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SUEZ recycling and recovery UK has expanded its footprint north of London and entered the lithium-ion battery processing market, following its acquisition of independent regional recycling and waste management company, F&R Cawley Ltd.
The purchase of F&R Cawley Ltd is SUEZ’s second acquisition of a UK commercial waste and recycling business in 2023. In October, SUEZ expanded its commercial collections business having acquired DCW (Devon Contract Waste).
As one of the largest waste markets in Europe, the UK is a strategic growth area for SUEZ. It forms a key part of SUEZ’s international growth ambitions, with a target to reach 40 per cent turnover from international markets by 2027.
The acquisition of F&R Cawley expands SUEZ’s footprint in the north of London, where earlier this year it secured Milton Keynes City Council’s waste and environmental services contract. Together with Cawleys headquarters in Luton, SUEZ has acquired its three depots, materials recycling facility, and two transfer stations and its battery processing facility, allowing SUEZ to expand the range of services it offers to its commercial customer base. SUEZ enters the UK lithium-ion battery processing market at a time of growing demand for closed-loop solutions, driven by the proliferation of battery powered devices and surge in popularity in electric vehicles.
Founded in 1947, F&R Cawley Ltd has a turnover of £36.8 million. Employing over 200 staff, it handles 90,000 tonnes of waste annually from its 4,500 customers across three locations with a 70 strong fleet.
With this acquisition, SUEZ says it can provide commercial customers across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire with a resilient and responsive, full value chain solution for their waste, from collection through to recycling and energy recovery, supported by a comprehensive fleet, local transfer and sorting facilities and long-term energy recovery off-take contracts.
John Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer for SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK said: “I’m proud to be responsible for leading SUEZ’s expansion in the UK. As we grow, we want to work with likeminded companies – companies that share our commitment to putting our customers at the heart of what we do and who understand our triple bottom line approach that balances profit with the needs of people and the planet. F&R Cawley are the perfect fit and I’m delighted to welcome their team to SUEZ. This acquisition develops our footprint north of London and offers our customers a resilient, end-to-end solution for their waste and recycling needs.”
Anna Cawley, Strategy and Communications Director said: “When it came to selling our business, we wanted to find a buyer who shared our values and who we were confident would maintain our excellent customer service. As a triple bottom line business with a strong track record in the industry, SUEZ is perfectly placed to take our business forward.
“It’s not all change though, the Cawleys management team will continue to work with SUEZ and are committed to a seamless transition for our customers, who will continue to receive the same great service from their regular crew and customer service team.”
