Processes and recycles 'black bag' household and commercial/industrial waste, converting 70% for recycling and productive use. The company utilises autoclave technology to process waste, converting the organic content (waste paper, card and vegetable matter) into a biomass-rich fibre while sorting the dry recyclables such as plastics and metals. The fibre is suitable for use as a soil conditioner or as a biomass-rich fuel for the creation of 'green energy'

October 2005

Ailsa3 recognised the potential of this company and took a minority interest in the venture; Andy Hinton became chairman of Sterecycle in 2005.

The Sterecycle patented system is safer, cleaner, more cost effective and more efficient than existing technologies. With the massive increases in land fill tax (£56/tonne in 2011, rising incrementally to £72/tonne in 2013) together with EU Directives demanding a reduction in the amount of biodegradable waste that is land filled, the Sterecycle process represents a genuine and attractive alternative to land fill and the company is well placed to take market share.

Sterecycle has completed three rounds of equity financing, raising almost £30M from major institutional investors including Fidelity and Impax. This has enabled the company to open the UK's first commercial scale autoclave treatment plant, in Rotherham South Yorkshire in June 2008. The plant has been fully operational for over two years, processing 100,000 tonnes of mixed domestic and commercial wastes per annum, supported by a 6 year contract from three Local Authorities.. The company gained planning permission to double the size of the plant and work commenced on the expansion in 2010. Planning permission has also been granted for the addition of a CHP plant to be fuelled by the fibre created from the process.

The company has now established an excellent platform for growth, with a pipeline of further sites and contract bids. Sterecycle will, later in 2011, be seeking to raise £50m of new capital to fund this accelerated growth.

To find out more, visit www.sterecycle.com

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