Renewi urges governments to ‘reduce incineration’

In its report this week, the Dutch-owned company which is a major player in the Benelux region, said it recorded an “industry-leading” recycling rate of 63.6%, representing 7 million tonnes of secondary materials being put back into reuse out of the 11 million tonnes processed last year.

Renewi said it aims to be a leading waste-to-product company in the world’s most advanced circular economies; contributing to a sustainable society. However, it has long called for legislation which encourages investment in greater recycling rates.

It has now called on governments to  “continue implementing legislation that reduces waste incineration and stimulates the demand for secondary materials”.

Renewi said in the report that it is a pure-play recycling company and generates revenue “by converting the waste we process into secondary materials, which we sell to our customers”.

it said that “unlike many of our competitors, who typically draw revenue from the incineration of waste, our activities generate revenue while contributing to a circular economy”.

Fires

The report shows that the number of “major environmental incidents” and fires decreased from “19 in the previous fiscal year to 3 in the current fiscal year” and the company has implemented various measures to address the risks associated with waste management in order to decrease fire risks.

These measures include enhancing waste storage protocols, implementing new thermal sensors, adopting sophisticated AI camera technology for identifying hazardous items, and installing state-of-the-art deluge systems to swiftly.

‘Strategy’

Renewi’s chief executive, Otto de Bont, said: “The importance of a commitment to the circular economy to address global challenges. Renewi has made substantial progress in sustainability reporting, disclosure, and target setting, and has set ambitious targets for the future. De Bont highlights the need for governments to implement legislation that reduces waste incineration and drives the demand for secondary materials to achieve climate goals.”