SIC code 38320 classifies businesses engaged in recovery of sorted materials. There are 1,883 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section E (Water supply; sewerage, waste management) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Recovery of sorted materials industry page.
With a 85% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 12 of 2,221 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age is 12.8 years, indicating an established sector with a mix of long-running businesses and newer entrants. The sector is experiencing strong growth, with 36% of active companies formed since 2020 and 30% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate points to continued demand for recovery of sorted materials services. Companies are geographically dispersed across the UK, with no single location dominating. The top three locations — LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, LIVERPOOL — together account for just 12% of the sector.
SIC code 38320 stands for "Recovery of sorted materials" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section E — Water supply; sewerage, waste management. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 1,883 active companies registered under SIC code 38320 in the UK, out of 2,221 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 85%, meaning 15% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for recovery of sorted materials companies (SIC 38320) are: LONDON (168), BIRMINGHAM (44), LIVERPOOL (23), NOTTINGHAM (23), MANCHESTER (21). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 36% of currently active SIC 38320 companies were formed since 2020, and 30% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for recovery of sorted materials services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 38320 have an average age of 12.8 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include DS SMITH RECYCLING UK LIMITED, BYWATERS (LEYTON) LIMITED, EMR GROUP LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 38110 (Collection of non-hazardous waste), 38210 (Treatment and disposal of non-hazardous waste), 38220 (Treatment and disposal of hazardous waste), 38120 (Collection of hazardous waste). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 38320 (Recovery of sorted materials) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 1,883 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.