New waste depot to make Sutton cleaner and greener

Sutton Council has opened its new waste depot in Beddington. It is the latest improvement residents and businesses in the borough will see as part of the Council’s new waste and street cleaning contract with Veolia, starting today (31 March 2025). 

The depot incorporates a range of environmentally-friendly designs and equipment and has been built to the highest sustainability standards, including solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations for some of the Council’s new fleet of street cleansing vehicles. Plants and greenery will help improve biodiversity and drainage. 

The totally-rebuilt depot in Therapia Lane was launched by the Mayor of Sutton, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for the Environment along with council and Veolia staff. It will be the home for all of Sutton’s recycling, waste collection and street cleaning vehicles, as well as the base for the crews who keep our borough clean. 

A dedicated Sutton depot means lower vehicle emissions and quicker responses as vehicles no longer need to travel to depots in Croydon and Merton like before. The depot will also be home to the Council’s first-ever electric street cleaning vehicles. 

As part of the new waste and street cleaning contract, Sutton residents and businesses can look forward to a local, responsive and greener service: 

• A resident-focused service - with a special focus on improvements for residents living in flats above shops; encouraging the reduction/reuse of waste; and responding quickly to reports from residents. 
• Improved street cleaning - removing bags from streets quickly, as well as acting quickly on spillages and flytipping. 
• Action on climate change - reducing emissions with cleaner and more sustainable fuels and with small electric street cleansing vehicles; encouraging less food waste and contamination; and making recycling easier. 

Councillor Christopher Woolmer, Lead Member for the the Environment at Sutton Council, said: 
“The Therapia Lane depot in Sutton shows how the Council is investing in the future and focusing on what residents tell us they want: cleaner streets, faster responses and action on climate change. 

“Previously, the Council used depots in Croydon and Merton. Having a dedicated Sutton base will cut travel times to Sutton homes and disposal sites, as well as reduce vehicle emissions. This is a big step forward in making Sutton cleaner and greener.” 

Pascal Hauret, Managing Director for Veolia Municipal, said: 
“We are extremely proud to launch our new eight-year contract with Sutton Council at the brand new Therapia Lane depot, which will provide residents with a more efficient street cleansing and collection service. 

“The new contract will deliver increased levels of recycling, cleaner streets, and decarbonisation. It will also provide many social value initiatives that will benefit Sutton residents and our front line staff, from community funding to wellbeing support for our teams. 

“We really look forward to contributing to Sutton’s priorities to make a difference locally and deliver a more sustainable future for everyone.” 

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

• Sutton previously had its own waste depot in Beddington. During the last eight years it has been part of a shared contract with Kingston, Merton and Croydon Councils and instead used shared depot space in Merton and Croydon. The Therapia Lane facility was used for other non-waste related purposes. 
• Now Sutton has its own dedicated waste & street cleaning contract, the Council has brought the depot building back into working use for waste services. This will reduce journey times and vehicle emissions, and the depot is built to the highest environmental standards.