Holcim UK has moved to strengthen its recycling operations in the capital with the acquisition of London-based construction waste management firm Thames Materials Limited. The deal is aimed at reinforcing Holcim’s position in the recycling and construction and demolition materials market across London and the surrounding areas.
Thames Materials, founded in 1995, employs around 90 staff and operates a fleet of 62 vehicles from its head office in Uxbridge. The business focuses on the removal, haulage and recycling of waste generated on construction sites in London and neighbouring counties.
The company runs its recycling activities from a 12-acre facility in Harefield, which has an annual capacity of 750,000 tonnes. In the past year, it received more than 400,000 tonnes of material, recovering 340,000 tonnes for sale into the secondary aggregates market using state-of-the-art processing and wash plant equipment.
Where waste has limited recycling potential, Thames Materials diverts it into land restoration projects rather than landfill. This approach supports wider industry efforts to reduce disposal and increase the reuse of materials on major schemes.
Lee Sleight, CEO of Holcim UK, said the acquisition “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.” He added that Thames Materials has “great synergy” with Holcim’s existing recycling and construction demolition materials business in East London and will help expand services and reach to support a more circular economy in the capital.
Thames Materials managing director Martin Clarke said the team is “really looking forward to taking the business forward with Holcim UK and harnessing their expertise and networks.” He added that joining Holcim will support the company’s growth plans, expanding both capacity and service offering, and that Holcim’s clear vision for circularity and sustainability was a key attraction of the deal.
