Southern Water is now recycling 100% of its biosolids waste, a by-product of the treatment process which is now being recycled as a fertiliser.
Until recently, all of this - about 10,000 tonnes a year, including the debris which ends up at treatment works like wet wipes and cotton buds. went to landfill. With the support of partner MTS, which has opened a state-of-the-art recycling plant at its depot in Hoo, Kent, it is all now recycled into compost.
In addition, since July, no waste from the company's works or offices has been sent to landfill, putting it among the industry leaders in this area.
Southern Water’s Waste & Recycling Manager Nigel Heward said:
“This is a huge achievement which we’re determined to make normal practice. We’ve long had a desire to be greener when it comes to recycling and this puts us among the class leaders.
“Of course, we’d prefer it if some of these things didn’t end up in the network in the first place as they can block sewers causing huge problems before they even reach our treatment works. But it is reassuring to know that all the ‘unflushable’ items collected at our sites are now not going to landfill.”
UK water companies are invited to join an upcoming webinar which will explore how the sector can take indirect potable reuse (IPR) from concept to full-scale operational reality.
James Sumsion, CEO of predictive water intelligence specialists Kohtari, says the water sector needs to take a giant leap forward, so that it can anticipate and act upon water quality issues - rather than merely react.
Ray Moulds, Sales Director at Flood Control International, takes a look at how automated sliding floodgates are supporting secondary containment at water and sewerage company sites.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.