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History - Page 4

1980s
The tide turns

In the 1980s, Ocean re-examined the strategic importance of all the Cory businesses. Those where the long-term growth prospects were poor, for example the coal and oil distribution businesses, were sold. Businesses with real potential were identified and earmarked for expansion.

One of these was the growing waste management activity. Consequently, the activities of Cory Lighterage and the landfill activities of Cory Sand and Ballast were amalgamated in 1981 to form an entirely new business, Cory Waste Management.

This new business proved successful and in 1983 Cory Waste Management submitted an innovative tender for the long term transport and disposal of a proportion of waste controlled by the Greater London Council, amounting to half a million tonnes each year. The tender was successful, and saw the launch of the containerised waste transport method, which is thriving today.

In 1989, Cory Environmental Municipal Services Ltd was established in response to the opportunity presented by the Local Government Act of 1988, which required that services such as refuse collection were awarded through the compulsory competitive tendering process.

1990s
Recent developments

1990 saw yet another evolution in the Company's history. Cory Waste Management and Municipal Services were renamed Cory Environmental. This recognised that environmental issues have assumed a much higher profile and priority in today's society. Equally it stressed Cory Environmental’s aim to manage the whole issue of waste rather than just dispose of it.

Since 1990, the Company has continued to develop and expand. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 brought forward the separation of waste regulation, waste planning and waste disposal functions provided by local authorities. This led to either the sale of waste disposal assets or to council's setting up arms length Local Authority Waste Disposal Companies (LAWDCs).

In 1997, Cory acquired Exwaste Ltd from Essex County Council, further strengthening its position in the south east. Regional expansion commenced with the acquisition of the Waste Company, Gloucestershire County Council's LAWDC in 1997, adding two further landfill sites to the portfolio.

Cory's acquired Parkhill Reclamation in 1999 and provided three further sites in the West Midlands and north west.

The concept of maximising the value of waste management remains fundamental to Cory's philosophy, with the Company making major investments in recycling and alternative forms of waste management.

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