Letsrecycle.com has heard that others in the industry are now receiving material flows that otherwise would go to its sites in Manchester and Liverpool.
The EA confirmed that all applications for January 2025 have been processed and its public register shows that S Norton is not an approved AATF at this time.
It is unknown whether the recycler applied for status or not. The next iteration of approved AATF and AE statuses will be released in February.
To receive approved AATF status by 1 January 2025, the EA required companies to have sent an application and fee to the EA by 30 September 2025 and to meet certain standards, including around quality of pre-sorting and output.
S Norton is one of the largest small mixed Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and scrap metal processors in the country. According to its website, the company accepts ferrous, non-ferrous metals and batteries.
It is estimated that S Norton processed approximately 44,000 tonnes of small mixed WEEE in 2023.
Letrecycle.com has approached S Norton for comment but it is yet to respond.
When will S Norton be operating again?
When asked to provide a rough timeline until S Norton would be granted AATF status, the EA confirmed that it “could not comment on individual cases”.
The metals recycling industry has seen several closures in recent years, including the sale of the Sims UK Metal business to Unimetals Group for £195 million in August 2024.
Sims CEO and managing director, Stephen Mikkelsen said at the time: “The board concluded that a sale provided the optimal outcome for Sims and its shareholders.
“By focusing on high-potential markets such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand, where our business position and demand for scrap are stronger, we can effectively leverage our strengths and drive sustainable growth.”
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