FLASH Recycling: What Works for Flats Above Shops

FLASH Recycling: What works for flats above shops

Tuesday 10th June, 2025
11:00am–12:00pm

About the event

Delivering effective recycling services to flats above shops (FLASH) has long posed a challenge for local authorities but new national requirements are fast approaching under Simpler Recycling.

Join us for this one-hour session to hear from Shelley Holmes, Local Authorities Advisor at ReLondon, as she shares the results of a two-year pilot project delivered in partnership with Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington and Waltham Forest. Shelley will be joined by Lucy Simler from LB Hackney, who will present findings from a 2024 pilot comparing open and access-controlled food waste enclosures at FLASH properties.

This pioneering project explored how dry recycling and food waste services could be introduced successfully to FLASH properties, supported by behavioural insights and practical intervention design. Shelley will walk us through the key findings, principles that guided the pilot and the tools that local authorities can use to assess and implement services ahead of regulatory changes.

Who should attend

This session is aimed at:

Local authority waste and recycling officers
Housing and estate services teams
Private housing providers and managing agents

who are:

Working to improve recycling rates in high-density and complex housing settings
Preparing for upcoming requirements under Simpler Recycling
Seeking practical, evidence-based guidance for service design and implementation

Event details

Keynote Presentation: Shelley Holmes presents the FLASH pilot project findings, including service models trialled, behavioural principles applied and practical lessons learned. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of what works in delivering dry recycling and food services to flats above shops as well as the pitfalls to avoid.
Toolbox Takeaway: Shelley will outline a set of actionable tips for undertaking site assessments, helping attendees to plan and implement services more effectively in their own boroughs or housing stock.
Interactive Q&A: Get your questions answered in a live Q&A session. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to refine your existing service, this is your chance to engage directly with colleagues and learn from the evidence.

About the Host

Shelley Holmes

Local Authorities, ReLondon
LinkedIN: Shelley Holmes

Shelley is ReLondon’s Key Account Manager for South London, unitary boroughs and the City of London. With over a decade of experience in improving recycling services for flats, she now supports boroughs with the design and delivery of effective waste solutions. Shelley brings specialist expertise in overcoming the challenges of introducing services to both purpose-built flats and flats above shops.

ReLondon
ReLondon is a partnership between the Mayor of London and the capital’s 33 boroughs. It exists to improve waste and resource management and accelerate the shift to a low carbon circular economy. By bridging policy and implementation, ReLondon helps unlock solutions that are ready to scale across the city, working with boroughs, businesses and citizens to inspire real change.

Lucy Simler

Recycling Officer – London Borough of Hackney
LinkedIn:

Lucy is a Recycling Officer in the Recycling Team at Hackney, where she has worked for 13 years. She currently manages food waste collections for street-level properties and is leading the expansion of Hackney’s FLASH food waste service, scheduled for implementation in March 2026.

Lucy will share insights from a 2024 local FLASH pilot focused on introducing communal food waste collections to flats above shops. The project compared the effectiveness of open versus access-controlled bin enclosures, with findings on resident engagement, contamination rates, and container usage patterns. She will offer practical takeaways for teams considering similar service models.