Recresco
Recresco is a UK-based glass recycling company operating three processing facilities across England and Wales, using PLC-controlled sorting systems to produce cullet for glass manufacturers. It was acquired by Portuguese container glass maker BA Glass B.V. in December 2023.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersKirkby In Ashfield, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Recresco does
Recresco Ltd. is a UK-based industrial glass recycling company founded in 1978, operating three processing facilities across England and Wales — its head office in Kirkby-in-Ashfield (Nottinghamshire), an Ellesmere Port site in Cheshire, and a Cwmbran facility in Torfaen, Wales. The company specializes in mechanical processing of container glass using PLC-controlled sorting systems to separate glass by type, color, and quality, and produces clean cullet suitable for reuse in glass manufacturing. Its service portfolio comprises four integrated offerings: glass processing (mechanical treatment), clean glass production (market-ready recycled cullet), glass sorting (automated separation), and bespoke products (customized recycling solutions for specific industrial specifications).
The business serves industrial and commercial clients that generate waste glass, operating as a B2B processor within the UK container glass value chain. Recresco monetizes through processing fees paid by waste generators and the sale of processed cullet to glass manufacturers, with a direct-to-customer go-to-market motion and quote-based pricing rather than published rates. Since December 2023, Recresco has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of BA Glass B.V., a Portuguese container glass manufacturer that acquired the business to vertically integrate recycled cullet supply into its European container glass operations. Prior to the acquisition, the company had operated independently for over four decades, building a multi-site UK footprint and accumulating process expertise in PLC-controlled glass sortation.
The company's competitive positioning rests on its three-site UK geographic footprint, capital-intensive PLC sorting infrastructure, and bespoke product capability. Distribution is direct (single-country/domestic) targeting enterprise industrial buyers, with a website as the primary marketing channel. The company is privately held under Portuguese strategic ownership and operates with 251–500 employees across its UK facilities.
Recresco firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Recresco
- Legal name
- Recresco Ltd.
- Website
- https://recresco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Recresco is a UK-based glass recycling company operating three processing facilities across England and Wales, using PLC-controlled sorting systems to produce cullet for glass manufacturers. It was acquired by Portuguese container glass maker BA Glass B.V. in December 2023.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Recresco industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Glass Recycling Services
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Glass Processing & Beneficiation (Cullet Production) (BPALADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Glass Processing & Beneficiation Facilities (EUAIADAF)
Keywords
Where Recresco is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kirkby In Ashfield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Recresco business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Glass Processing Services: Recresco processes and recycles glass materials, transforming old used glass into clean, usable raw materials for glass manufacturing. Revenue is generated through processing fees and sale of processed glass cullet.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Recresco product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Recresco operates glass recycling facilities across the UK, mechanically processing used container glass into clean, reusable cullet for glass manufacturers. The company uses PLC-controlled sorting systems to separate glass by type, color, and quality, and offers bespoke recycling solutions tailored to specific customer specifications. As a subsidiary of BA Glass B.V. since December 2023, Recresco serves industrial and commercial clients directly through three UK processing sites.
Product overview
Recresco operates as a single unified glass recycling service platform offering end-to-end capabilities. The portfolio consists of four integrated service areas: Glass Processing (mechanical treatment using advanced technology and PLC-controlled systems), Clean Glass Production (outputting market-ready recycled glass material), Glass Sorting (automated separation by type and color), and Bespoke Products (customized recycling solutions). Together these services form a continuous workflow from collection through to usable recycled glass output.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Glass Processing
- Clean Glass Production
- Glass Sorting
- Bespoke Products
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions compared to using raw materials
Companies that use Recresco
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Recresco technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Recresco partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Recresco competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Encirc: UK and Ireland-based container glass manufacturer (owned by Vidrala) with integrated closed-loop glass recycling operations. Closest direct peer: produces glass containers from cullet, making it both a competitor for recycled glass supply and a customer of similar recycled-input streams.
- Berryman Glass Recycling: UK-based specialist glass recycler operating collection and processing services for industrial and commercial clients. Directly comparable in service offering (glass recycling and cullet production) and customer base (UK industrial/commercial waste generators).
Broad incumbents
- O-I Glass: World's largest container glass manufacturer with integrated glass recycling operations across multiple geographies. Comparable as both an incumbent cullet customer and a competing recycler, particularly relevant given its global scale and recycling arm.
- Ardagh Glass Packaging: Major European and North American glass container manufacturer with significant in-house and external recycling operations. A broad incumbent that overlaps with Recresco across cullet sourcing and closed-loop recycling.
- Verallia: Leading European glass packaging manufacturer with active cullet and recycled-glass programs across its production footprint. Comparable as a major European customer of cullet with internal recycling capabilities.
- Vetropack: European glass packaging manufacturer with facilities in Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Croatia, and other markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent glass producer with closed-loop recycling objectives and external cullet sourcing needs.
- Saint-Gobain Glass: Global glass and building materials group with UK operations and broader sustainability/recycling initiatives. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping UK presence and interest in recycled glass content.
- Veolia UK: Large UK waste management and recycling operator with materials recovery facilities handling multiple waste streams including glass. Comparable as a broad UK recycling incumbent that competes for glass-collection contracts and MRF throughput.
Regional players
- Strategic Materials: North America's largest glass recycler with multiple processing facilities. Comparable in core recycling process and cullet output, but operates primarily in the US rather than competing in the UK market.
Emerging players
- Glass Futures: UK-based glass industry consortium and R&D initiative focused on low-carbon and circular-economy glass technologies, including recycling. Comparable as an emerging player addressing the same UK recycled-glass ecosystem, with overlap in R&D and industry-collaboration activities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Recresco social profiles
Digital presenceRecresco financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Recresco leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Recresco funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Recresco M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Recresco
What does Recresco do?
Recresco operates glass recycling facilities across the UK, mechanically processing used container glass into clean, reusable cullet for glass manufacturers. The company uses PLC-controlled sorting systems to separate glass by type, color, and quality, and offers bespoke recycling solutions tailored to specific customer specifications. As a subsidiary of BA Glass B.V. since December 2023, Recresco serves industrial and commercial clients directly through three UK processing sites.
Is Recresco a public or private company?
Recresco is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Recresco founded?
Recresco was founded in 1978. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Recresco based?
Recresco is headquartered in Kirkby In Ashfield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Recresco make money?
One revenue line is on record: glass Processing Services.
Who are Recresco's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Encirc and Berryman Glass Recycling. Broad incumbents are O-I Glass, Ardagh Glass Packaging, Verallia, Vetropack, Saint-Gobain Glass and Veolia UK. Strategic Materials is listed as a regional player. Glass Futures is listed as an emerging player.
Does Recresco have an API?
No public API is recorded for Recresco.
What industry is Recresco in?
Recresco's product category is Glass Recycling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALADAG, Glass Processing & Beneficiation (Cullet Production), with a secondary code of EUAIADAF, Glass Processing & Beneficiation Facilities. Its NAICS code is 562920.