Ecological added value of our recycling activities

REMEX recovers a large number of metals from the processing of mineral waste – mainly copper, aluminium and iron scrap. These serve as secondary raw material sources for the metal processing industry. Compared to metal products from primary material sources, CO₂ consumption in the production of recycled metals is significantly reduced. By recovering the metals in our plants and optimising the recycling technologies used, we make valuable secondary metals available to the market, which reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 690,000 tonnes per year.

Emission savings through recovery of valuable metals

Every German uses around 19 kg of mineral building materials such as gravel, sand or limestone every day. Excavations in quarries and gravel pits take up valuable space in order to cover this demand. Every year, REMEX produces around 4 million tonnes of secondary aggregates and recovers an additional 1.8 million tonnes of soil. The use in construction measures reduces the annual mining volume of mineral raw materials by 2.9 million m³. The reduced landscape consumption has a positive effect on nature and the climate. Because every m² of land that is available for natural landscaping serves biological diversity and species conservation.

Protection of mineral mining volume

In Germany, mineral waste in the order of 220 million tonnes is generated annually. This total volume must be managed with the aim of achieving the highest possible recycling rate. Disposal at landfills shall only take place if recycling is not possible. As a result of our activities in mineral construction and demolition waste processing, the treatment of incinerator bottom ash and soil, more than 5.8 million tonnes of mineral materials are recovered annually as secondary building material. By avoiding disposal, we significantly contribute to the reduction of landfill rates.

Recovery of secondary construction materials instead of disposal on landfills