Environmental services company Urbaser Ltd has today (27 May) announced its acquisition of Biowise Ltd, with the move supporting Urbaser Ltd’s growth strategy to expand its portfolio of waste treatment and commercial services solutions within the North of England.
Hull-based Biowise (part of Wastewise Holdings Ltd) delivers services across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and Cheshire. The recycling and waste management firm operates three organic waste treatment facilities, and offers Total Waste Management services to a range of local authority and commercial customers.
Urbaser Ltd provides municipal, waste treatment, and recovery services to residents throughout the UK, with operations focused on conserving resources, carbon reduction, and delivering a circular economy. The deal builds on the firm’s 2021 acquisition of five waste management contracts from Amey and J&B Recycling Ltd.
Javier Peiro, Managing Director of Urbaser Ltd, said: “We are delighted to announce the integration of Biowise into the Urbaser Group as another important step along the path of growth and an example of our continued ambition to expand the range of services we offer to our local authority and commercial customers across the country.
“We are committed to ensuring that Biowise continues to deliver the exemplary level of service established by the Biowise team over the many years of operation.
“The collection and treatment of organic waste is a critical element of the United Kingdom’s overall waste management strategy. Through the delivery of the organic waste treatment and Total Waste Management services, Urbaser Ltd is pleased to be able to provide additional support to maximise recycling within the UK.”
The senior management team at Wastewise will remain within the business, including Bob Wilkes as Managing Director, who joined the company in 2017.
Mr Wilkes added: “We are very excited to be joining Urbaser and supporting the Group in its ambitious growth strategy within the UK.
“Biowise is very fortunate to have found a company which possesses the same values in respect of the provision of innovative and environmentally responsible solutions across the waste management sector.”
Commenting on the sale of his company to Urbaser, James Landau added: “It was extremely important to me to find the right organisation to take the business forward and I have every confidence that Urbaser will nurture and build upon Biowise’s existing relationships with its various local authority and commercial customers to take the company to the next level.
“I am very proud of what we have achieved, and I am thankful to the whole team for their loyalty and support. I wish them and Urbaser all the best for the future as they embark on the next chapter.”
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.