The company, which was originally engaged in the removal and sale of ashes and clinker from London power stations, was founded in Wembley by Richard Henry Biffa as Richard Biffa Limited, in 1912.[4]
In 1958 Richard Henry Biffa's grandson, Richard Charles Biffa, joined the business and, after becoming general manager in 1963, grew the business organically and by acquisition.[4] The business was acquired by British Electric Traction in 1971 and by Severn Trent for £212 million in 1991.[4] It acquired the American-owned UK Waste for £380 million in 2000.[5]
In June 2022, Biffa received a buyout proposal from private-equity firm, Energy Capital Partners, at £4.45 a share, a 37% premium to the share price, valuing the company at £1.36 billion.[8][9] The proposal was approved by the court, allowing it to proceed, on 25 January 2023.[10]
Biffa has been prosecuted for the following breaches of environmental waste export laws:
The company was convicted of four breaches of waste shipment regulations during the period 2018-2019.[12]
The company was convicted of attempting to export used nappies and materials illegally in 2020.[13]
In 2021, the company was found guilty in a case brought about by the Environment Agency, having attempted to illegally export banned household waste items, including plastic bags, tins, clothing and condoms - incorrectly identified as waste paper. The company was fined £1.5 million, and severely rebuked by Judge Shane Collery QC, who described Biffa as "having shown no contrition" for this crime, referring to their actions as "reckless, bordering on deliberate".[14]
£1,042.0 million (2021)[1]
