Dear Sir or Madam,

Worldwide, the amount of waste that is treated thermally in Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants is growing. According to latest data from > ecoprog, there are more than 2,800 WtE plants in operation globally, reaching an incineration capacity of
about 576 million t of waste per year. After incineration, 25 % of residues remain in the form of incinerator bottom ash (IBA), around 150 million t of mineral and metallic resources whose potential is still not fully realised.

Innovative concepts for IBA processing can become a game changer: Secondary aggregates reduce the consumption of natural materials such as gravel and sand which are already scarce in many parts of the world, the use of metals is indispensable if we want to reduce carbon emissions.

We believe in the realisation of Zero-Waste strategies which is why we are enforcing discussions with international WtE operators and governments to make better use of IBA. Entrepreneurs are invited for cooperation with REMEX to speed up the implementation of recycling solutions under our move4ward initiative.

As always, please feel free to > contact us if you have questions – and if you like our international newsletter, please take a moment to > recommend us.

Yours sincerely,
Michael Stoll
Chief Executive Officer of REMEX GmbH

Netherlands to be completely circular by 2050

Click on the picture to open the latest bird’s eye view of the Sluiskil site, depicting the most important investments and technical development of our Dutch subsidiary HEROS.

Already in 2023, the Dutch government published its timeline for a waste-free economy. The aim: Finding smarter and more efficient ways of using products and raw materials in order to half the material consumption by 2030 and fully close the material cycles by 2050. The Netherlands focuses on four issues, detailed in the National Circular Economy Programme.

_ Reducing raw material usage
_ Substituting raw materials
_ Extending product life
_ High-grade processing

Preparing for the new era, our Dutch subsidiary, HEROS Sluiskil B. V., has developed its own masterplan. As producer of one million tonnes of secondary resources from waste per year, its ideas and engagement are clearly an important contribution to closing material cycles. What pace this will involve for our team, becomes clear taking a look at the technical developments of HEROS over the last 12 years. > PDF

IBA research: higher metal recovery and use in cement

Currently, the global economy misses out on copper concentrates hidden in the fine residues from Energy-from-Waste plants. The latest numbers from Germany show that the fine fraction of incinerator bottom ash (IBA) makes up almost 25 % of mass. Estimates put its copper content at 0.3 to 0.4 % and the gold content at around 1 to 2 ppm. Recovering theses metals and separating others such as lead, chromium, cobalt, nickel, vanadium and zinc, as well as chlorine and sulphur is currently subject of a German resesarch project called EMSARZEM. If successful, it would create new opportunities for the mineral fraction of IBA, for example as source of raw materials for clinker production – with relevant positive environmental impacts. The use of the calcium oxide available in the ash would reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption, the higher raw material productivity would protect natural resources. The large-scale technical trial of EMSARZEM has just been completed. The data is currently being evaluated, the final report will be published this year.

EMSARZEM is being supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research with 1.5 million € in funding.

move4ward: the start-up initiative of REMEX

Progress requires innovation. That is why REMEX is committed to turning good ideas into successful new products. With our move4ward initiative, we support researchers and inventors, founders and planners of the future, start-ups as well as up-and-coming companies. Have you discovered a way to open up new opportunities for mineral recycling? Then let us know about your plans and share ideas for a more sustainable future!

To learn more, visit our webpage > move4ward.remex.de

REMEX invests in metal recycler NEO in Singapore

The REMEX Group has further expanded its business activities in Asia. End of last year, it acquired 51 % of the shares in Singapore-based NEO Hardware Pte. Ltd. through its subsidiary REMEX Minerals Singapore Pte. Ltd. The double-digit million investment complements the service portfolio of REMEX, which has been processing municipal incinerator bottom ash and recycling recovered metals in the city state of Singapore for almost ten years.

NEO specialises in metal recycling and has been operating in this market for around 40 years. The metals are received, processed and resold at two locations in Central and West Singapore. The company’s own extensive fleet of vehicles and machinery enables the direct dispatch of recycled goods within Singapore. Almost half of the quantities traded are exported. Sales markets include India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The latest acquisition supports REMEX strategy to expand existing business networks and identify further business opportunities in South/Southeast Asia. Close cooperation with REMEX Minerals Singapore and REMEX Malaysia enables synergies to be tapped, particularly in the areas of plant engineering, sales and commercial administration. For more information on our activities, see our international website.

International exhibitions: REMEX set for growth

Netherlands: Infratech 2025, Rotterdam

The 16th edition of the Infratech took place from 14th to 17th January 2025. Regular attendee is the mineral recycling expert HEROS Sluiskil B.V. Networking is part of the success story of the Dutch REMEX subsidiary, which is why managing director Erwin Pieters (middle) did attend the fair personally, supporting colleagues from sales, product management and technology. > heros.nl

Spain: RCD 2024, Zaragoza

The 3rd edition of the conference on the circular economy of construction waste (C&DW) was attended by more than 500 participants from 16 countries and 80 national and international speakers. REMEX was represented by Gerd Mühlhause. Among the international guests was Geert Cuperus, Secretary General of the European recycling federation FIR, whose members recycle more than 200 million t of C&DW annually. congresorcd.es

Southeast Asia: CleanEnviro Summit 2024, Singapore

The CESG 2024 is a bi-annual fair organised by the National Environment Agency (NEA). Since its introduction it has developed global appeal, attracting representatives from all over Asia. REMEX Singapore’s managing director Venkat Patnaik (middle) and his colleagues presented the opportunities of washing incinerator bottom ash. Talks were supported by our films, to be found on > youtube.remex.de.

France: Journée Technique 2024, Lyon

The French association AFOCO is dedicated to promoting alternative industrial materials. Their latest conference was dedicated to the utilisation of waste for infrastructure projects. The managing directors of REMEX RESSOURCES MINÉRALES SAS, Alain Francois and Wolfgang Stadler, shared their expertise on the subject of the utilisation of fly ash and filter dusts in salt mines. > remex.fr