This year marks a proud milestone for North West Recycling as we celebrate 30 years of service to Cumbria — and we think that strapline says it all. Because that is exactly what we do: we build something valuable from what others leave behind.
Our story began in 1995 on a family farm in Brampton. Founded by Rick Allan alongside his late father, Roy Allan, and his mum, Pam, the business started life as a soil and stone landfill trading as Brampton Skip Hire. From day one, the ambition was simple: provide reliable waste solutions for local people and businesses, do things differently, and make a genuine difference to the environment around us.
Three decades on, that same ambition drives everything we do — and the numbers reflect the journey. What began as a family of three now employs more than 120 people. The modest skip trailer on the back of a Subaru pickup has grown into a fleet of 40 vehicles and 20 trailers. And from our 30-acre purpose-built facility near Carlisle, we now process over 150,000 tonnes of waste every year — diverting 97% of it from landfill.
In those early days, it soon became clear that the stone coming out of the ground held real value — and that sparked the beginning of local aggregate supply. A skip trailer followed. Then 36 skips, a Yellow Pages advert, and a full commitment to building what would become one of Cumbria’s longest-standing waste businesses.
Those formative years were shaped by hard work and strong family bonds. Pam handled the phones. Roy and Rick were out on the road, building trust with customers — many of whom remain part of our story today.In the early days, North West Recycling operated a soil and stone landfill. It soon became clear that the stone itself held value, sparking the start of local aggregate supply. This was followed by the addition of a skip trailer on the back of a Subaru pickup, a modest but pivotal step that marked the beginning of the company’s recycling and collections journey. As the customer base grew, so did the investment: 36 skips, a Yellow Pages advert, and a full commitment to build what would become one of Cumbria’s longest-standing waste businesses.
Operating from our Rockcliffe site since 2009, North West Recycling has grown into one of the most significant independent waste businesses in the north of England, serving thousands of homes and hundreds of businesses across Cumbria, Northumberland, and South West Scotland.
While our scale, facilities and technology have evolved beyond recognition, our values have not. Our 30-year milestone is a reflection of the principles that continue to guide us every single day: Service. Trust. Community. Innovation.
These are not words on a wall. They are the reason customers like McKnight’s Builders, Story Homes, Carlisle Brass and Lloyds Motor Group have trusted us with their waste, and why we are proud to be an official Waste Management Partner of Carlisle United Football Club heading into the 2026/27 season.
At the heart of North West Recycling are our people — and our 30th anniversary is as much their story as it is ours.
Across our longest-serving team members, there are 218 combined years of experience within the business. One member of our team has been on site for over 22 years, joining straight from school. Our Transport Manager started as a skip driver in 2012 after spotting one of our branded wagons and walking in off the street. These are not unusual stories here — they are the norm.
We invest in structured progression: ILM Leadership and Management training, HGV Class 1 licences funded for drivers, and clear development pathways for people at every level of the business. Because when our people grow, our customers benefit.
Equally important are the long-standing relationships we have built with our customers, suppliers and partners — connections that often span decades and are central to who we are. Trust is earned through consistency, honesty and delivering on our promises. We have always believed that, and we always will.
nnovation has powered our growth and will shape our future. Our end-to-end capability spans skip hire, commercial roll-on roll-off containers, business waste collections, a domestic Man & Van service, wood recovery and reuse, and a growing range of recycled aggregates.
On site, we run a purpose-built Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) and produce Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) — a lower-carbon alternative to traditional fossil fuels that can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 70% when used in place of coal in industrial processes. Investment in glass and stone processing lines, biomass boilers and green energy initiatives means we are continuously reducing landfill, improving recycling outcomes and supporting a cleaner, more sustainable future for Cumbria.
And we are not done. Our ambition for the next 30 years is to be a genuine solutions provider: expanding accessible services for households and businesses, harnessing data to drive smarter recovery, and partnering with technology innovators to unlock cleaner, more efficient ways to generate energy from materials.
Throughout the year, we will be shining a spotlight on:
Our community — events, partnerships and initiatives giving back to the region we call home
Our people — from long-serving team members and unsung heroes to future leaders
Our customers — long-standing, milestone and local businesses who have been part of our journey
Our history and innovation — key developments, pivotal moments and then-and-now reflections
What’s Happening During Our Anniversary Year
Our 30th anniversary comes to life through a series of events, campaigns and thank-you initiatives, including:
Waste is not going anywhere. How we manage it sustainably is one of the defining challenges of our time — and one that cannot be exported or ignored. At North West Recycling, we have always believed that the responsibility to deal with waste begins at home, in the communities that produce it.
That is the principle we were founded on in 1995. It is the principle that drives us today. And it is the one we will carry into the next 30 years.
To every customer, team member, partner and community who has been part of this journey — thank you. You are the reason we are here.
Here is to 30 years of building from what you left behind — and to everything still to come.
Thanks, Rick
Managing Director
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