Greenstar expands business in the South East

Greenstar is well on its way to building a national network of fully integrated collection and processing services 

 
Ian Wakelin, Greenstar

Just four months after acquiring Kent-based waste firm Verdant (see letsrecycle.com story), the company has bought Bedfordshire-based commercial recycling firm Dunstable Waste Group, which trades as Firbank Chiltern.

The deal includes a 5,000 tonne capacity can recycling facility and a 175,000-tonne-licensed transfer station and materials recycling facility belonging to Firbank Chiltern at Houghton Regis, near Dunstable.

It is expected to complement municipal services offered by Greenstar in the region through Verdant and is part of a strategic drive to provide fully integrated end-to-end recycling services in the UK.

Greenstar chief executive Ian Wakelin said: “This deal gives Greenstar a bigger footprint in the South East. We see considerable opportunity for expanding our very successful commercial waste and recycling model in the region and for locking in synergies with Verdant's municipal contracts.

“There is also opportunity and capturing growing volumes of recyclable materials to feed our Aldridge MRF nearing completion on the outskirts of Birmingham,” he added.

Established 

Luton-based Dunstable Waste Group Ltd was established in 2003 with the amalgamation of Firbank Recycling Ltd and Chiltern Wasteaway Ltd.

The company handles around 5,000 tonnes of waste and recyclable materials a year. It handles general waste, glass, and mixed recyclables from commercial and industrial customers around the Dunstable, Bedford and Luton areas.

The firm's annual turnover grew by nearly 25% in the year ending September 2007. Current directors Robert Firbank and Ray and Steve Levett will remain with the business to ensure a smooth transaction.

Mr Wakelin said: “We've put in place yet another element of our strategic vision. Greenstar is well on its way to building a national network of fully integrated collection and processing services that will enable British companies and Britons to waste less and recycle more.”

Greenstar UK is the UK arm of the Greenstar waste management subsidiary, owned by Ireland's NTR group, a developer, financier and operator of public and environmental infrastructure.

The firm operates from nearly 40 facilities throughout the UK and forecasts and annual revenue of £121 million. Greenstar's Aldridge MRF in Birmingham is due to open this summer.