Biffa Limited is a waste management company headquartered in High Wycombe, England. It provides collection, landfill, recycling and special waste services to local authorities and industrial and commercial clients in the United Kingdom. In 2017 it was the UK's second-largest waste-management company. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired by the private-equity firm Energy Capital Partners in January 2023.
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.
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. The business was acquired by British Electric Traction in 1971 and by Severn Trent for ã212 million in 1991. It acquired the American-owned UK Waste for ã380 million in 2000.
Severn Trent demerged the company to a consortium formed by Global Infrastructure Partners, Montagu Private Equity and Uberior Co-Investment in 2008. It acquired recycling firm Greenstar UK for ã135 million in 2010.
The company was re-listed on the London Stock Exchange on 17 October 2016. In June 2022, Biffa received a buyout proposal from private-equity firm Energy Capital Partners at ã4.45 a share, a 37% premium to the share price, valuing the company at ã1.36 billion. In January 2023, the takeover was agreed, with shareholders receiving 410 pence per share and the shares were suspended on the London Stock Exchange on 27 January 2023.
Biffa covers 95% of the UK. The company runs two Material Recycling Facilities (MRF).
Biffa has been prosecuted for the following breaches of environmental waste export laws: