The firm, which was acquired by Dublin-based investment company One51 in early 2008, has traditionally focussed on non-ferrous and aluminium scrap, but, speaking to letsrecycle.com last night (August 10), Howarth’s business development manager, James Cubbon, explained that the new site was open to all types and quantities of scrap metal.
The opening of the purpose-built facility in Ardwick, on the eastern edge of Manchester city centre, sees Howarth relocating from its previous home on nearby Jersey Street, in a move which Mr Cubbon said would make it easier for larger vehicles to access the company’s operations.
Describing the new facility as “a versatile site”, Mr Cubbon said that it had also allowed One51 to integrate its North-West metal recycling operations by bringing the Manchester-based aluminium can recycling business Howcan and some of the transport operations from Bolton-based Andrew & Mark Smith Metals onto the same site as Howarth.
He said: “The opening of this new site is an exciting development for our company and one which we are all very proud of – given our humble beginnings.
“The size of our new site will allow for larger collections of scrap, making it more cost-effective and efficient for our customers,” he added.
The new Howarth facility offers dedicated weighbridges for both large lorries and smaller vehicles, allowing the likes of plumbers, builders and electricians to sell their scrap to the company as well as waste companies, manufacturers and engineers.
The Howcan operation which is now located on site involves the company buying in aluminium cans from other scrap metal dealers and working with Warrington-based aluminium recycler Novelis.
Prices
While acknowledging that the opening of the site came at a time when scrap metal prices were significantly lower than the historically high levels recorded in the summer of 2008, Mr Cubbon explained that work on the site had begun 14 months ago.
And, he labelled those high values “an anomaly”, adding that “prices will come back”, while also stressing the cost-savings that integrating the facilities onto one site were offering Howarth and One51.
One51
As well as its companies in the North-West, One51 owns a number of other metal recycling companies in the UK, Ireland and Europe, with its other UK operations including ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling firm Ampthill Metal Company, which is based just north of London, and Kent-based metal recycler Reclamet.
It also owns Kent-based commercial & industrial and construction & demolition (C&D) waste specialists Any Waste Solution Ltd and South London C&D waste company Country Waste Management.
And, the Dublin-based investment company also owns a 26.89% stake in hazardous waste specialists Augean.
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