business model. developments. community initiatives feature and sites, our industry-leading highly on our agenda. We also health and safety programmes actively participate in debate take care of staff. and consultation around future policy. Welcome CEO Foreword Who We Are FCC in Numbers Highlights and Environmental People Focus Doing the Right Thing Forward Thinking Get in Touch and What We Do Investments Commitment 5 FCC Sustainability Report 2020 The Environment Bill Tackling waste Devolved The Political crime and enforcing administrations When passed, the Environment Bill will introduce a number of regulation Landscape significant pieces of legislation, including the Deposit Return Scheme The Scottish Government has committed (DRS), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging Waste, to becoming a zero-waste society Legislative and economic The waste management industry widely consistent recycling collections, and the implementation of the acknowledges that greater resources are with a circular economy. 2025 will see drivers encourage Office for Environmental Protection. needed to tackle waste crime. the introduction of ambitious targets, investment in infrastructure including the reduction of total waste It has been suggested that the Bill will receive Royal Assent in the While some progress has been made, the across Scotland by 15% of 2011 levels. and market growth. As we autumn, around the time of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference last year saw an increase in fly-tipping, Food waste will also be reduced by 33% of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. emerge from the lockdowns as the number of enforcement actions against 2013 levels, with 70% of remaining of the last year, we will begin dropped. The industry should be calling waste recycled. to navigate the human and for additional, ringfenced resources and Resources and Waste Strategy tougher enforcement as soon as possible, In Wales, the planned waste and resources economic impact. In the strategy will see the introduction of In 2018, the government published its Resources and Waste Strategy especially in advance of changes like the meantime, proposed new business waste regulations in 2021, for England – a 25-year plan for the sector to eliminate avoidable DRS, which has the potential to be targeted followed by the UK’s new extended legislation will have a major waste of all kinds by 2050. While the government remains committed by serious, organised criminals. producer responsibility system for impact on the activities of to the strategy, there is not scheduled to be a review and revision packaging waste coming into force in our sector. until late 2023 or early 2024. 2023. Under Welsh plans for a circular economy, 2025 targets call for a 50% Net zero reduction in avoidable food waste, and a 70% household, municipal and industrial Environment is a key priority for this government, and every sector recycling rate. Both Scotland and Wales is expected to demonstrate its commitment to reaching the 2050 will hold elections in May 2021. net zero target quickly. While the waste sector has nearly halved 78% its carbon emissions since 2008, work is still needed to reach the While the waste sector has government target of a 78% cut by 2035. After a year of necessary operational change to allow nearly halved its carbon us to cope with the challenges of COVID-19, our sector emissions since 2008, work is moving towards a period of extensive policy change. is still needed to reach the government target of a 78% The outcomes will drive the future of our industry cut by 2035 for decades to come. FCC Environment is actively engaged with government and other stakeholders to shape these changes and ensure that they really deliver a more resource-efficient UK. As a business, we stand ready to step up to the challenges ahead.” Julie Fourcade Head of External Affairs, FCC Environment Welcome CEO Foreword Who We Are FCC in Numbers Highlights and Environmental People Focus Doing the Right Thing Forward Thinking Get in Touch and What We Do Investments Commitment 6 FCC Sustainability Report 2020 The race to net zero To further drive the journey Eastcroft to net zero, as a sector we district heating Climate change is placing a devastating effect on are setting challenging Eastcroft Energy from Waste facility is at the our world. Over the last two decades, we have seen targets: centre of the Nottingham District Heating a dramatic increase in climate-related disasters Scheme. It produces heat and power for such as floods and heatwaves and, unless we act • All on-site fuels for recycling, transfer local users, combusting up to 200,000 fast, the rate of occurrence will only speed up. stations, MRFs, composting, AD, and EfW tonnes of non-hazardous waste each year facilities to be replaced with 100% and generating 20 megawatts of energy.