BIFFA WASTE SERVICES LIMITED
Company number: 00946107
Reporting period:
1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025
Report filed on:
3 November 2025
Approved by:
Marc Angell
Contracts and payments
Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? Yes
Payment statistics
Average time taken to pay invoices: 41 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £176,850,187 (48%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £142,394,595 (39%)
- in 61 days or more: £50,526,700 (14%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 35%
- in 31 to 60 days: 44%
- in 61 days or more: 21%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £10,963,402
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 3%
- not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 3%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
30 days
Longest standard payment period
Answer not provided
Standard payment terms
Our business standard payment terms are between 30 and 60 days. All vendors are paid on a bi- weekly payment run, apart for Major Reciprocal suppliers where payment terms are aligned and payments are made at the end of the calendar month. Invoice payment cycles are weekly on Wednesday and Friday and include cleared and posted invoices up to the invoice due date. This ensures our Suppliers receive payments on time aligned with their commerical terms.
Our payment cycles were updated in Janauary 2025, this coincided with implementation of a new Finance and P2P system . This change is applicable to all existing and new suppliers alike. Other standard contract terms include that suppliers of goods and services must comply with Biffa internal procure to pay policies, all relevant legislation and international standards in relation to: trading policy, child and forced labour, health and safety of workers, non-discrimination, employment law, human rights and bribery and corruption. In particular, suppliers must be able to demonstrate compliance with both the letter and spirit of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Biffa Group Ltd reserves the right to discontinue business with suppliers who do not comply with our requirements in this area. Any change in terms such as this are communicated to suppliers both by hard copy and email to the nominated supplier contact. Prior consultation was not appropriate in this case as the change was a regulatory requirement.
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No
Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?
N/A
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
90 days
No further comment provided
Any other information about payment terms
No further comment provided
Retention clauses
How does this business use retention clauses?
Retention clauses are used in specific circumstances:
When it is a new contractor or we have significant performance specifications to be achieved or external client (ie council)
Does this business only use retention clauses in construction contracts above a specific contract sum?
No
Does this business use a standard percentage rate in retention clauses?
No
Does this business apply retention clause practices that are no more onerous than those applied to it on the same project?
No
Releasing money under a retention clause
Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause
Retention is applied for by contractor after retention period – typically 12mths.
Is the money released in stages?
No
Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients
0%
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business
0%
Dispute resolution process
Our dispute resolution process has been consistent for a number of years. Suppliers will contact Accounts Payable and the originator of the order in the first instance to highlight any issues. If the delay is related to a problem in the normal approval process then this will be managed and resolved by the Accounts Payable department. If the issues are related to payment terms or credit account limits then this is escalated to and managed by the appropriate Group Procurement Category Manager who will discuss the matter directly with the supplier and agree a mutually acceptable solution to the problem. Solutions may include extending our credit line, reducing payment terms or increasing order frequency. Issues are resolved promptly.
Other payment information
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?
For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
No, this business has not signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices.
Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?
This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.
Yes
Does this business offer supply chain finance?
This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.
No
Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No
During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No