Acumen Waste Services
Acumen Waste Services is a privately held UK waste management and industrial site services firm, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Knottingley, operating permitted facilities across England to serve blue-chip corporates, local authorities, and environmental regulators.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersKnottingley, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Acumen Waste Services does
Acumen Waste Services Ltd is a privately held UK waste management and industrial site services company founded in 1994 and headquartered in Knottingley, West Yorkshire. The group operates a network of permitted waste treatment and transfer facilities across England (with operational sites in Knottingley, Keighley, Stockton-on-Tees, Wolverhampton, and Dewsbury) and runs a directly employed nationwide workforce delivering hazardous and non-hazardous waste collection, treatment, emergency spill response, decommissioning, contaminated land remediation, and void property clearance. Its customer base spans large corporates (H&M, Certas Energy, Buckingham Group), local authorities and social housing providers (Places for People, Your Housing Group), and environmental regulators (Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales).
The company is organized around three service lines — Waste Management, Treatment & Transfer, and Industrial Site Services — supplemented by two productized sub-brands. ClearWater is a registered below-ground biological washpad water recycling system with 5,000-litre capacity that uses custom micro-organisms to treat hydrocarbon-contaminated wash-water and achieve up to 90% water savings; it is sold as both a self-install package and a turnkey solution in the UK and through international distributors in Scotland, Ireland, DACH, France, and the USA. Acubin is a range of waste collection containers including UN-approved boxes and wheelie bins.
Revenue is generated through professional services (project fees, multi-year service contracts, and emergency response retainers), managed services at company-operated permitted facilities, and hardware sales and recurring consumables (micro-organism dosing, ClearWater service packages) tied to the ClearWater product. Pricing is primarily quote-based, with a five-year fixed-rate ClearWater service option and standard warranties supporting budget certainty. The company holds ISO 9001/14001/45001, Constructionline Gold, RISQS, Alcumus Safe Contractor, and UK Spill Association accreditations, and is independently owned, with no disclosed external funding rounds.
Acumen Waste Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Acumen Waste Services
- Legal name
- Acumen Waste Services Ltd
- Website
- https://acumenwaste.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Acumen Waste Services is a privately held UK waste management and industrial site services firm, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Knottingley, operating permitted facilities across England to serve blue-chip corporates, local authorities, and environmental regulators.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Acumen Waste Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Waste Management Services
- NAICS
- Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Waste Collection (56211), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Remediation Services (562910)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953), Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chemical Tank Cleaning, Decontamination & Turnaround Waste Services (BPALAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hazardous Waste & Universal Waste Handling (Batteries, Lamps, Aerosols) (BPABALAE), Commercial & Office Waste Collection (Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAA), Hazardous Waste Recycling & Recovery (Solvent Recovery, Oil Re-refining, Metals Recovery) (EUAIAFAI)
Keywords
Where Acumen Waste Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Knottingley
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Acumen Waste Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Waste Management Services: Comprehensive waste management services including total waste management, emergency response, hazardous waste handling, and non-hazardous treatment and recovery. Revenue generated through project fees and service contracts with blue-chip customers, local authorities, and environmental regulators.
- Industrial Site Services: On-site solutions for cleaning, dismantling, decommissioning, project shutdowns, contaminated land remediation, and associated works. Revenue from project-based engagements.
- ClearWater Product Sales and Installation: Sale and installation of ClearWater washpad water recycling systems. Offered as both self-install packages and turnkey solutions. Includes ongoing micro-organism supply and annual servicing.
- Treatment Facilities: Processing waste through company-operated permitted facilities across England, generating revenue from treatment and disposal fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Self-Install Package |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Turnkey Solution |
| Subscription | Annual | Two-Year Standard Warranty |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Five-Year Fixed Rate Service Package |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Acumen Waste Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Acumen Waste Services provides comprehensive waste management and industrial site services, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste collection, treatment, transfer, and recovery, plus on-site cleaning, dismantling, decommissioning, contaminated land remediation, and 24/7 emergency spill response. The company also manufactures and installs the ClearWater below-ground biological washpad water recycling system, sold both as self-install packages and turnkey solutions, with a separate Acubin range of waste collection containers.
Product overview
Acumen Waste Services is a waste management and industrial site services company established in 1994, headquartered in Yorkshire, with permitted waste facilities across England. The company operates a platform-plus-modules architecture delivering a comprehensive suite of waste management solutions. Core services include Waste Management (total waste management, emergency response, hazardous waste, added value services, clearance and clean) and Industrial Site Services (emergency response, maintenance, asset cleansing, decommissioning and remediation). The Treatment division handles non-hazardous and hazardous waste treatment and transfer. The ClearWater sub-brand represents a distinct product line—below-ground biological washpad water recycling systems with 5,000-litre capacity, achieving up to 90% water savings. Acubin is a separate product sub-brand offering waste collection containers. The company serves blue-chip customers, local authorities, and environmental regulators using in-house personnel, equipment, vehicles, and an audited supply chain.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ClearWater Recycling Systems: A washpad water recycling system that captures, treats, and recycles water from machinery cleaning operations. Features a 5,000-litre below-ground capacity with biological treatment. Available in the UK and internationally through distributors in Scotland, Ireland, Germany/Austria/Switzerland, France, and the USA.
- Acubin
Products and services
- Waste Management
- Treatment and Transfer Services Waste treatment and transfer services including non-hazardous treatment and recovery, hazardous transfer, and hazardous treatment operations processed through Acumen's permitted facilities.
- Industrial Site Services On-site solutions for cleaning, dismantling, decommissioning, project shutdowns, on-site waste treatment, and contaminated land remediation delivered nationwide and across Europe by a directly-employed workforce.
- Emergency and Urgent Response Services 24/7 emergency and urgent response service for spillages and environmental incidents, provided by UK Spill Association accredited professionals with rapid mobilisation.
- Decommissioning and Remediation Services Hazardous material decontamination, land remediation, plant asset decommissioning, and pre-demolition work ensuring safety and regulatory compliance for industrial sites.
- Industrial Asset Cleansing Industrial asset cleaning and decontamination solutions effective at any scale, delivered by Acumen's highly experienced team across operational and former industrial sites.
- Clearance and Clean Void property clearance and cleaning service for vacant properties, hoarding situations, and biohazard contaminated premises, including hoarding/trauma cleans, flea treatments, needle sweeps, and clinical waste removal.
- ClearWater Washpad Water Recycling System Below-ground biological washpad water recycling system that captures, treats, and reuses washdown water, achieving up to 90% water savings. Features a 5,000-litre compartmentalised tank with custom micro-organisms for hydrocarbon-contaminated wash-water, available as self-install package or turnkey solution with ongoing micro-organism supply and annual servicing.
- ClearWater Service Packages and Warranty Service and maintenance packages for ClearWater washpad systems, including a two-year standard warranty covering moving parts and a five-year fixed rate service package for predictable budgeting, plus extended warranty options.
- Acubin Waste Containers Range of waste collection containers including green 80-litre and 1,100-litre drop-front wheelie bins, grey 20-litre lidded UN-approved boxes, grey 240-litre and 1,100-litre wheelie bins, and red vented 240-litre wheelie bins.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% water savings achieved for Thetford Golf Club using ClearWater system
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Acumen Waste Services
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Acumen Waste Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Acumen Waste Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered regional.
- Turf Irrigation Services (Scotland)regionalScottish distributor for ClearWater washpad water recycling systems.
- Cropcare (Ireland)regionalIrish distributor for ClearWater washpad water recycling systems.
- Golf Kontor (Germany/Austria/Switzerland)regionalDACH region distributor for ClearWater washpad water recycling systems.
- Macdis (France)regionalFrench distributor for ClearWater washpad water recycling systems.
- Ewing Outdoor Supply (USA)regionalUS distributor for ClearWater products, operating across North America and Caribbean with new placements in Bahamas and Bermuda.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Acumen Waste Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Biffa plc: One of the UK's largest listed waste management companies, providing municipal, commercial, industrial and hazardous waste collection and treatment across England. Directly comparable on services (total waste management, treatment, hazardous handling) but at much greater scale and breadth than Acumen.
- Veolia UK: Major global environmental services group with a significant UK presence across industrial services, hazardous waste, decommissioning, and remediation. Operates on similar customer types and service lines as Acumen but as part of a much broader portfolio.
- Renewi plc: European-listed recycling and waste management company (successor to Suez's UK recycling business) with comparable commercial and industrial waste collection, treatment, and hazardous waste services across the UK and Benelux.
- Cleanaway UK (including White Rose): Australian-listed Cleanaway Group's UK operations provide commercial waste collection, hazardous waste, and industrial services to a national customer base, broadly similar in service mix to Acumen but larger and backed by a global parent.
Direct peers
- Adler and Allan: UK-based environmental services company providing industrial cleaning, tank cleaning, fuel polishing, spill response, and waste management to petrol stations, utilities, and industrial sites — a tight comparable on Acumen's industrial site services and emergency response offering.
- Orbis Environmental & Safety: UK provider of industrial cleaning, waste management, decommissioning, and emergency response services to the petrochemical, power, and manufacturing sectors. Directly comparable to Acumen's industrial site services and emergency response capability.
- Tradebe: Spain-headquartered specialist in industrial waste management, recycling, and environmental services with a substantial UK operation focusing on hazardous waste collection, treatment, and recovery — closely matching Acumen's industrial/hazardous service profile.
- CMA Industrial Services: UK specialist in industrial cleaning, decommissioning, tank and vessel cleaning, and hazardous waste handling for the oil and gas, petrochemical, and heavy industry sectors — closely comparable on Acumen's industrial asset cleansing and decommissioning services.
Emerging players
- SOS Environmental Ltd: UK-based spill response and waste management specialist offering emergency spill response, industrial cleaning, and hazardous waste services — a comparable but smaller-scale player in the same emergency and industrial services niche.
Others
- Lorien Engineering Solutions (industrial services arm): Engineering-led industrial services company providing tank cleaning, decommissioning, and site services across the UK and internationally. Comparable in service scope on the industrial site services arm, though broader engineering focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Acumen Waste Services social profiles
Digital presenceAcumen Waste Services compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Acumen Waste Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Acumen Waste Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Acumen Waste Services subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Acumen Waste Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Acumen Waste Services 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 Acumen Waste Services
What does Acumen Waste Services do?
Acumen Waste Services provides comprehensive waste management and industrial site services, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste collection, treatment, transfer, and recovery, plus on-site cleaning, dismantling, decommissioning, contaminated land remediation, and 24/7 emergency spill response. The company also manufactures and installs the ClearWater below-ground biological washpad water recycling system, sold both as self-install packages and turnkey solutions, with a separate Acubin range of waste collection containers.
Is Acumen Waste Services a public or private company?
Acumen Waste Services is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Acumen Waste Services founded?
Acumen Waste Services was founded in 1994. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Acumen Waste Services based?
Acumen Waste Services is headquartered in Knottingley, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Acumen Waste Services make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Waste Management Services are the primary driver. The others are industrial Site Services, clearWater Product Sales and Installation and treatment Facilities.
Who are Acumen Waste Services's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Biffa plc, Veolia UK, Renewi plc and Cleanaway UK (including White Rose). Direct peers are Adler and Allan, Orbis Environmental & Safety, Tradebe and CMA Industrial Services. SOS Environmental Ltd is listed as an emerging player. Lorien Engineering Solutions (industrial services arm) is listed as an others.
Does Acumen Waste Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Acumen Waste Services.
What industry is Acumen Waste Services in?
Acumen Waste Services's product category is Waste Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALAHAH, Chemical Tank Cleaning, Decontamination & Turnaround Waste Services, with a secondary code of BPABALAE, Hazardous Waste & Universal Waste Handling (Batteries, Lamps, Aerosols). Its NAICS code is 562211 and its SIC code is 4953.