Following its inception, the Cambridgeshire-based firm has significantly grown in capacity; housing 120 employees and 100 vehicles, while serving around 7,500 customers from its four depots in the East of England; including the North Lincolnshire and Humber areas.
Acquisitions
In recent years, the organisation has undergone a number of acquisitions that has spearheaded company growth across the region. Last year, Ellgia Recycling acquired local competitor Purple Recycling – A waste management organisation specialising in construction and demolition waste services and skip hire across Cambridgeshire and Suffolk; together with its single processing site in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
Other notable acquisitions involved the takeover of Lincolnshire-based Thompson Waste Management and J.E. Churchill (Plant) Ltd in 2014, as well as Suffolk-based A.J Thompson Paper Recycling in November 2013.
“The acquisitions initially helped us to generate critical mass to generate funds to invest,” notes, Jack Lavington, Operations Director at Ellgia Recycling. “In 2014, the acquisition of our Scunthorpe business gave us the infrastructure development potential that we are now starting to realise and the 2017 purchases in the south gave us a hub that we could consolidate and internalise waste from other counties into our processing site in Scunthorpe,” adding that the acquisitions have given the business “instant brand credibility” with further expansion opportunities.”
Customer service
Over the years, the waste management firm has built up a strong rapport with clients from multiple sectors, which includes construction; logistics; residential; hospitality & leisure; automotive; education, among others.
However, what has given Ellgia Recycling vast amounts of recognition is its “going that extra mile” attitude and bespoke solutions, that have not only increased client recycling activities, but also reduced the amount of waste they produce on a regular basis.
This is facilitated through various training and support programmes for existing and prospective customers, to assist them with running their operations as efficiently as possible while avoiding any unnecessary outlay on waste collection services.
Technology
In addition, Mr Lavington explained that Ellgia Recycling’s latest software and technology allows SME’s to manage and monitor their waste streams more effectively, which, in turn, has curtailed costs for businesses.
“We are continually looking at ways our customers can improve their waste management performance. Having a portal designed with their needs in mind – where real time information is accessible and digestible means they can make decisions based on robust, up-to-date information.”
Together with electronic invoicing, Mr Lavington added that the recycler’s “paperless experience” initiative has helped save money, the environment and rally home the importance of recycling to customers.
Investment
To extend its service capabilities, Ellgia Recycling invested £4.1M into its aforementioned Scunthorpe premise.
The site opening took place on Tuesday the 25th of September and was performed by the Mayor of Scunthorpe Cllr. John Briggs. Also, in attendance were a number of members from the business community for the region, along with the Chief Exec of the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce Dr. Ian Kelly.
The premise in North Lincolnshire contains a Biomass Boiler, Drying floor building and Storage building to manage moisture content of SRF; baler and wrapper equipment to produce bales for export of RDF and SRF; a new picking line including new vibrating screen, relocation of existing screeners and separators and hard surfacing; plus, an SRF line including trommel, picking line, overband magnets, density separator, Eddie current separator, Untha shredder and connecting conveyor systems.
Additionally, the investment also comprises two mobile waste shredders; a new IT system infrastructure, along with two roll-on vehicles and skip vehicles, and two walking floor trailers and units.
Awards and Contracts
Ellgia Recycling’s ongoing efforts have resulted in the company winning, ‘Independent Operator of the Year’ at the MRW National Recycling Awards 2018. Held at the London Hilton, Park Lane on Thursday 28th June, the organisation was triumphant beating 10 other companies in the shortlist category.
Another big win for the recycler was securing a major supply contract with North Lincolnshire Council for the processing of large bulky waste from the latter’s Household Recycling and waste transfer sites. The long-term deal will see Ellgia Recycling provide a zero to landfill option for the benefit of the local authority and its household residents, as the UK moves towards a more circular economy.
Challenges
Summing up the recycler’s achievements and projects this year, Mr Lavington said:
“2018 has been a challenging but exciting year of change. We have internalised waste from our southern sites, completely redesigned and commissioned our new processing lines in Scunthorpe and have made strides to reinvent our brand to better reflect the journey we take waste on as we transform it into a resource. Those changes bring many challenges with people and processing changing but ultimately it is for the benefit our environment and our customers as we divert more tonnage from landfills towards recycling and fuel.”
“The next few months are about consolidation and triage as opposed to major changes and ensuring are new lies are working efficiently, effectively and as designed before we embark on the next evolution.”
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