Camden and Veolia ask public to show kindness and respect to its frontline workers

Camden Council and its waste and recycling contractor Veolia are asking the public to show kindness and respect to its frontline workers in a new campaign to combat the abuse they often receive.

“Whilst most people are respectful and appreciative, Veolia’s teams face daily challenges from a small minority, including verbal abuse and aggressive behaviour that impacts their wellbeing,” says Veolia.

“In 2025 alone, 490 cases of abuse were reported across the UK, 38 of which were physical attacks. These figures only represent reported incidents, meaning the true scale of the issue is sadly far greater.”

The campaign encourages members of the public to consider simple actions of politeness such as giving a smile, a wave, or a kind word to the frontline workers as they go about their essential jobs.

“Drivers are also asked to show respect on the roads by demonstrating patience, and avoiding aggressive behaviours such as honking or dangerous driving near working crews,” says Veolia.

Veolia will mark its first “High-Viz Heroes Day” on Friday 26 June 2026 to recognise and thank the essential workers who keep communities running smoothly.

Councillor James Slater, Camden Council’s cabinet member for planning and a sustainable Camden, said: “Our frontline Environmental Services colleagues are always a welcome sight to Camden residents and businesses, working hard to clear our waste and recycling, keeping the borough clean and looking spick and span.

“This is a great celebration and I would encourage all residents and businesses to share their compliments and stories of their Camden High-Viz Heroes.”

Veolia says its employees receive ongoing support through internal training programmes, helping to protect the mental and physical wellbeing of essential workers and prevent the escalation of abusive incidents.

High-Viz Heroes builds on Veolia’s existing StreetKind and SiteKind campaigns, first launched in 2021, which raise awareness of abuse and thank the residents who treat frontline workers with respect.

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