Mulberry Waste acquisition supports market growth

Leyland headquartered Mulberry Waste Holdings has acquired West Midlands based Ecobat Solutions to accelerate its expansion into the fast-growing lithium-ion battery recycling market.

Mulberry was founded in 1993 by managing director Hassan Isaji and it has grown into a multi-site operator with facilities in Ormskirk, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.  

The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, brings together Mulberry’s established hazardous waste expertise with Ecobat’s advanced end-to-end capabilities in battery collection, diagnostics, dismantling and recycling.

Hassan Isaji said: “We have built Mulberry into a trusted, technically capable business with a strong reputation in hazardous waste management.  

“Ecobat brings highly complementary expertise, particularly in lithium-ion battery recycling and the recovery of critical materials.  

“As the UK transitions towards electrification, the ability to safely collect, process and recycle batteries at scale will be essential.  

“This acquisition gives us a strong platform to grow in that space and to support the development of a more circular, sustainable battery value chain in the UK.  

“Ecobat is a technically advanced business operating at the heart of the battery value chain. 

“Its capabilities in collection, diagnostics and material recovery, combined with Mulberry’s established infrastructure and track record, create a compelling growth platform.  

“This transaction reflects strong demand for businesses supporting the circular economy, particularly those enabling the recovery and reuse of critical materials. It also highlights the increasing importance of specialist battery recycling within the wider waste and environmental services sector.  

“The combined business is well placed to support both regulatory requirements and the UK’s broader sustainability and innovation objectives.” 

Mulberry employs 90 people and provides a comprehensive range of services, including hazardous waste disposal, chemical treatment and fluorescent lamp recycling.  

The wider group also includes a vehicle repair and maintenance division. 

Ecobat, which employs 115 staff and generates annual revenues of more than £20m, will continue to operate from its existing site following the deal. 

Its Darlaston facility includes battery dismantling and health diagnostics, alongside a recently installed ”state of the art” lithium-ion recycling process with a target capacity of 15,000 tonnes.  

The site plays a key role in recovering valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, helping to retain critical resources within the supply chain and reduce reliance on virgin raw materials.  

The deal positions Mulberry at the forefront of a sector experiencing rapid growth, driven by electrification, regulatory change and increasing demand for sustainable resource management. 

It also aligns with the UK’s push towards innovation-led, on-shore recycling infrastructure, supported by initiatives such as Innovate UK. 

Hurst Corporate Finance is acting as financial advisor and Vincents Solicitors as legal advisor to Mulberry in the transaction.