The Bristol BID (Business Improvement District)
The Bristol BID is a dynamic partnership of city centre businesses dedicated to making Bristol a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant destination. Established in 2017, the BID invests in the area to attract new businesses, drive investment, and welcome more people.
By pooling resources and ideas, the BID delivers impactful projects and events that attract visitors, boost local trade, and create a thriving urban environment. From enhancing street safety and cleanliness to championing Bristol’s unique culture and supporting local enterprises, the BID is at the heart of making the city centre a place where businesses flourish and people love to visit, work, and live.
Veolia's Partnership With The Bristol BID
In 2018, Veolia partnered with the Bristol BID, recognising a perfect opportunity to collaborate based on shared community values and a commitment to community engagement. This partnership aimed to drive cost-effective sustainability improvements, support environmental initiatives, and work alongside a thriving and dedicated business community.
To achieve this, we delivered an innovative resource management programme for the Bristol BID, which involves:
- Exclusive discounted rates for Bristol BID members
- Specialised collection streams for items like coffee cups and disposable vapes
- Engaging regularly with the community through site visits and events attended by dedicated waste management experts.
Our Outstanding Results
The partnership between Veolia and the Bristol BIDs has been an outstanding success for both Bristol BID members and the wider community. Veolia has delivered significant waste stream cost savings, with Bristol BID members seeing an average reduction of 40% in their monthly waste bills.
Our sustainability initiatives have also made a major positive impact, with recycling rates increasing from 34% in 2019 to 64% in 2024. These achievements have not only reduced environmental impact through less waste going to landfill, but have also fostered a cleaner, greener city centre. Building on this momentum, we continue to explore innovative solutions to further enhance sustainability and cost efficiency for Bristol’s businesses.
Stuart Elliott, Veolia's Head of Local Sales (South):
"We are proud of our longstanding partnership with Bristol BID. Their commitment to enhancing the city centre through ecological transformation has created a sustainable environment where businesses can thrive. Our collaborative efforts have resulted in meaningful green initiatives throughout the district. Together, we're building a more environmentally conscious commercial community that benefits both businesses and the planet. We look forward to continuing this valuable relationship and supporting Bristol's vibrant and sustainable future."
Tom Swithinbank, Senior Project Manager at Bristol City Centre BID and Redcliffe & Temple BID, said:
“Our partnership with Veolia is one of our key sustainability initiatives. Since the start of our partnership with Veolia recycling rates have increased significantly alongside the reduced costs for their waste collection. We look forward to continue to collaborate with Veolia in the coming years to help Bristol reduce its impact on the environment”.

Due to the outstanding results achieved, the initial three-year agreement was renewed for an additional term, allowing us to continue driving positive change and sustainability together for the next three years. We look forward to supporting even more communities and building on our shared successes via the new Bristol BID: following the coming together of Broadmead BID, Bristol City Centre BID, and Redcliffe & Temple BID in November and the expansion into new areas. This will enable us to help even more Bristol businesses boost recycling rates and reduce costs across the city.
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