Name

S. Norton

Legal name

S. Norton & Co Ltd

Website

https://s-norton.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Recycling Services

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Waste Collection (5621), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Steel/Iron) (EUAIAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Lead, Zinc) (EUAIAJAB), Scrap Metal Collection, Logistics & Aggregation (Yards, Roll-off, Container Programs) (IMAKAMAK), E-Waste & Electronics Metal Recovery (ITAD, Circuit Boards, Precious Metal Recovery) (IMAKAMAG), Metals Recovery & Scrap Processing (from C&D) (BPALAJAF), Scrap Metal & White Goods Aggregation Yards (EUAIABAH)

Keywords

• Scrap metal recycling
• Ferrous metal processing
• Non-ferrous metal trading
• End-of-life vehicle recycling
• Metal recycling exports

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ferrous Metal Sales: Purchase and processing of ferrous scrap metals (cars, cast iron, steel, etc.) for sale to domestic and overseas buyers. Revenue generated from mark-up on processing and export margins.
2. Non-Ferrous Metal Sales: Purchase and processing of non-ferrous metals including aluminium, brass, cables, copper, lead, stainless steel, zinc for sale to customers worldwide.
3. WEEE Processing Services: Processing of waste electrical and electronic equipment as an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF) and Approved Exporter (AE). Services contracted to Producer Compliance Schemes.
4. Battery Recycling Services: Lead acid battery recycling as Approved Battery Exporter (ABE) and Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO). Services include safe storage, shipment and compliance with hazardous waste regulations.
5. End of Life Vehicle Processing: Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) processing of end-of-life vehicles with certificate of destruction (COD). Services contracted through CarTakeBack joint venture.
6. Certified Secure Destruction: Certified and secure destruction service for aerospace parts, car parts, military plant, prototype vehicles with certificate of destruction provided.
7. Scrap Metal Collection Services: Skip collection services providing bins and skips of various sizes for business premises with scheduled or on-demand collections.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

S. Norton collects, processes and exports approximately 1.5 million tonnes of recycled ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals each year across six UK sites. Core services include scrap metal collection (skip service), shredding, shearing, baling, end-of-life vehicle processing, WEEE processing, battery recycling, secure destruction, and worldwide export of prepared scrap to steelmakers and refiners. The company serves both trade customers (motor manufacturers, demolition firms, waste management operators) and the general public from physical depots.

Product overview

S. Norton is a metal recycling company offering a comprehensive suite of services across ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The core product portfolio includes Ferrous Scrap Metals (bales, HMS 1/2, shredded steel), Non-Ferrous Metals (aluminium, copper, brass, lead, stainless steel), Battery Recycling, and Scrap Metal Collections. Processing capabilities center on Metals Shredding using a flagship £20m Lindemann 3000hp shredder at Manchester, complemented by Shearing, Baling, and Flame Cutting services. The company operates specialized facilities including SWAPP (Shredder Waste Advanced Processing Plant) for 95% material recovery, WEEE Processing (AATF/AE accredited), and End of Life Vehicles Processing (ATF). Supporting services include Certified Secure Destruction, Export Services (vessels up to 70,000 DWCC), and Logistics with dedicated transport fleet. The company operates six UK sites in Liverpool, Manchester, London, Southampton, and Glasgow.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Normac Shipping: S. Norton's own shipping company that assists with chartering suitable vessels for prompt shipment of scrap metal exports.

Products and services

• Ferrous Scrap Metals Ferrous scrap metals including bales, bonus grade, bushelling/cuttings, HMS 1/2, P&S and shredded steel scrap, prepared to internationally recognised ISRI standards for sale to domestic and overseas steelmakers.
• Non-Ferrous Metals Non-ferrous metals including aluminium products (radiators, wheels, cast), copper products (birch cliff, bright copper wire, cables), brass, lead, stainless steel and specialty fractions such as Zorba and Zurik, sold to customers worldwide.
• Battery Recycling Lead-acid battery recycling service covering car, commercial vehicle, forklift, traction and UPS batteries under Approved Battery Exporter (ABE) and Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO) approvals at Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow depots.
• Scrap Metal Collections Scrap metal collection service providing bins and skips from 8 to 57 cubic yards delivered to business premises, with scheduled or on-demand collections, full audit trail and dedicated FORS-accredited transport fleet across the North West of England.
• Metals Shredding Shredding of light and medium mixed metals, end-of-life vehicles and WEEE at Liverpool, Glasgow and Manchester facilities, producing clean, high-density furnace feed for worldwide sale, anchored by the new £20m Lindemann 3000hp shredder at Manchester.
• SWAPP Shredder Waste Advanced Processing Plant Recovery facility processing up to 200,000 tonnes of shredder residue per year to extract plastics, solid recovered fuel, aggregates and residual metals, supporting a 95% recycling rate for end-of-life vehicles.
• End of Life Vehicle Processing Authorised Treatment Facility processing of end-of-life vehicles at Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow, including removal of batteries, fluids and hazardous parts prior to shredding, with Certificate of Destruction issued, operated via the CarTakeBack joint venture.
• WEEE Processing Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment processing with AATF and AE status under WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU, handling consumer products including kettles, toasters and washing machines and contracted by Producer Compliance Schemes.
• Shearing Services Oversized material shearing at all sites into internationally recognised grades for worldwide sale, anchored by the Henschel 1250 pre-compression shear at London Barking rated at 40 tonnes per hour.
• Baling Services Baling at Liverpool and Manchester sites to convert clean and painted new cuttings into standard-sized dense bales for domestic and overseas buyers, including a mobile baling service to maximise haulage value.
• Certified Secure Destruction Certified secure destruction service for aerospace parts, car parts, military plant, prototype and unregistered vehicles, with Certificate of Destruction issued and full audit trail.
• Export Services Worldwide export of prepared ferrous and non-ferrous scrap from Liverpool, London, Glasgow, Manchester and Southampton facilities, loading vessels from 20-foot containers up to 70,000 DWCC bulk carriers with full export documentation.
• Logistics Services Dedicated transport department with FORS Bronze accreditation, fleet of articulated vehicles, 500+ skips and a mobile baler service for transporting scrap to and between S. Norton sites.
• ISS and KSS Metal Extraction Sensor-based metal extraction at the Manchester facility using ISS (Improved Sorting System) and KSS (Kinetic Separation System) plants to recover metals from shredder residues, including insulated copper wires and stainless steel previously lost.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% recycling rate
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• UK Steel (Circular Steel Sub-Committee)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Formed September 2025 under UK Steel, Circular Steel Sub-Committee brings together steel producers and recyclers to develop practical policy proposals supporting sustainable circular steel economy. S. Norton joined to urge government action on domestic steel recycling.
• Axion PolymerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Strategic partnership and ongoing investment with Axion Polymers (acquired 2018) enables integrated end-to-end solutions for metals and plastics. The joint venture operates SWAPP (Shredder Waste Advanced Processing Plant) for recovering plastics and other non-metallic fractions from end-of-life vehicles, achieving 95% recycling rate. S. Norton restructuring fully integrates Axion Polymers operations.
• CarTakeBackcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Joint venture for end-of-life vehicle processing. S. Norton has contracts with many vehicle manufacturers through CarTakeBack for processing ELVs. The partnership enables authorised treatment facility services for vehicle recycling with certificate of destruction.
• Normac ShippingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerS. Norton's own shipping company that assists in chartering suitable vessels quickly and effectively for prompt shipment to international customers. Part of integrated export service offering.
• LindemannstrategicTechnology or IntegrationShredder manufacturer for £20m investment in state-of-the-art metals shredder facility at Manchester. Lindemann CEO participated in industry showcase event. Collaborative design, building and commissioning relationship.
• Warwick Manufacturing GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in consortium to establish new automotive battery pack manufacturing research centre. R&D collaboration for automotive sector recycling innovations.
• Jaguar Land RoverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerR&D project to refine the process of turning aluminium derived from end-of-life vehicles into new raw materials for use in automotive sector.
• Aggregate IndustriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuarry owner that upgraded and constructed new facilities, with S. Norton providing specialist scrap processing support for demolition project at Glensanda Super Quarry.
• British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA)minorOthersIndustry membership organisation keeping company informed about upcoming legislative changes and ensuring voice heard by regulators.
• Bureau of International Recycling (BIR)minorOthersInternational recycling industry membership organisation for networking and regulatory engagement.
• National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC)minorOthersDemolition industry association membership for sector engagement and regulatory advocacy.

Scale indicators23 records

Recent moves10 records

Others

• Boliden AB: Boliden is a Nordic mining and smelting group whose copper, zinc and lead smelters purchase non-ferrous scrap feedstock. Relevant as a downstream offtake counterparty for S. Norton's non-ferrous exports rather than a direct competitor, but shapes scrap pricing in Europe.
• Axion Polymers: Axion Polymers is S. Norton's own wholly-owned polymer-recycling subsidiary, now fully integrated. Relevant as a downstream plastics-of-shredder-residue processor rather than a competitor, but illustrates the integrated metals-plus-polymers recycling model.

Broad incumbents

• Renewi plc: Renewi is a UK- and Benelux-listed waste management company with metals recovery among its streams. Comparable in UK commercial waste collection and end-of-life material processing, but scrap metals are a smaller share of a broader municipal and commercial waste portfolio.
• Schnitzer Steel Industries: Schnitzer is a US-headquartered ferrous and non-ferrous scrap processor with export operations on the US West Coast. Comparable to S. Norton in shredding and deep-water export of bulk ferrous cargoes, but with a Pacific-facing logistics footprint and broader mill services.
• Veolia Environnement: Veolia is a global waste management and recycling group with a UK metals recovery business. Overlaps with S. Norton in WEEE, ELV and bulk scrap collection, but is a broad multi-stream waste operator rather than a metal-recycling specialist.
• Outokumpu: Outokumpu is a European stainless steel producer that also operates significant scrap collection and processing. Comparable to S. Norton in stainless steel/non-ferrous scrap flows, but operates as a downstream stainless mill rather than a pure recycler.
• Sims Limited: Sims (formerly Sims Metal Management) is a global metal recycling major with operations across the US, Australia and the UK. Comparable in core ferrous/non-ferrous collection and processing, but operates a much broader international platform and trades on the ASX.

Direct peers

• Ward Recycling: Ward Recycling is a UK-based metal recycler with multiple sites serving ferrous and non-ferrous markets. A close direct peer to S. Norton in collection, processing and UK-domestic offtake, though smaller in tonnage and without S. Norton's deep-sea export capability.
• EMR Group: EMR (formerly European Metal Recycling) is the largest UK-headquartered metal recycler, operating shredders, yards and global export desks. Directly comparable to S. Norton across ferrous/non-ferrous processing, ELV and WEEE services, but at materially larger scale.

Regional players

• SAUBERMANN AG: Saubermann is a German metal recycler with ferrous/non-ferrous processing and demanufacturing services. Comparable to S. Norton in shredding and ELV services, but operates primarily in Germany rather than the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/snortonmetal
• Facebookfacebook.com/snortonmetal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/snorton

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about S. Norton