Better Business / Better Bristol
“A Better Bristol is clean, safe and enjoyable for everyone”
Sarah Burns is the sustainability and engagement manager at Bristol Waste Company. She assumed the role five months ago from her previous position as innovation and sustainability manager.
Sarah plays a key role in promoting recycling initiatives and sustainability efforts in Bristol. Recently, she highlighted the city’s impressive recycling rates and the importance of community involvement in waste reduction.
What’s the one thing that inspires you to get up in the morning?
I feel inspired every morning by the work we do here at Bristol Waste and I’m incredibly proud to be part of a team that contributes to making Bristol a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable city. Knowing that my efforts, along with those of my team, are making a positive impact on the city gives me a sense of purpose. I’m passionate about driving sustainability initiatives, engaging with the community to help them reduce waste and recycle more, and helping to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives in, works in, or visits Bristol.
If you could pick one thing to change about Bristol, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about Bristol, I would like to see even more progress in reducing waste and increasing recycling rates across the city. I would advocate for stronger sustainability initiatives and more projects that encourage people to make environmentally responsible choices, like setting up recycling facilities at peoples places of work. I also think we could continue to improve our waste management systems to ensure Bristol becomes an even more sustainable city.
arah in her previous portfolio at Bristol Waste as its innovation and sustainability manager spearheaded “In The Loop” initiative to encourage more recycling in Bristol
What does a Better Bristol mean to you?
To me, a Better Bristol is a city where sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. It’s a place where waste is managed efficiently, recycling rates are high, and the community is actively engaged in reducing our environmental impact. A Better Bristol is clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone—whether they live here, work here, or are just visiting. It’s about creating a culture of conscious consumption, reducing waste, and ensuring that we all play our part in protecting our city’s environment.
What action could you as an individual take? What action could your company take?
Personally, I’m committed to making small, sustainable changes in my everyday life that add up to a big impact. I live car-free and cycle everywhere, prioritise train travel within Europe, shop at refill stores, and buy second-hand goods whenever possible. I also participate in initiatives like the “Waste Nothing Challenge,” which offers practical tips for reducing waste.
As a company, Bristol Waste already does a lot to support sustainability in the city, from managing household waste to community engagement to working with businesses across the city to improve recycling rates.
We’re also developing a comprehensive sustainability plan to guide our actions up to 2030. We aim to continue leading by example, implementing new initiatives, such as our current focus on food waste engagement, to support a cleaner, greener Bristol.
In a recent initiative, Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste have joined forces with Keep Britain Tidy to remove chewing gum off the streets
What do you want to see from the Bristol business community in the next five years?
I would like to see the Bristol business community come together and collaborate more closely to achieve our shared sustainability goals. We all know where we need to be, but we don’t necessarily have all the answers or the technology yet. By working together, we can share knowledge, resources, and best practices. I also think it’s important to create communities like Better Business, where businesses can have open conversations, learn from each other, and develop strategies to meet the city’s sustainability objectives.
All photos: Bristol Waste Company
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