Above: REMONDIS trucks will stay on the roads of the Australian Capital Territory for at least five more years.

Strong and enduring partnerships are paramount to success in today’s business environment. One solid example of this approach is our Public Private Partnership with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government, whose refuse management contract was recently extended until at least 2028. As part of the extension of the contract, which we have held since 2012, REMONDIS will provide best-practice general operations and landfill management services at Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre and Mugga Lane Quarry at Symonston, the ACT’s main disposal sites, under a streamlined single contract. Along with prioritising efficiency and environmental responsibility, REMONDIS will focus on maximising diversion from landfill, reuse, recycling and resource recovery. We have also committed to investing in many pieces of new equipment, including a new compactor, and to operating and maintaining assets owned by ACT, including an environmental data collection and management system, a truck wheel-wash system and a leachate pumping station.

Above: MUNS is now part of the REMONDIS family.

REMONDIS is expanding our footprint in Spain by acquiring the family-owned company MUNS. Founded in 1890, MUNS specialises in sewage sludge recovery and composting. The company is headquartered in the town of Lleida in the region of Catalonia.

The Spanish market generates about 4.6 million tonnes of sewage sludge each year, around 80% of which is used for agricultural purposes. This is mainly due to the very dry and nutrient-poor soils, which results in a high demand for sewage sludge and compost that provides necessary nutrients for the agricultural industry. More than one-third of this amount is produced in the neighbouring provinces of Aragon and Catalonia, where MUNS is located.

The acquisition of MUNS will strengthen REMONDIS’s vertical integration by adding the capability to recover more than 400,000 tonnes of sewage sludge each year. The new acquisition also includes two composting sites in El Poal, in the Catalonia region, and Zuera, in the Aragon region, with a combined capacity of more than 150,000 tons per year.

Above: From left to right: Charles van Oort (Supply Chain Manager at Blokker), Jannes Wolting (Business Development Manager at REMONDIS Nederland), John Schollink (Logistics Director at Mirage Retail Group), Dr Andreas Krawczik (Managing Director at REMONDIS Nederland), Joyce Sloot (Category Manager / Purchase at Blokker) and Niels Visser (Director of Sales at REMONDIS Nederland).

At REMONDIS, we know that businesses will have a pivotal role in spearheading the transition to a circular economy. That’s why we provide them with the B2B environmental services they need to put materials back in the loop. Three recent partnerships in the Netherlands demonstrate how we are working with businesses to advance recycling. 

In the first partnership, REMONDIS is working with the retail chain Blokker to recycle aluminium coffee capsules. Since last May, capsules collected in more than 450 Blokker stores in the Netherlands have been sent to Blokker’s distribution centre in Geldermalsen before being sent to our modern recycling facility in Lichtenvoorde for recycling. Sorted aluminium is then returned to the aluminium industry and the coffee grounds are turned into biogas and high-quality compost.

Above: REMONDIS is partnering with Hornbach at its Nijmegen DIY store, which opened in July.

In another retail partnership, REMONDIS is working with the DIY and home improvement firm Hornbach as its exclusive partner for collecting and recycling materials generated at Hornbach’s 19 large-scale stores in the Netherlands. As of August, REMONDIS has provided recycling management services in Hornbach’s stores, including collecting, sorting, and recycling various material streams, such as construction and demolition materials, wood, plastics, hazardous refuse and other materials generated during daily operations.
 

Above: Rhenus is expanding its footprint in Latin America.

Rhenus, a leading global logistics specialist, is further expanding its existing presence in the Latin America (LATAM) market through strategic initiatives designed to enhance its service portfolio and capitalise on the region’s growing potential for globally connected supply chains. The company has announced its acquisition of Colombia-based BLU Logistics and a majority shareholding of LBH Group, bolstering its capabilities in the region and reinforcing its commitment to global supply chain connectivity.

“Our strategic acquisitions allow us to further strengthen our global network and service portfolio in the LATAM region, where we see increasing demand for logistics services, especially for the e-commerce industry. In addition, the region’s proximity to the North American market fosters a robust environment for nearshoring, which aligns perfectly with our growth strategy. Together with BLU and LBH, we create a unique position with the value of a family business for our customers and people by offering a strong footprint in key markets to secure more robust supply chains globally,” says Tobias Bartz, CEO and Chairman of the Rhenus Group.

A gateway through LATAM

The Rhenus Group has a strong foundation in LATAM, with established operations across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. Their recent acquisitions have paved the way for even broader geographical coverage including BLU Logistics' additional presence in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Ecuador, as well as port agency services in Latin America, among others in Colombia, Brazil, Panama, Curacao and in several Central American countries from LBH. This expansion complements Rhenus leading position in the Asia-LATAM corridor, leveraging BLU's robust trans-Pacific freight forwarding network. This strategic move not only allows Rhenus to expand its activities in the region seamlessly but enables BLU to extend its reach to European and Indian trade lanes, leading to significant growth in its existing customer offerings and cross-selling opportunities. David Kassin, previously associated with BLU Logistics, will assume the role of CEO for Rhenus Air & Ocean LATAM.

“This is a win-win-win for BLU Logistics, Rhenus, and above all, our customers. The global Rhenus network gives us the possibility to further explore other regions and to expand our client base to new segments and geographies, especially to India and the Middle East, as well as Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America,” says David Kassin, CEO of Rhenus Air & Ocean LATAM. "The synergy between BLU and Rhenus, driven by our shared commitment to customer-centricity, team cohesion, and entrepreneurial spirit, will propel us to even greater heights."

A deepened relationship

The acquisition of a majority share in the LBH Group enables Rhenus to enter and cover the Latin American, Asian, Australian, and African markets as a globally oriented port agency with business sites in 24 countries worldwide as well as alliances in 7 additional countries. As part of the acquisition, the logistics specialist is taking over all the employees at the globally active maritime shipping agency, which includes processing incoming and outgoing vessels – regardless of whether they carry bulk goods, liquid cargo, containers, or general cargo. Rhenus is aiming to extend the takeover to include 100 percent of the shares during the next few years. Both parties have been cooperating in a relationship of trust for many years. “We’re looking forward to successfully pressing ahead to grow our business together, with our trusted partner Rhenus becoming a permanent feature in our future orientation,” says Bert Lagendijk, Managing Partner of the LBH Group. Together with his brother Jan Lagendijk, both co-founders of LBH will initially remain active on board to tap into future growth opportunities.

The transaction with BLU Logistics is subject to approval of the Colombian antitrust authorities.

Above: Transdev trains will keep passengers moving in New Zealand.

Passengers in New Zealand will continue to enjoy safe and reliable rail services until 2031, after the Greater Wellington Regional Council extended its contract with Transdev. Transdev Wellington (TDW) began operating the passenger rail network on behalf of the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) back in 2016. Average punctuality has improved from 91.8% in 2012-2015 to 96.8% in 2019-2023, while service reliability increased from 94.9% to 99.2% in the same period. Transdev operates five regional lines around Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, on a network of 154 km of railway tracks with 49 stations. TDW provides over 2,000 weekly services, with 1.3 million journeys and 3.22 million km covered per year.

“This is both a recognition of Transdev’s rail performance and the opening of a new chapter in our strong partnership. New Zealand is a country on the move, and our local teams are heavily involved in accompanying it on its journey towards increasingly decarbonised and inclusive mobility,” said Thierry Mallet, Chairman and CEO of Transdev Group.

Above (left to right): Paweł Durnaś, Robert Maraszkiewicz, Nicolas Rottmann, Jean-Marie Bocher, Józef Kurek, Norbert Rethmann.

Our company is also helping to advance the circular economy by investing in the latest technology. One example is Europe’s most modern recycling facility for food residues and leftovers, which ReFood opened in Mszczonów, Poland, in September. ReFood, a subsidiary of REMONDIS’s affiliate SARIA, has officially started up its fifth branch in Poland, located 50 km from the Polish capital, Warsaw. This state-of-the-art, emission-neutral facility uses fully automated solutions and technologies to produce biomass, from separating raw material from packaging to washing and disinfecting containers. The plant is equipped with a special biofilter with a surface area of almost 200m² and a modern water scrubber.

The final product, biomass, will be used to generate electricity and thermal energy and produce organic fertiliser. It is transported directly to the biogas plant using special vehicles. Replacing fossil fuels and lowering carbon dioxide emissions, the plant diverts material from landfills. The entire process, from receiving the food residues to leaving the plant, usually takes no longer than 72 hours. The new ReFood plant in Mszczonów can produce enough thermal energy to heat nearly 5,000 households for a year.

Above: The ZLD technology has already been operating for over a year.

Evonik, a global leader in speciality chemicals, has chosen to work with our company on two separate projects.

In the first project, its subsidiary Evonik Catalysts is partnering with REMONDIS to provide zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) technology for its production facility in Dombivli, near Mumbai, India. The highly automated water recycling and product recovery process facilitates efficient effluent treatment and ensures that water is always available. REMONDIS is providing operation and maintenance for ten years after the start of the plant operations.

As reported in a previous issue of the REMONDIS International Newsletter, the ZLD technology was commissioned in May 2022. In the first year of operation, technical processes have been stabilised, efficient internal structures developed, and the entire system – which includes three separate treatment lines and two downstream evaporators - optimised. REMONDIS also operates the gas fired boiler and the cooling tower system. Leveraging its expertise and experience with running industrial effluent treatment plants for other clients, REMONDIS provided sampling and analysis support and also provided critical pumps with digital vibration sensors that help to identify deviations from normal operations at an early stage and prevent costly maintenance and downtime – a real win for maximising efficiency.

Below: A closer look at the effluent recycling technology.

Above: (left to right): Thomas Wessel, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Labor Relations Director of Evonik and responsible for sustainability, Jürgen Ephan, Managing Director of REMONDIS Recycling, and Dr. Patrick Glöckner, Head of Evonik’s Global Circular Economy Programme.

We are also helping to advance the circular economy for flexible polyurethane foam in a separate partnership with Evonik. This cooperation will see REMONDIS provide end-of-life mattress foam for Evonik to use as it advances and refines its chemical recycling process. REMONDIS will also contribute its expertise in sorting PU flexible foam from waste, feeding it into the cycle in constant quality so that it can be converted into chemical recyclate using Evonik's hydrolysis process. This innovative technology used by Evonik recovers the main components of polyurethane foam so that they can be used in new mattresses. Estimates suggest that more than 250,000 tonnes of polyurethane foam from old mattresses are incinerated or landfilled in Europe each year. “Circularity in the field of flexible polyurethane foams is very important both for the environment, and for the future viability of our business. It gives us the opportunity to act in the interests of the environment, the industry, and consumers,” said Thomas Wessel, a Member of Evonik’s Executive Board responsible for sustainability.

“For us, closing material life cycles is not only a business objective but also an expression of our responsibility towards society as a whole. Conserving raw materials around the world and processing them, again and again, is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable environmental and climate protection,” said Jürgen Ephan, Managing Director of REMONDIS Recycling, adding, “REMONDIS reintegrates enormous quantities of materials back into the production cycle. Every year, we collect more than 30 million tons of recyclable materials, process them and make them available to the industry as raw materials, with the numbers continuing to increase. What drives us is the constant development of new processes to close or optimise material cycles. Therefore, we are very pleased to be working with Evonik to tackle the challenge of finding an efficient solution for the raw material recovery of foam mattresses.”

Evonik’s process is currently being tested at a pilot plant in Hanau, with a larger demonstration plant to be built next. Initially, the project is focusing on the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, although the goal is to develop a scalable technology and business model that could be used around the globe.

Above: REMONDIS managers from 14 different countries attended this year's International Management Meeting.

Thinking outside the box was the theme of this year’s REMONDIS International Management Meeting (IMM). The three-day event, which was held in Nauen, Germany, from 13 to 15 November, focused on shaping the future through innovations and partnerships. Altogether, this year’s IMM welcomed 120 REMONDIS International managers from 14 different countries around the globe. Attendees took part in two tours of ESE, a manufacturer of temporary storage systems for recyclables, and Cablo, a cable recycling joint venture between TSR Recycling and Aurubis. They also attended panel discussions on topics including artificial intelligence and smart logistics, smart water management, powering a clean climate future and driving the future of mobility. In between sessions, managers also explored new innovations, shared expertise and best practices and discussed ways that REMONDIS can continue to work for the future.

Above: REMONDIS’s site in Szczecin today.

Longstanding partnerships with municipalities are another cornerstone of our business. In Poland, we recently celebrated 30 years of working with the City of Szczecin in a Public Private Partnership. Over the past three decades, we have pioneered a system that is now replicated throughout the country and made considerable investments in logistics sites and equipment. Today, we collect materials in half of Szczecin, recycling what we can and sending the rest to be handled in the local incineration plant. As we drive innovation, we are also exploring the idea of creating an organic recycling centre in partnership with the city. REMONDIS Szczecin also provides services for the entire town of Świnoujście to Szczecin’s north.

REMONDIS remains committed to exploring new avenues as we work to mitigate climate change, advance the circular economy and conserve natural resources. We will continue to leverage collective resources, knowledge, and innovation for a more sustainable and equitable future in 2024 and beyond.