Shanks acquisition strengthens Scottish presence

Shanks subsidiary Shanks Waste Management made the acquisition from Eden Recycling Ltd, part of Murray International Holdings plc, owners of Rangers Football Club.

” This purchase enhances our other recent acquisition in Scotland and continues to increase our market share, whilst delivering upon our strategy of landfill diversion. “
– Ian Goodfellow, Shanks
It will see 42 staff transferring from Eden Recycling to Shanks, while Shanks will also take ownership of 20 vehicles and the Broxburn materials recycling facility, which is capable of processing 150,000 tonnes of recyclable material each year.

Before the acquisition of its assets by Shanks, Eden Recycling had a turnover of about 3.5 million. The acquired MRF, located in Edinburgh itself, processes commercial and industrial waste including about 50,000 tonnes of separately-collected dry recyclables and about 100,000 tonnes of co-mingled recyclables each year.

Presence
Shanks said the acquisition would help further strengthen its presence in Scotland shortly after its acquisition of Cleanaway's Scottish division (see letsrecycle.com story) and a 1 million investment made to upgrade the MRF at Blochairn, near Glasgow.

Commenting on the acquisition Ian Goodfellow, Shank Waste Management's managing director, said: “This purchase enhances our other recent acquisition in Scotland and continues to increase our market share, whilst delivering upon our strategy of landfill diversion.”

Shanks spokesman Austen Lees told letsrecycle.com the company was looking to continue its growth in the area, but said it was too early to determine the impact of the acquisition on jobs. “We have to look at how the assets integrate in the Shanks business, but this purchase is about growing the business first and foremost,” he said.

Eden Recycling will continue to operate with its remaining staff after the acquisition of its assets, Shanks said. The company runs a range of services including a construction waste management facility in Glasgow, and is developing plans for new waste plants in Scotland, including in-vessel composting facilities.