- 16 Sept 2026
Following M Group’s successful mobilisation of the AMP8 smart meter programme for Yorkshire Water and Netmore, an important question remained: how do we responsibly dispose of 1.4 million meters being replaced as part of the five-year programme?
We needed a solution that protected delivery, met compliance requirements and supported better long-term environmental value.
Our teams from water and transport combined their operational knowledge, waste management expertise, and wider Group capability. After 12 months of engagement and a review of more than 40 recycling and disposal companies, the team secured a sustainable and compliant route for meter disposal.
Together, they identified a Yorkshire-based specialist facility able to process meters in line with waste electrical and electronic equipment requirements. More than 200,000 meters have been shipped to the local supplier, where they are manually dismantled to identify the most practical and effective way to access and remove old lithium batteries encased in sealant.
The approach supports a zero-landfill ambition by recovering component materials and giving them a new life, from plastics recycled into new electrical products to ferrous and non-ferrous metals recycled back into new products. The process also provides a way to recover a small quantity of precious and finite materials from the printed circuit boards in the meters, by creating jewellery from e-waste recovered and manufactured in the UK
The solution is designed with future scale in mind. While the current process is manual, an AI-powered automation is in development to increase processing capacity, improve efficiency, and support the significant volumes expected as major AMP8 metering programmes continue across the UK. Opportunities for enhanced data capture through OCR have been created, helping the business improve accountability, traceability, and insight.
The industry has faced a significant challenge in finding a safe and sustainable solution for disposing of millions of end-of-life water meters, many of which contain a complex mix of materials and encapsulated lithium batteries. We are delighted to have helped resolve this issue and especially proud that, the programme will be used extensively across water.
Liam Saddler, Smart Network Delivery Director
The industry has faced a significant challenge in finding a safe and sustainable solution for disposing of millions of end-of-life water meters, many of which contain a complex mix of materials and encapsulated lithium batteries. We are delighted to have helped resolve this issue and especially proud that, following an extensive research programme, the solution was found right here on our doorstep in Yorkshire.
Craig Thompson, Areera - Our meter recycling partner
Areera’s focus on thinking out of the box and away from traditional shredding of e-waste by using automation, robotics, AI and technology enabled the capture of data from the water meter before safely disposal and recovering critical rare earth materials.
Our metering programmes across the UK will see three to four million meters disposed of sustainably over AMP8.
By combining knowledge, scale and capability across the Group, the water and transport teams have helped keep multiple contracts operational, reduced environmental risk and created value from e-waste. It is a strong example of collaboration in action: our people sharing expertise, taking ownership, and finding a better way to deliver for clients, communities, and the environment.
