Tradition

Cawleys was established in 1947 by Reg Cawley and was initially known as Stanbridges (Luton) Ltd before changing to F & R Cawley in 1952. Reg Cawley was an experienced civil engineer and with his brother Frank they carried out an increasing number of civil engineering and associated haulage contracts. Throughout the 50’s and 60’s the principal business was road building along with some earth moving and transportation for the sand and ballast industry. During these early years the company was engaged on the building of the A6 Clophill by-pass and was a major supplier of road building materials to the M1 construction project. Other major projects of the time included bulk excavation for the Vauxhall Spare Parts Factory and material supply to the test track at Millbrook. This period also saw the birth of what would eventually become the company’s principal business – waste disposal – out of what was seen as a supplementary use of the firm’s resources, the Cawley fleet of small tippers was used to remove ashes and some factory waste from local Luton companies such as Laportes, Electrolux and George Kents.

Reg Cawley became sole proprietor from the late 60’s having bought out his brother’s shares and continued to do so until his death in 1972. In 1971 Reg’s son, Jonathan, joined the business to be joined by his brother, Brian, following their father’s death. During the 1970’s the waste disposal side of the business flourished and by the end of the decade the company was operating 40 vehicles and associated plant and equipment.

As more and more waste passed through the company’s hands it became clear that much of the material, traditionally destined for landfill, could in fact be recovered and re-used to everyone’s benefit. As a result of this there were two significant developments at the beginning of the 80’s. Firstly the company built a Waste Reclamation Factory on its existing site to reduce waste to landfill. One of the first of its kind in the country, this was followed by a scaled-down version at one of the main contracts at the time, New Covent Garden Fruit and Vegetable Market in Nine Elms, South London. Secondly, the firm bought a new transport depot near their existing site to help accommodate the company’s rapid expansion.

By the end of the 80’s Cawleys was well established in the waste management and recycling industry and found themselves at the forefront of recycling as public interest was aroused and environmental lobbying gained momentum. The company took over several smaller skip hire and waste disposal companies during this period and the increase in business resulted in an additional depot and Waste Transfer Station in Milton Keynes.

In order to provide a full range of waste management services the company invested in a wider range of specialised equipment. A liquid tanker and special wastes division was started up to provide collection and treatment of all types of liquid and special wastes. Initially operated as a separate business known as Cawley Tankers, it is now incorporated as a division of the main company.

Throughout the recession of the early 1990’s the company continued to invest in modern waste collection plant and equipment and in 1997 work was completed on a new 40,000 square foot Materials Recycling Factory representing some £2 million investment to take the company forward into the new millennium.

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