UK Power Networks (UKPN) has earned platinum certification after successfully diverting 99.4% of its recoverable waste away from landfill.<\/p>\n
The certification was awarded following an audit of its 2024\/2025 waste streams by Beyondly, which UKPN described as a \u201ccertified B Corp environmental compliance scheme and consultancy\u201d.<\/p>\n
UKPN is a distribution network operator that delivers electricity to nearly 20M people in London, the South East and East of the UK.<\/p>\n
The company said in a statement it \u201csought to minimise sending recoverable waste to landfill by the end of 2025\u201d and requested Beyondly\u2019s audit of its progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe independent audit pored over data from the 2024\/25 period that included 131 sites where waste is collected and seven of the company\u2019s waste service providers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Results from the Beyondly audit showed that UKPN achieved a 99.4% platinum diversion rate, with streetworks waste included, and a 96.7% gold diversion rate when excluding streetworks waste, such as excavated materials including stones and soil.<\/p>\n
The power company explained that it carries out more than 40,000 roadworks every year as part of its work to maintain and install underground electricity cables and this produces \u201ca significant proportion of the firm\u2019s total waste\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cStreetworks waste alone reached a near-perfect 99.9% recycling rate, outperforming the 99.5% target\u201d, UKPN said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeyondly highlights that landfill may still occur for certain regulated hazardous wastes, or where landfill is mandated by law, and distinguishes this from avoidable non-hazardous landfill.\u201d<\/p>\n
UK Power Networks head of environment and sustainability Mark Norman hailed the certification as \u201csignificant\u201d and acknowledged that some waste to landfill from UKPN is unavoidable.<\/p>\n
\u201cAchieving platinum certification is a significant milestone for UK Power Networks and reflects our effort to reduce waste and maximise reuse and recycling across our operations\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndependent verification by Beyondly gives confidence in our approach and demonstrates that, while some landfill is unavoidable due to regulation, we are going beyond compliance to eliminate avoidable non\u2011hazardous waste wherever possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyondly lead consultant for resource efficiency and circularity Chris Smith said: \u201cTowards the end of 2025, UK Power Networks engaged the waste optimisation services of the consulting team at Beyondly to perform a third-party Zero Waste to Landfill Certification review and audit, applying the waste hierarchy to all hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams generated in operational activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur approach was collaborative from the start, and all parties agreed there was an opportunity to build on certification and seek opportunities to engage with waste service providers and the circular economy to continuously improve and minimise the environmental impact of operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeyondly are thrilled to continue supporting UK Power Networks during 2026 to build on the successful certification.\u201d<\/p>\n