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Creating social value

Social value underpins everything we do at ODS. It’s in our DNA.

Every single year, in all that we do, ODS is 'doing good' for Oxfordshire's communities.

£28 million
has been returned by ODS to Oxford City Council since 2018.
270,000 tonnes
of valuable resources were collected and recycled in the last year.
20%
of the energy used at ODS depots is generated by solar power.
12 tonnes
of CO2 was saved in 2023 by controlling and managing our heating.

The way we do business makes us unique

More than 90% of our workforce lives in or around Oxford, and our staff have a deep vested interest in providing their very best work.

There's a shared understanding that the more successful ODS becomes, the more benefits our team and their families will see in their local communities.

Investing in the future of Oxfordshire’s communities

From our people to our profits, we're invested in the communities we serve.

Our team is committed to finding innovative ways to deliver services that bring genuine benefits to the economy and planet.

100% of our profits are reinvested back into Oxford City Council to protect and enhance essential public services - something we’re very proud of.

ODS balances purpose with profit

We have a strong set of values that have evolved to reflect our 'profit for a purpose' ethos. Each day, these values are influenced and upheld by our workforce.

Our approach is built upon four key pillars that guide our social value and sustainability priorities and are key to our business's decision-making. These guiding principles are our:

  • workforce

  • community

  • environment

  • supply chain.

And these pillars help us to measurably work towards being the business we aim to be. A business that's good for everyone.

Creating a more inclusive and sustainable economy in Oxford

We consider the impact of our decisions on our employees, customers, suppliers, and communities. And, proudly, ODS strengthens and delivers more and more value for local communities each year.

We have signed the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership Charter as a statement of our commitment to creating a more inclusive local economy, and of our shared ambitions with other organisations across the county.

We’re always hungry to find new and better ways of ‘doing good’ in a sustainable and cost-efficient way, and we embrace opportunities to collaborate with local partners who share our values. This includes supporting the local economy by buying goods and services from purposeful local organisations whenever possible. We also use our knowledge and resources to help give life to new bicycles through our partnerships with Asylum Welcome, Broken Spoke and TRAX, donate compost to local allotments, and support local schools, community groups, and charities to fulfill their wide-ranging ambitions. We are also continually finding new and innovative ways to support the city’s Zero Carbon Action Plan, and the environment in which we live.

Recycling and Waste Education Programmes

In line with our commitment to helping future generations, our dedicated Recycling and Waste team regularly attends events, businesses, and other local organisations to share their knowledge through our Recycling and Waste Education Programmes. Get in touch if you would like to find out more or organise a presentation for your team.

Supporting ODS’s current and future workforce

ODS is proudly accredited by Inclusive Employers and has earned the esteemed status of being a Disability Confident Leader - joining the ranks of only eight organisations in Oxfordshire.

As a business, we appreciate that our workforce is our greatest strength, and a key element of our approach is investing and supporting our current and future workforce. The majority of our employees live in Oxford and we pay the Oxford Living Wage in recognition of the high costs of living in our city.

We also run many initiatives and wellbeing projects to help and support our colleagues to develop and grow in the business. Most recently the ODS Volunteering Bank was launched to enable staff to access a shared bank of paid hours, so they can volunteer for charities that are important to them.

Our commitment to doing good

Whilst ODS is a nimble, commercial organisation, at our heart is a commitment to doing good for both the communities we serve and the wider world.

This ethos is at the centre of all our values and actions.

At ODS, we call it, ‘doing good’.

Work with us

Talk to us about how ODS can help support your organisation.

Contact ODS