Holcim UK acquires waste management firm

Photo: Thames Materials

Based in Uxbridge, London, Thames Materials was founded in 1995 and specialises in the removal, haulage, and recycling of waste from construction sites across London and surrounding counties.

According to Companies House, the company generated £30 million in revenue in 2024 and employs 90 staff members.

Its 12-acre recycling facility in Harefield has a processing capacity of 750,000 tonnes annually.

In 2024, the company received more than 400,000 tonnes of material for processing, recovering 340,000 tonnes for sale into the secondary aggregates market using processing and wash plant equipment.

Holcim said the acquisition will reinforce its position in the recycling and construction demolition materials (CDM) market in London and surrounding areas, describing it as a key pillar of the company’s growth strategy.

Lee Sleight, CEO of Holcim UK, said: “I am very pleased to announce the acquisition of Thames Materials and feel that it’s really exciting for them to be joining Holcim.

“It strengthens our footprint in the London construction market and aligns to our ambition of making sustainable construction a reality as we work towards becoming the leading UK provider of sustainable solutions.

Sleight added that the deal will enable Holcim UK to support the move to a cicrcular economy, with the company aiming to process 6.5 million tonnes of CDM annually by 2030.

“Thames also has a great synergy with our existing recycling and construction demolition materials business in the East of London and the acquisition will allow us to develop our services and reach to support the move to a more circular economy - especially with the need for greater use of recycled or reused materials in projects within the capital. By 2030 we have set ourselves a target to process 6.5 million tonnes of CDM annually.”

Martin Clarke, managing director of Thames Materials, added : “We’re really looking forward to taking the business forward with Holcim UK and harnessing their expertise and networks.

“This move allows us to continue on our growth trajectory and expand both our capacity and offering. Holcim is a market leader in the UK and internationally with a clearly articulated vision for circularity and sustainability and we are excited to be a part of that.”