There are 1,878 active companies in the recovery of sorted materials sector in the UK (SIC code 38320). This sector falls under Section E — Water supply; sewerage, waste management — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 9.4% dissolution rate — 1,878 of 2,415 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 121.7% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 89% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 12.9 years. 88 large companies, 19 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 9% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 101 government contracts valued at £275.1M.
Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026
A rapidly growing sector with 121.7% of active companies formed since 2020.
The recovery of sorted materials sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">9.4% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 12.9 years old. Geographic concentration: 9% in LONDON.
Companies in the recovery of sorted materials sector have been awarded 101 government contracts worth £275.1M in total.
There are 1,878 active companies classified under SIC code 38320 (Recovery of sorted materials) in the UK, out of 2,415 total registered.
SIC code 38320 stands for "Recovery of sorted materials". It belongs to Section E — Water supply; sewerage, waste management of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.
The largest concentrations are in LONDON (168), BIRMINGHAM (44), LIVERPOOL (23).
The average active recovery of sorted materials company in the UK is 12.9 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1926.
Our database contains 21,006 data signals across 12 categories for active recovery of sorted materials companies. The largest category is Governance with 8,117 signals from 5 government sources.
5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.