A third generation is now leading Grundon Waste Management after Neil Grundon was appointed chairman.

He takes over from his father Norman Grundon who has been chairman since 1993 and is now president of the company.

His own father Stephen Grundon founded the firm, which has a site in Bishop's Cleeve, in 1929.

Today it is the UK's largest family-owned waste management company, with a £120million turnover and, together with sister company Grundon Sand & Gravel, more than 850 employees.

Neil joined the business, which is headquartered in Oxfordshire, aged 23 and worked his way through the ranks to be appointed deputy chairman in January 2012.

During his 30-year tenure, he has overseen the creation of the company's £3million aerosol recycling facility and the introduction of AI and robotic pickers at its recycling facilities.

He also spearheaded the growing use of electric and hybrid diesel-hydrogen waste collection vehicles and has seen the company's carbon emissions reduce by 78 per cent over the last 22 years.

In 2014, Grundon became the first of the major waste industry players to operate a certified CarbonNeutral® vehicle fleet.

Neil said: "I am delighted to take on the position of chairman and would like to express my gratitude to my father for his trust and advice over the years, as well as the confidence he has shown in me throughout my career.

"I share his same passion for retaining an enterprising spirit within the business and the drive to continuously improve and be at the forefront of innovation.

"I want to continue the growth of the business and pass it to the next generation in a stronger place, just as my father and grandfather have to me."

Norman, who has worked in the family business since the age of 13, said: "I am delighted to hand the reins over to Neil and I am fully confident that under his stewardship the company will continue to prosper."

He established the operations that would later become Grundon Waste Management in 1974 with his father Stephen to manage landfill sites, quarries and expand into a waste collection business.

His achievements have included the introduction of the 'wheelie bin' into the UK in 1982, the building of the UK's first environmentally acceptable clinical waste incinerator in 1990, and pioneering the company's Energy from Waste technology, which culminated in the opening of the Lakeside Energy from Waste facility in Colnbrook in 2010.

Norman said: "After leading the business for the past 48 years, I am now taking on the honorary role of President and taking a step back from the day-to-day operations of the company.

"However, I will still remain a Board Director, meaning that I am able to advise Neil and the Board of Directors as we start another exciting chapter in the history of Grundon.

"We have seen the company grow to become one of the UK's largest and most-respected waste management providers. I, along with Neil, remain as ambitious as ever for the business."