The waste sector is currently one of the fastest-growing industries in the United Kingdom. With big names such as WSR Recycling, UKWSL and Reconomy pushing ahead with huge profit margins and compound annual growth rates, it’s become clear that the waste sector is one that deserves a bit more attention.
Thanks to the many government-backed incentives, grants and rebates that are offered to companies in the waste sector, funding is readily available which helps to improve the financial situation of many of these businesses. With incentives like research and development tax credits, it helps businesses push for innovative new technologies and developments which can accelerate their company growth. These grants typically go towards funding R&D projects and also hiring new staff, two critical components of rapid growth.
But how well are these companies doing in the waste sector and how much has their growth really spiked?
- WSR Recycling
WSR Recycling focuses mainly on providing solutions to councils and businesses in the North West of England. The business has been standing strong for over 25 years and held the number one spot for the fastest-growing company in the waste sector in 2017. With a CAGR of 44.7% and annual revenue of £12.3 million in 2017, it’s easy to see just how rapid the waste sector has been growing in the United Kingdom.
- UKWSL
Established in 2003 as a waste brokerage firm, UKWSL has been offering a range of recycling and recovery services to businesses for many years. Their recycling services include working with paper, glass, metal, cardboard and plastics. They also offer a range of different specialist waste services and aims to reduce business costs and create carbon savings. In 2016, it was ranked 13th on the list of fastest-growing companies in the waste sector. A year later, they rose to the #2 spot for 37.9% CAGR and annual revenue of £24.8 million.
- Willshee’s Waste & Recycling
With a name like Willshee’s Waste & Recycling, one could expect it to be a local recycling business. While it certainly is a family-run business, it also had a 2-year CAGR of 34.2% in 2017 and annual revenue of £13.8 million. The company mainly focuses on skip hire and commercial waste collection and recycling.
- Reconomy
With 30.3% 2-year CAGR in 2017 and over £111.1 million in revenue for the year, Reconomy is truly one of the strongest and fastest-growing companies in the waste sector. They provide outstanding recycling and resource management services and coordinate over 12,000 waste movements every week., moving roughly 3m tonnes of waste each year.
- NWH Group
NWH Group started as a haulage business that operated tippers for the quarrying industry. However, they started offering recycling services in 2002 and the company has been thriving ever since. With a CAGR of 30% across two years and annual revenue of £13 million, the company has come a long way from its humble roots. It continues to offer commercial waste collection and treatment in six different recycling centres across Scotland.
- SWR Waste Management
SWR Waste Management was founded in 2007. With a focus on networking and building a complete waste management service, SWR Waste Management has gone from a humble business to landing themselves into the top 10 fastest-growing companies in the waste sector. With 28.3% 2-year CAGR and around £25.4 million in revenue, the company is no doubt flourishing thanks to the amount of investment and help offered to innovative companies.
- J&B Recycling
At 28.1% 2-year CAGR and £15.7 million in annual revenue across 2017, J&B Recycling is proof that an older company can still grow and progress to keep up with its competitors. Having started in 1998, J&B Recycling is one of the oldest recycling and waste sector companies on this list, yet they still manage to hold their own in the waste business world.
- Blue Machinery (Central)
Blue Machinery is a specialist provider of waste recycling and quarrying equipment and materials. They’ve assisted countless other businesses in the sector and have positioned themselves as an essential company to rely on for a waste sector company. Blue Machinery had a 2-year CAGR growth of 27% and £24.4 million in annual profit for 2017.
Many of these companies were able to receive waste sector grants from the government in order to improve the country and introduce new and unique ideas. These ultimately helped to innovate and optimise the country’s waste sector.
