Veolia, Watford Council’s environmental services provider, is marking its first High-Viz Heroes Day on 26 June to recognise and thank the essential workers who keep communities running smoothly.
From collection crews and street cleansers to sorting teams at recycling sites, these dedicated workers maintain clean streets, identify recyclable materials, and help residents and businesses dispose of waste correctly.
High-Viz Heroes Day amplifies the voices of the majority of the general public who are appreciative of the essential work carried out by Veolia’s teams. Ahead of the day, residents and businesses were asked to share their stories, drawings and words of thanks for their local heroes. These compliments have been shared across social media and on Veolia’s website, and, crucially, with frontline teams.
This flips the script for Veolia’s teams, who face daily challenges from a small minority, including verbal abuse and aggressive behaviour that impacts their wellbeing. In 2025, Veolia recorded 490 cases of abuse towards staff across the UK, including in Watford, which included 38 physical attacks alongside verbal abuse, with more incidents likely going unreported.
The celebration day 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. The campaigns encourage simple actions which make a difference: a smile, a wave, or a kind word. 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.
Standout compliments are being shared by @VeoliaUK on X, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as on veolia.co.uk/streetkind
Beyond the external campaign, Veolia 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.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “We’re really pleased to support High-Viz Heroes Day and to take this opportunity to recognise and thank Veolia and their frontline teams. From collecting our waste and recycling to keeping our parks and streets clean, their hard work makes a real difference to our community every single day, and this is a chance for us all to show our appreciation.”
