Sustainable Waste Management at ExCeL London

About ExCel

ExCeL London is a premier international exhibition and convention centre located in the heart of London’s historic Royal Docks. Since its opening in November 2000, ExCeL has become a cornerstone of the city’s event landscape, hosting a diverse array of exhibitions, conferences, and live events. 

Venue Size and Facilities

Spanning an impressive 100,000 square meters of flexible event space, ExCeL London offers unparalleled versatility for event organisers. The venue includes London’s International Convention Centre (ICC London ExCeL), which houses the UK’s largest auditorium with a seating capacity of up to 5,000 attendees. Additionally, it features London’s largest banqueting hall, accommodating up to 3,000 guests, and a multifunctional conference suite designed to host up to 2,500 delegates. 

The event halls are designed for efficiency and accessibility, boasting 87,328 square meters of column-free space divided into North and South halls. These halls can accommodate up to 68,750 visitors simultaneously, making them ideal for large-scale events. The infrastructure includes 7.2-meter-wide drive-in doorways and a three-lane lorry way to facilitate quick build-up and breakdown, ensuring seamless transitions between events. 

Diverse Range of Events

ExCeL London hosts approximately 400 events annually, catering to a wide spectrum of industries and interests. Notable events include the MCM London Comic Con, the World Travel Market, and the London Boat Show. The venue has also been the chosen location for significant international gatherings, such as the 2009 G-20 London Summit and various sporting events during the 2012 Olympic Games. 

In addition to large-scale exhibitions and conferences, ExCeL accommodates a variety of other events, including corporate meetings, product launches, and cultural festivals. Its adaptable spaces and state-of-the-art facilities make it a preferred choice for event organisers seeking a dynamic and accessible venue in London. 

Introduction

ExCel London has partnered with Bywaters, a leading UK waste management company, to drive its sustainability strategy, improve waste segregation, and enhance recycling performance across its operations. This collaboration is a key pillar of ExCel’s commitment to reducing environmental impact, as outlined in their first Sustainability Report published in December 2024. 

Through on-site waste audits, staff training, and strategic waste reduction plans, this partnership has already boosted recycling rates to 56.2%, with an ambitious goal of 75% by 2025. ExCel and Bywaters continue to work together to implement a comprehensive, data-driven approach to waste management, ensuring best practices in line with UK waste regulations and circular economy principles. 

Optimising Waste Management Through Collaboration

To ensure effective waste management, Bywaters provides a dedicated on-site Account Manager who visits at least once a week. ExCel further strengthened this partnership by appointing a Waste Manager, ensuring a seamless integration of sustainability initiatives across its operations. 

A key focus of this partnership has been contamination reduction, a challenge commonly faced in large-scale event spaces. Bywaters’ weekly container inspections have led to a substantial improvement in contamination levels, ensuring that recyclables remain uncontaminated and reducing landfill dependency. 

As part of ExCel’s broader 28-point Waste Strategy Plan, this initiative aligns with its circular economy commitment, helping to transform waste into a valuable resource rather than an environmental burden. Bi-weekly waste management meetings ensure both teams track progress, refine strategies, and continuously improve sustainability outcomes. 

Key Achievements & Sustainability Initiatives

Improved Recycling Rates & Waste Segregation

• ExCel has reached a 56.2% recycling rate, with a target of 75% by 2025.
• Glass and confidential waste collections were introduced in January 2025, further improving waste stream segregation.
• A coffee cup recycling scheme is set to launch, reinforcing ExCel’s role in tackling single-use waste in the UK events industry.
• Waste audits are regularly conducted, ensuring that recyclable and non-recyclable materials are correctly separated at the source.

ExCel has also introduced a rate card for each event, allowing for clearer waste management planning and cost transparency, ensuring sustainability remains a core focus for event organisers. 

Driving Employee Engagement & Training

• Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Tour: ExCel staff visited Bywaters’ state-of-the-art MRF in London, gaining insight into how recyclables are sorted and processed.
• Training Video for Staff: A custom staff training video on best practices in waste segregation and recycling plays on loop in cleaning staff rooms, ensuring continuous education. 
• BRAD Training(Bywaters Reporting Analytics Dashboard): ExCel has benefited from Bywaters’ data-driven approach to waste reporting through BRAD, a custom analytics dashboard that provides real-time insights into waste generation, recycling rates, and contamination levels. This has enabled more informed decision-making, improved tracking of sustainability KPIs, and greater accountability for waste management improvements.

These initiatives, highlighted in ExCel’s Sustainability Report, have played a key role in enhancing staff awareness, ensuring waste is sorted correctly and driving behavioural change within the organisation.

Seamless Waste Management & Sustainable Growth

Bywaters ensured a smooth transition from the previous waste management provider, implementing enhanced sustainability measures from day one. The partnership has also introduced: 

• Event-specific waste strategies, ensuring bespoke waste solutions for different types of events. 
• Waste Ambassadors: Trained personnel supporting waste segregation and event production sustainability. 
• Improved data capturing for event-specific waste reports, aligning with ExCel’s goal of enhancing sustainability tracking and reporting. 

With a clear roadmap to 2025, ExCel and Bywaters continue to explore new opportunities to:

✓ Increasing recycling rates across all waste streams

✓ Reducing general waste volumes through better waste prevention strategies

✓ Expanding on-site waste segregation infrastructure

✓ Encouraging staff participation in sustainability initiatives

Conclusion

This strategic sustainability partnership between ExCel and Bywaters highlights how proactive waste management, data-driven decision-making, and staff engagement can drive significant environmental progress. Bywaters’ tailored solutions, informed by ExCel’s Sustainability Report, ensure that ExCel’s events are aligned with best practices in sustainable waste management. 

With a clear focus on achieving a 75% recycling rate by 2025, this collaboration sets a benchmark for UK event venues looking to enhance their waste management and circular economy contributions.