Biffa acquisition expands food waste offering

Biffa has completed its acquisition of Keenan Recycling, a commercial food waste collections provider operating across England, Scotland and Wales.
Keenan Recycling was established in 2003 and provides food waste collection services for businesses, waste management companies and councils, as well as operating a composting and biofuel facility in Aberdeen.
The acquisition improves the Group’s capabilities in food waste collection services ahead of the implementation of the forthcoming Simpler Recycling legislation. The legislation mandates the separation of dry recyclables into designated containers as well as the separate collection of food waste.
The acquisition marks the latest step forward in Biffa’s ongoing commitment to enabling the circular economy, helping businesses and consumers reduce waste while supporting the UK’s journey to net-zero.
Keenan Recycling collects around 56,000 tonnes of food waste each year from across 21 nation-wide depots. The company operates a fleet of 80 state of the art collection vehicles made up of diesel and HVO and uses industry leading route optimisation software and bin weighing capabilities to minimise its carbon emissions.
Maxine Mayhew, chief operating officer, Biffa Collections and Specialist Services, said: “Keenan Recycling has built an outstanding reputation as a leader in commercial food waste collections, and we’re delighted to be welcoming the expertise of 140 colleagues into the Biffa family.
“By integrating Keenan Recycling’s offering with our wider infrastructure and resources, we see tremendous potential to enhance our ability to meet the requirements of Simpler Recycling legislation mandating separate food waste collection.”
Grant Keenan, managing director at Keenan Recycling, said: “We’re extremely proud of the remarkable growth we’ve achieved over the past 20 years, evolving from a small, independent operation into one of the UK’s leading organics recycling and food waste collections businesses. We’d like to thank BGF who backed us to grow the business and have supported us with both investment and advice over the last nine years.
"Keenan Recycling is now perfectly positioned for even greater expansion, especially with the upcoming mandatory food waste collections in Wales and England. Biffa brings a wealth of expertise, infrastructure and resources for accelerated growth and we are confident this acquisition will take our business - and the UK's food waste recycling efforts - to the next level, helping to further reduce environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.”