Veolia in the UK is one of the major waste and recycling companies, part of a worldwide group with over 163,000 employees focused on water, waste and energy management, and operates many waste management facilities on a nationwide basis, focused on Local Authority and Business Waste[1] .

Veolia Logo from website
Veolia Logo from website

History

Veolia, formerly Onyx Environmental, grew through the early to mid 1990's by winning 10 major regional PPP/PFI contracts, the first being with Birmingham City Council, followed by the Hampshire County Council contracts, and through the acquisition in 1997 of Leigh Interests (including Leigh Environmental)[2]. In 2005 they acquired the Shank's (now Renewi) hazardous waste business and in 2006 they acquired Cleanaway UK for £589m [3].

More recent acquisitions in 2016, both out of administration, included both Boomeco (a Wood Waste and Refuse Derived Fuel processor and producer in Avonmouth)[4], and Closed Loop Recycling Ltd (a Plastic bottles recycling company in Dagenham[5]).

In August 2020 Veolia launched a process to acquire/merge with Suez via the acquisition of the shares owned by Energie in Suez (representing 32% of the company for 3.4bn Euros)[6]. This acquisition is being investigated by the UK's Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) due to fears that the merger will result in less market competition due to the combined Veolia and Suez share of the current market [7].

In 2017/18 the relative position of the top 5 waste companies[8], by turnover, was as follows:

Company Turnover million GBP
Veolia 1,500
Biffa 1,077
Suez 798
Viridor 789
FCC 670

Veolia Entities Listed on WikiWaste

References