Veolia Environmental Services has taken over a West Midlands paper recycling company to strengthen its role in commercial recycling.

The UK's largest waste management company announced yesterday that it has acquired Darlaston-based Hollands Recycling – its first major acquisition since taking over Cleanaway UK in September (see letsrecycle.com story).

Hollands Recycling specialises in commercial paper collections, processing 50,000 tonnes of material every year

Hollands will bring over 50,000 tonnes a year of collection and bulking capacity for paper and card to Veolia.

Focusing on pulp-substitute, de-ink and board-making paper grades, the company collects from commercial customers throughout the Midlands – and is known as a "strong name" in paper and cardboard recycling.

Hollands Recycling is based at a depot in Holland Industrial Park on Bentley Road South and runs a fleet of vehicles and employs 25 people who will be retained under Veolia. Some 30% of the company's paper is exported to Asia for reprocessing.

Cyrille du Peloux, Veolia's chief executive for the UK and Northern Europe, said: "This is a strategic acquisition representing a significant development in our drive for further growth and reinforcement of our position as a major player in the commercial waste recycling market."

Burnley
As Veolia set out to strengthen its commercial waste activities, the company also revealed that has won a six-year, £18 million municipal waste collection contract with Burnley borough council.

The contract with the Lancashire borough, which was signed in mid-November, involves service delivery to around 40,000 properties – which produce around 30,000 tonnes of rubbish a year.

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Burnley council

Veolia will provide refuse collections, street cleansing and recycling services for cans, plastic bottles, glass, textiles, card and paper, and hopes to boost Burnley's current recycling rate of 32% after the contract begins in April 2007.

Mr du Peloux said: "We have recently reinforced our position as the leading player in the municipal sector and are delighted to win this important contract. In particular, we are looking forward to working closely with the council on improving recycling ratios which are now a key performance indicator in local government."