Alice Gardner

Biffa is the UK’s leading sustainable waste management business and the acquisition is in line with the group’s strategy to quadruple its plastic recycling capacity by 2030.

The Grangemouth facility, acquired from Green Circle Polymers Ltd, is one of the UK’s largest plastics recycling facilities, processing around 50,000 tonnes of plastics. It also has the capacity to sort coloured plastic material and metal cans.

This acquisition comes ahead of the implementation of the deposit return scheme, due to be implemented in Scotland from 1 July 2022 and which will encourage residents to recycle their used bottles and cans, including PET plastic, metal, and glass.

TLT advised on all the corporate aspects of the transaction, with partner Alice Gardner leading the multi-jurisdictional TLT team. Legal director Kirsty Smith and solicitor Amy Tough provided M&A advice, with real estate expertise provided by partner Brian Armour.

Ms Gardner, partner at TLT, said: “Biffa’s acquisition of one of the largest plastics recycling facilities in the UK demonstrates the company’s ambitious ongoing acquisition strategy and follows its agreement to acquire Viridor collections business and certain recycling assets announced in May.

“This deal shows the continued strength of the M&A market and the level of opportunities available despite the challenges of the pandemic. We are seeing a high level of M&A activity at the moment as both buyers and sellers take advantage of a buoyant market.”