At Gaskells, we believe it’s important to understand where the products we supply come from and how they’re made. That’s why we recently visited Contenur’s UK manufacturing facility in Knowsley, near Liverpool, to see first-hand how the bins we supply are produced from start to finish.
Contenur is a well-established manufacturer of waste and recycling containers, founded in Spain in 1984. Over the past 40 years, the company has grown steadily, supplying councils and waste management organisations across Europe and internationally. Today, Contenur operates in more than 30 countries, with manufacturing facilities in Spain, Poland, Brazil and the UK.
As part of its expansion into the UK, Contenur officially opened its Knowsley manufacturing plant in 2022. The facility now plays a key role in supplying bins to the UK market, reducing reliance on imported products and strengthening local supply chains.
One of the main reasons we chose to work with Contenur is the quality of their products. Their bins are designed and engineered to be strong, durable and reliable, capable of withstanding everyday use in demanding environments. Seeing the manufacturing process up close at the Knowsley factory reinforced our confidence that we are supplying products that meet the standards our customers expect.
Sustainability is also a key focus for Contenur. The company places strong emphasis on responsible manufacturing, including the use of recycled materials where possible and strict controls throughout the production process to minimise waste. Contenur’s facilities operate under recognised environmental standards, with systems in place to reduce plastic loss during manufacturing and improve overall efficiency.
Local manufacturing is another important factor for us. With the factory based in Knowsley, bins do not need to be transported long distances from overseas, so this helps lower carbon emissions and minimise environmental impact, while also providing a more reliable and responsive supply.
During our visit, we followed the journey of a bin through the factory, seeing how raw materials are transformed into finished products ready for use.
The whole process, for an 1100 litre wheelie bin takes a staggering 2 minutes 25 seconds.
VERY brief description of the process: The raw materials (in bead form: virgin material, recycled material and colourant) go into a hopper, and are injected into a machine, heated up, the material blows into the mould, is cooled down, and the bin comes out fully formed, with the wheels and lid being put on by hand.
We would like to thank the team at Contenur for welcoming us to their Knowsley factory and taking the time to show us around. It was a valuable opportunity to see the care, expertise and attention to detail that goes into every bin we supply.