Removal of waste

The first Recovery Co-ordination Group took place this week. This group includes a wide range of partner organisations, who will continue to work closely together to ensure the waste removal is well co-ordinated.

As previously announced, the Environment Agency have decided to directly award the waste removal contract to Acumen Waste Services Limited. The contract is expected to start on 19 January 2026. Preliminary work on site has begun by Oxfordshire County Council, to remove any trees or shrubs that need to be cut back to ensure the safety of those entering and leaving the site. We will need to carry out further vegetation clearance later this month and into early February. This extra work is to provide better access to the waste, to enable us to remove waste efficiently. We are keeping any clearance to a minimum. This has to be completed before early spring to avoid bird nesting season and not add delays to waste removal.

The contractors are making preparations now to ensure they have plans in place and everything needed to remove the waste safely and legally. This includes making sure risks to work can be managed and mitigated as best as possible.

We expect waste removal to begin towards the end of February. We are working closely with partner organisations including Local Authorities and National Highways to have as little impact on local road networks as possible.