The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Objectives
Our objective is to provide commercial and industrial organisations a one-stop-solution for collecting and treating hazardous and specialist waste streams. Waste is an unwanted biproduct of a process or activity. Our aim is to recover value from our customers’ waste, while at the same time minimise the environmental impact of collection, treatment and recovery.
By focusing on our core values of environmental best practice, quality of service and best value, we aim to be our customers’ preferred choice for managing most forms of hazardous and specialist waste streams, across the UK. This is achieved through continual improvement, innovation and investment, with the aim to maximise reuse, recover value and recycle, while all but eliminating landfill.
Financial Performance
Despite the recent inflationary pressures and a lacklustre economy over the last year we have experienced steady growth with Net Revenue growing 4.3% to £54.7m and PBIT growing 40.6% to £4.6m Net Revenue is our internal measure of Sales Revenue less Rebates to customers. Our headcount decreased by 11, to 433, while the payroll cost increased by £0.4m to £16.0m. Despite the challenges, we have been able to strengthen our management team over the last year, with a number of high calibre individuals joining the business. Our focus is to invest and advance in our own talent while we invite candidates that demonstrate the right values rather simply on experience and qualifications.
Group turnover increased by £1.5m to £65.1m over the year. Capital expenditure reached £5.3m for the year. Before any revaluations our Fixed Assets increased by £1.7m. Overall, the business generated £3.4m cash from operations.
Over the year we continued our investments in both our Service and Recycling Centres. This included £0.8m in our Liverpool treatment facility, £0.2m investment in our Elland Battery Recycling facility and £0.3m in a new plastics recovery process in Packcare, our industrial packaging plant. In essence, over the last year, we have continued our focus on consolidating our existing business operations, improving both performance and standards. To ensure all our colleagues understand and support the essential pillars of success, we have focused our investment and training around.
• Health and Safety
• Service Quality
• Productivity
Collection events and volumes have increased by 10% on client collections and 9% on recycled and recovered tonnage. During the year we launched the UK’s first national service for collecting and processing e-cigarette (vapes). With over 9,000 collection sites already established we expect this market to grow, despite the Government’s endeavour to ban disposable vapes. During the year 1,427 new collection points were added to our service. Customer retention has remained high with virtually no losses from our regular clients. Keeping to our policy of offering a low cost, reliable service, maximising customer rebates from reuse, recycling and recovery, while minimising landfill, continues to be the foundation of our success.
Wastecare Compliance plc has been successful in winning several new members, through the year, by being the only Producer Compliance Scheme to publish our evidence prices for the year ahead. At the same time, as a Group we generate the majority of our members evidence from the batteries, packaging and WEEE that we collect from our customers. In this way we are in a unique position to control and know our future costs, removing the risks and being able to offer the lowest cost of compliance.
Despite the economic challenges the Board is pleased with the overall financial performance of Wastecare Group Limited. During the year we have returned £10.3m to our customers from the waste streams we have recycled and recovered, repeating the value we returned in 2023/4
Health and Safety remains the highest priority for the Board, Management and Employees across the Group. Our accident frequency rate (AFR) is continuously monitored, and improvement actions are implemented. This has resulted in a year-on-year reduction of 18% and an AFR significantly better than the wider sector.
Our focus is to all but eliminate landfill throughout the business. This work has been ongoing with less than 1% of the volume of inbound material being disposed of rather than reused, recycled or recovered.
The business is committed to continual investment in R&D for new technology and developing our capabilities. A number of R&D projects are currently under construction and will be completed within the next Financial Year. These include a new and expanded portable battery treatment process, a full scale vape recovery process and a secondary fuel process that will reduce our dependency on natural gas requirement by over 40%.
The key to our success is dependent on the quality, commitment and hard work of all our colleagues. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the Group’s continued success.
Market Place
Over the last 12 months the UK economy has continued to be, at best, lethargic. We believe that it is now generally accepted that this doesn’t appear to be a cyclical downturn in our economy, rather it is further evidence that an increasing number in the working age population across the country are seeing little merit in, or incentive to work. This dilemma appears to have infected many Western economies. Add to this the tumultuous impact of President Trump, the next few years are likely to be challenging. Perhaps perversely, we see a challenging economic climate as an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of providing a low cost recovery solution that returns real value to our customers, combined with the highest environmental standards. We strongly believe the loyalty of our customers is testament to the high quality of our service and the value we provide. We have attracted a number of significant new accounts, through the year. As the waste management sector continues to consolidate, we are confident our growth will continue for many years to come.
An additional factor that influences our financial performance is our collection and recycling capacity throughout the UK. As a company we aim to process as much as we can ourselves, or use UK providers, and only in extreme cases rely on recyclers on the Continent. We are continuing to invest in expanding our process capability to ensure we provide our customers a comprehensive, cost efficient and reliable recycling and recovery solution.
Environmental Impact and SECR
Our primary function is to recover resources from waste. It should go without saying that this is only beneficial to the wider environment if there is a net energy saving. The Companies Act (Directors' Report) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Energy and Carbon Report) Regulations 2018 implement the government's policy on Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR). The regulation came into effect on 1 April 2019 and the Company is required to report the emissions and energy consumption for this year to 31st March 2025 to coincide with the financial reporting period. Following a total company usage methodology 7,953 Te CO2e was produced. As an intensity measure the Directors consider CO2e production per pound of profit before tax to be most appropriate. 1.7kg per Pound of PBIT was produced in the year and the company aims to lower this where possible in the future.
Business strategy
The growth and success of the Wastecare Group has been as a result of putting our clients at the centre of our operation combined with continuous investment in innovative technology. This has enabled us to combine a deep understanding of our clients’ requirements with a uniquely flexible service that can be tailored for virtually any organisation, while focusing on providing a high-quality service, great value, minimizing waste and maximizing recoverable value.
The core of our business is the national network of regional Service Centres, providing an efficient collection service for most commercial and public sector organisations. Whilst organic growth is our main focus, strategically advantageous acquisitions in the past have enabled the company to offer a wider range of services to an increasing range of industrial and commercial sectors. The Board are confident that the Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy and the adoption of the Circular Economy Package has set a framework for the sector to develop and invest in new capacity and technologies.
The Directors believe that organic growth will continue to be achieved through increasing the range of compatible services that we offer to both existing and new clients whilst maintaining the strong features of a one-stop solution for hazardous and challenging waste. In addition to this growth we completed the purchase of Cleaneco Group in August 2025, which will substantially expand our packaging division and add aerosol recovery and product destruction to our portfolio.
We are continuing to expand our solar energy generation with an array at our Liverpool facility, to be completed in Q3 2025. Building on the success we have experienced from our in-house electricity generation we expect to reduce our energy dependency by 60% by 2027.
Principle risks and uncertainties
The Waste Management sector is highly regulated. A continuing challenge faced by Wastecare Group centres around developing solutions to the changes in legislation across the market segments in which we operate. We are mindful of our responsibility to guide our clients through the maze of legislation to help ensure they are compliant, as well as making sure we handle all types of waste safely, whilst adopting environmental best practice. We manage the impact of legislative changes within the waste industry, on both our business and our customers by ensuring that we are actively involved and affiliated with a range of organisations representing the interests of the waste industry. While the direction of travel is basically a given, we believe the UK government will slow the rate of change, while economic pressures remain high.
The demands of our customers and the challenges we face day to day continue to evolve. Our infrastructure and operational models are well suited to handle ongoing changes in regulations and challenges to meet ever greater demands in environmental standards. We are committed to continue re-investing our profits to extend the reach of the business whilst keeping borrowings within a tight limit.
It is our mission to provide all our clients, regardless of size, best value at all times, offering the most competitive prices for virtually all types of hazardous and challenging waste streams. This means that we can offer great value through a fully scalable business model that ensures the Group can safely invest for the future whilst managing our risks.
The Board regularly review the potential risks to the business. These are subdivided to safety, environmental, regulatory compliance, commercial and financial risk. The Board maintains a register of potential risks, taking account of macro market movements, regulatory changes as well as Health & Safety performance, operational changes, customer retention and general performance. Wastecare has in place contingency plans should the business suffer a material setback. The management team are responsible for maintaining a Group wide improvement plan which aims to ensure risks are minimised whilst at the same time the key objectives of the business are realised.
CSR
Wastecare is committed to conducting its business operations in an open and responsible manner. We recognise the need to continually improve our operations to reduce our impact on the environment, as well as improve our processes to ensure the safety and welfare of our colleagues. We aim to be a good neighbour, at each of our sites, whilst minimising, the impact of our operations on the wider community. We are committed to minimising landfill, avoiding the export of waste, reducing our Carbon footprint and becoming self- sufficient in energy use, including providing fuel for our transport fleet. We are committed to helping the waste management sector in developing regulations and policy as well as taking an active role with Government departments and the Environment Agency.
Employees
Our employees are our greatest asset. The average total workforce in 2024/25 was 433, an decrease of 2.5% on the previous year. Virtually everyone within the business is now eligible to performance enhanced remuneration. Every recruit is subject to a minimum two-week induction process and are provided with a company handbook, a personalised training programme along with a regular assessment regime. Work instructions, method statements and risk assessments are all available via an internal Intranet accessible by all within the business. Under the auspices of the Wastecare Academy all personnel undergo a regular review of their performance with their line manager, as well as develop a plan for their future development.
We continue to be impressed by the dedication, hard work and commitment of our colleagues throughout the business. They continue to strive to improve the service to our customers, flexing to the frequently changing demands of both our customers and the regulatory regime. The ‘can do’ attitude of my colleagues is key to delivering on our clients’ expectations. The adage, a company is only as good as the people, is certainly true in our case.
Wastecare Ltd
Wastecare Ltd, established in 1982, remains the foundation of the Group, providing a unique waste management solution to industry and commerce via a nationwide collection service along with a sustainable permitted recycling, recovery and reuse solutions, with full traceability, for most types of hazardous and difficult waste. With 14 regional service and recycling centres across the UK and a fleet of over 160 collection vehicles, we collect, treat and recycle over 1,000 different types of hazardous and “difficult” waste from over 35,000 sites both in the private and public sectors.
Divisions within Wastecare include.
· Data destruction
· Domestic appliance recycling and reuse
· High temperature recovery for clinical and pharmaceutical waste
· Industrial chemical and effluent treatment
· IT and electronic equipment refurbishment and reuse
· Laboratory and chemical smalls treatment
· Metal decontamination and recovery
· On-site shredding and destruction
· Precious metal recovery
· Used cooking oil processing to supply the bio-fuel market.
Our Zero to Landfill policy delivers maximum recycling and recovery throughout its operation, returning real value to its customers. Utilising our national transport fleet and licensed waste management facilities enable Wastecare to provide clients a cost effective, one- stop solution for all types of industrial packaging and associated waste. Our Avonmouth facility provides the only licensed thermal treatment process dedicated to steel drums and metal packaging in the UK.
WasteCare Compliance Plc
Established in 2007, the company was the first WEEE compliance scheme to be approved by the Environment Agency. The scheme was established to meet the needs of all electrical and electronic producers who supply equipment both to businesses and consumers. It is now the largest scheme by membership, an achievement that has been achieved by providing an outstanding service to our members whilst offering exceptional value for money. In 2010 we launched BatteryBack, again the first portable battery producer compliance scheme. Along with Packcare, our packaging producer compliance scheme, we remain the only compliance evidence that publishes fixed prices in advance. This is made possible, because we are generating the evidence through our own AATFs and ABTOs, from the WEEE, batteries and packaging collected from our customers and processed in-house, within the Group.
The Board of Directors of WasteCare Group Limited consider that both individually and together for the year ended 31 March 2025 they have acted in the way they consider, in good faith, would be the most likely to promote the success of the Group for the benefit of its members as a whole and having regard to the matters set out in s172 (1)(a-f) as below:
a) The likely consequences of any decision in the long term;
b) The interests of the Group’s employees;
c) The need to foster the Group’s business relationships with suppliers, customers and others;
d) The impact of the Group’s operations on the community and the environment;
e) The desirability of the Group maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct; and
f) The need to act fairly between members of the Group.
The directors make decisions by taking their legal duty into account and also the priorities and requirements of the stakeholders.
a) The likely consequences of any decision in the long term
The directors have regard to the likely consequences of their decisions on the long-term objectives and sustainability of the Group, its stakeholders and the community whilst also preserving its values and culture. With this in mind, when a dividend is proposed it is important to confirm the availability of distributable reserves whilst also considering cash requirements for future investment and without prejudicing the position of other creditors. We are a business built on our standards and reputation and would not take a decision which would have a detrimental impact on this whether in the short term or the long term. We are dedicated to ensuring we maintain our culture whilst achieving our purpose.
b) The interests of the Group’s employees
Our employees are key, so it is very important that they have the right attitude and the drive to create ideas and set high standards. All employees are encouraged to be honest and regular discussions are held with employees. The directors make an effort to visit our locations to talk to the employees which gives them the opportunity to hear their ideas and see first-hand where any improvements can be made.
c) The need to foster the Group’s business relationships with suppliers, customers and others
We carry out our business with similar-minded people who we like and build on this to forge strong and lasting partnerships which is important for our long-term success.
d) The impact of the Group’s operations on the community and the environment
We are proud to be part of the local and wider communities. It is our aim to create opportunities to recruit and develop local people and to understand the local issues that are important to the community and what we can do to support it.
e) The desirability of the Group maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct
All new employees get a New Starter Pack which documents our history, standards, equal opportunities and training programme (among other things). All employees have easy access to our Operating Procedures and Codes of Conduct and understand the requirement for them to comply with the Group’s high standards of business conduct at all times. Any issues of non-compliance with any of our policies can be dealt with in confidence.
On behalf of the board
The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The results for the year are set out on page 15.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £81,632. The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
The Group's policy is to consult and discuss with employees, through unions, staff councils and at meetings, matters likely to affect employees' interests.
Information about matters of concern to employees is given through information bulletins and reports which seek to achieve a common awareness on the part of all employees of the financial and economic factors affecting the group's performance.
There is no employee share scheme at present, but the directors are considering the introduction of such a scheme as a means of further encouraging the involvement of employees in the company's performance.
The auditor, BHP LLP, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements of WasteCare Group Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the group statement of comprehensive income, the group statement of financial position, the company statement of financial position, the group statement of changes in equity, the company statement of changes in equity, the group statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Basis for opinion
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group's and parent company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
The information given in the strategic report and the directors' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
The strategic report and the directors' report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
• the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
• we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the group through discussions with management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the sector;
• we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the group, including Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation, data protection, anti-bribery, employment, environments and health and safety legislation;
• we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
• identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the group's financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
• making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
• considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
• performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
• tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
• assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and
• investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
• agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation; and
• enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed those laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the group members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the group members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
The notes on pages 22 to 43 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 22 to 43 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 22 to 43 form part of these financial statements.
As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company’s profit for the year was £534,135 (2024 - £341,856 profit).
The notes on pages 22 to 43 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 22 to 43 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 22 to 43 form part of these financial statements.
WasteCare Group Limited (the 'company' is a private limited company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The company's registration number is 03280384.
The address of its registered office and principal place of business is Argent House, Tyler Close, Normanton, England, WF6 1RL.
The principal activity of the group is the collection, treatment and recycling of commercial and industrial waste streams, and the provision of compliance recycling schemes.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements for parent company information presented within the consolidated financial statements:
Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;
Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues: Interest income/expense and net gains/losses for financial instruments not measured at fair value; basis of determining fair values; details of collateral, loan defaults or breaches, details of hedges, hedging fair value changes recognised in profit or loss and in other comprehensive income;
Section 26 ‘Share based Payment’: Share-based payment expense charged to profit or loss, reconciliation of opening and closing number and weighted average exercise price of share options, how the fair value of options granted was measured, measurement and carrying amount of liabilities for cash-settled share-based payments, explanation of modifications to arrangements;
Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’: Compensation for key management personnel.
The consolidated group financial statements consist of the financial statements of the parent company Wastecare Group Limited together with all entities controlled by the parent company (its subsidiaries) and the group’s share of its interests in joint ventures and associates.
All financial statements are made up to 31 March 2025. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the group.
All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.
Subsidiaries are consolidated in the group’s financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.
When cash inflows are deferred and represent a financing arrangement, the fair value of the consideration is the present value of the future receipts. The difference between the fair value of the consideration and the nominal amount received is recognised as interest income.
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer (usually on dispatch of the goods), the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.
Freehold land and assets in the course of construction are not depreciated.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the income statement.
The assets' residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted prospectively if appropriate, or if there is an indication of a significant change since the last reporting date.
Equity investments are measured at fair value through profit or loss, except for those equity investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair value cannot otherwise be measured reliably, which are recognised at cost less impairment until a reliable measure of fair value becomes available.
In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the group. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
At each reporting period end date, the group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.
The carrying amount of the investments accounted for using the equity method is tested for impairment as a single asset. Any goodwill included in the carrying amount of the investment is not tested separately for impairment.
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.
If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.
Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.
The group has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the group's statement of financial position when the group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amounts presented in the financial statements when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.
Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the group transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the group after deducting all of its liabilities.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.
Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Equity instruments issued by the group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the group.
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if, and only if, there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.
The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals as a liability in the Statement of Financial Position. The assets of the plan are held separately from the group in independently administered funds.
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the statement of financial position as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to profit or loss so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.
Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leased asset are consumed.
Rental income from operating leases is recognised on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease. Initial direct costs incurred in negotiating and arranging an operating lease are added to the carrying amount of the leased asset and recognised on a straight line basis over the lease term.
Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss.
In the application of the group’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
The critical judgements and estimates that have had the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.
In assessing whether there have been any indicators of impaired assets, the directors have considered both external and internal sources of information such as market conditions, counterparty credit ratings and experience of recoverability.
The Company depreciates tangible assets over their estimated useful lives. The estimation of the useful lives of assets is based on historic performance as well as expectations about future use and therefore requires estimates and assumptions to be applied by management. The actual lives of these assets can vary depending on a variety of factors, including technological innovation, product life cycles and maintenance programmes.
Judgement is applied by management when determining the residual values for all fixed assets, particularly property, plant & equipment. When determining the residual value, management aim to assess the amount that the company would currently obtain for the disposal of the asset if it were already of the condition expected at the end of its useful economic life. Where possible this is done with reference to external market prices.
The Company holds various categories of stock in the form of waste electrical equipment along with other items held or materials salvaged from the normal operation of the Company’s business activities. This stock is held at the lower of cost and net realisable value, with net realisable value being the amount recoverable less any future costs to incur. In calculating the values of particular items held by the Company, judgement and estimation is required in both attributing direct costs to each stock line and assessing the recoverable amount. Management use the most up to date and relevant information in making this assessment at the balance sheet date.
The scheme income received by the Group is not coterminous to the financial year end therefore revenue is accrued and deferred in order to correctly recognise revenue when the agreed services have been provided. There is some estimation involved in assessing what the total scheme income will be for the full calendar year when calculating the required accrued and deferred income.
Stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, with net realisable value being the amount recoverable less any future costs to incur. In calculating the net realisable value, management are required to estimate the amount that can be recovered from the waste battery stock through selling evidence of recycled batteries to the Group's scheme members. A Pound Sterling value per tonne is calculated based on historic sales. In calculating future costs to incur, management are required to estimate the future costs of sorting and treating the waste batteries held against which they have sold evidence. The value of this obligation is also held on the balance sheet as a 'costs to treat accrual'. There is a high level of estimation involved in calculating these costs to incur which will depend on the way in which the obligation is fulfilled. The Group will either pay a third party to recycle batteries in accordance with all applicable regulations or fulfil the obligation through its own recycling plant. Management estimate the total cost of doing this, incorporating any directly attributable staffing costs, a reasonable allocation of appropriate overheads along with third party costs of recycling battery types that cannot be recycled inhouse. Management uses all relevant historic and current information available in making this estimation. Going forwards, changes in the efficiency of the in-house recycling process, any regulatory changes or changes to third party recycling costs may impact on the estimated ‘costs to treat accrual’ and the performance of future periods.
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year was:
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
During the year retirement benefits were accruing to 2 directors (2024 - 3) in respect of defined contribution pension schemes.
The actual charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:
Impairment tests have been carried out where appropriate and the following impairment losses have been recognised in profit or loss:
The impairment losses in respect of financial assets are recognised in other gains and losses in the income statement.
The net carrying value of tangible fixed assets includes the following in respect of assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts.
Land with the fair value of £13,739,748 has been included within Freehold property.
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 March 2025 are as follows:
Amounts owed by group undertakings are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.
Amounts owed to group undertakings are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.
Hire purchase creditors are secured on the assets to which they relate including assets held by group companies.
The invoice discounting facility is secured by fixed and floating charges over the company's assets. This facility was not utilised at the year-end.
The long-term loans are secured by fixed and floating charges over the assets of the group.
The invoice discounting facility is secured by fixed and floating charges over the assets of the group.
Loans repayable by January 2036
These loans are repaid at £25,150 per month and incur interest at a rate of 2.9% per annum.
Loans repayable by June 2032
These loans are repaid £92,000 per quarter and incur interest at a rate of 5.03% per annum.
Hire purchase creditors are secured on the assets to which they relate including assets held by group companies.
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company, and movements thereon:
A defined contribution pension scheme is operated for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund.
The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the group to the fund and amounted to £740,098 (2024 - £555,512). Contributions totalling £66,197 (2024 - £61,465) were payable to the fund at the reporting date and are included in creditors.
The 'Ordinary shares' and 'Ordinary F shares' of £1 each have full voting, dividend and capital distribution rights. The Ordinary 'A', 'B' and 'C' Shares of 1p each have full voting rights but confer no right to dividend. In the event of a sale of the company specific rights are attached to these shares. No shares in the company are redeemable.
The following shares were repurchased in the year.
Share class | Date | Shares | Consideration |
A Ordinary | 02-Apr-24 | 334 | £ 130,000 |
A Ordinary | 24-Oct-24 | 333 | £ 130,000 |
B Ordinary | 22-Oct-24 | 500 | £ - |
C Ordinary | 22-Oct-24 | 500 | £ - |
F Ordinary | 02-Apr-24 | 560 | £ 626,513 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
| £ 886,513 |
The equivalent amount has been added to the Capital Redemption Reserve.
This reserve records the amount above the nominal value received for shares issued.
This reserve records the gains and losses recognised on revaluation of freehold properties.
This reserve records the nominal value of shares repurchased by the company.
Profit & loss account
This reserve represents cumulative retained profits and losses net of dividends declared.
At the reporting end date the group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
Amounts contracted for but not provided in the financial statements:
These relates to Motor Vehicles, Plant & Machinery and Land & Building Upgrades.
At 31 March 2025 the company owed £nil to shareholders (2024 - £3,763)
During the year the company paid dividends of £81,632 (2024 - £324,293) to the directors.
At 31 March 2025 the group was owed £172,491 by the directors (2024 - £62,781 owed to the directors).
On 8th August 2025 the group acquired 100% of the share capital of the CleanEco Group Limited and it's subsidiaries.