Municipal services contractor Verdant Group has bought the privately-owned waste managers Waste Services (UK).

The deal makes Verdant one of the five largest waste and recycling companies in the UK. The company has contracts with a number of councils, including South Oxfordshire and Rother DCs, and Surrey Heath BC. Waste Services specialises in commercial, marine and hazardous waste disposal along the south cost of England, with depots in Bournemouth and Portsmouth. It has a turnover of around £8m, with 65 staff and 45 vehicles. The firm's key contracts include waste management at the Royal Navy dockyards in Portsmouth, as well as schools and universities. Verdant development director Roger Edwards will become managing director of Waste Services, which will retain its trading name.