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Sorted Material Recovery in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
The Sorted Material Recovery Industry manages and processes recyclable materials through Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). The industry’s performance hinges heavily on external factors, including global commodity prices. When commodity prices surge, producers see the value of their output escalates, as this enables them to sell at higher prices, boosting revenue even if processing volumes stay steady. Energy prices also influence MRFs’ performance. When high, they steer markets towards recycled outputs due to the energy-intensive production of virgin plastics, metals and glass. The level of environmental concern among Brits is also a key driver of output, as higher eco-consciousness ramps up recycling rates climb and inflates demand for recycled materials, driving revenue growth.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released September 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code E38.320. This industry comprises companies that sort, recover and sell recyclable materials such as metal, paper, plastic and glass from mixed waste. Companies operate material recovery facilities and sort scrap metal. Related terms covered in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom include virgin material, municipal waste, recyclable material and material recovery facility (mrf).
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom include Gate fees, Metal and Paper.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom include Veolia Environnement SA, Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd and Biffa Group Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom is £8.6bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 1,505 businesses in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom?
The Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom?
The Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom are Veolia Environnement SA, Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd and Biffa Group Ltd
What does the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom include?
Gate fees and Metal are part of the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom is Veolia Environnement SA.
How competitive is the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Sorted Material Recovery industry in the United Kingdom.
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