Shirley's Recycling was established in 1900 and to this day remains within the family. The name Shirley is in fact the family surname of the founder, Thomas Shirley. In those days, they recycled anything and everything and where called 'marine store dealers' trading in natural fibres, cardboard and paper, metals and rags, even straw!

Mark Ibbotson, the present day Managing Director is a decendent of the family and has controlled the business for the last 30 years.