News
Veolia plans reorganisation and further cost cutting
07.05.2013 - The French environmental services concern Veolia Environnement has announced a "new organisational structure project" through which it aims to achieve additional cost reductions of €280m by 2015. 
more - The French environmental services concern Veolia Environnement has announced a "new organisational structure project" through which it aims to achieve additional cost reductions of €280m by 2015. At the release of its quarterly earnings figures last Friday, the company said that its current division structure would be dissolved and replaced by "an integrated organisation deployed by geography".
"The new organizational structure project announced today should drive more ambitious cost reductions to €750 million in 2015, compared to the prior €470 million objective,” explained CEO Antoine Frérot.For the first quarter of 2013, Veolia reported that revenues from its waste management activities had declined by 6 per cent or €130m to land at €1.93bn. The company attributed the decrease to lower volumes and activity levels brought on by difficult economic conditions, this year's long winter in France, the UK and Germany and lower secondary raw materials prices. Adjusted Operating cash flow and operating income from continuing operations had also dropped below those of the prior-year quarter.
Beijing’s waste treatment capacity to be expanded
02.05.2013 - Beijing plans to raise its waste management capacity to 24,000 tonnes per day by the end of 2015. The capacity building would involve heavier reliance on incineration and biochemical waste treatment, more - Beijing plans to raise its waste management capacity to 24,000 tonnes per day by the end of 2015. The capacity building would involve heavier reliance on incineration and biochemical waste treatment, reported China's official state news agency Xinhua, citing a recent report by Beijing's municipal government. The new targets for 2015 would see less than 30 per cent of the megacity's municipal waste arisings directly landfilled. The current landfilling rate stands at 50 per cent. A city of some 20 million, Beijing is estimated to generate around 17,000 tonnes of household waste per day, reported Xinhua.
Stainless steel recycler ELG Haniel books sharp drop in 2012 revenues and profits
17.04.2013 - German stainless steel recycling group ELG was able to maintain its sales volumes in the year 2012 at 1.3 million tonnes, but the soft economic climate had a negative effect on nickel demand and prices. more - German stainless steel recycling group ELG was able to maintain its sales volumes in the year 2012 at 1.3 million tonnes, but the soft economic climate had a negative effect on nickel demand and prices. As a result, the stainless steel recycling activities’ revenues declined by 13 per cent compared to the year before to €2.364bn, according to the annual report of parent company Franz Haniel & Cie GmbH. Operating profits crumbled by 35 per cent, reaching only €53m.Despite the persistent uncertainty with regard to the macroeconomic climate and the continuing low levels of scrap availability, ELG expects to see a modest rise in revenues and earnings in the single-digit percentage range in the current year. As part of its growth strategy, the company intends to strengthen its market position in Europe and the Americas, while in Asia, its focus is on expanding its purchasing activities.
German recovered prices point higher
10.04.2013 - Prises for ordinary grades of recovered paper strengthened on the German market in April, according to EUWID's most recent market report. The extent of the hikes varied from grade to grade as well as more - Prises for ordinary grades of recovered paper strengthened on the German market in April, according to EUWID's most recent market report. The extent of the hikes varied from grade to grade as well as regionally. Price shifts were most apparent for mixed paper, supermarket paper and board and used corrugated kraft II. But in some cases increases were observed for sorted graphic paper for deinking and newspapers as well. The prices for all other recovered paper grades were unchanged in early April.The trend in recovered paper sales to the Far East was similar, with little price movement to report. Export volumes were at usual level, market participants told EUWID. However, there were also increasing reports that containers were again becoming scarce.
EU recovered paper exports hold at around 11.2 million tonnes in 2012
08.04.2013 - Following a substantial jump of 9 per cent between 2010 and 2011, exports from EU member states to third countries (extra-EU trade) increased only minimally last year. According to preliminary figures released more - Following a substantial jump of 9 per cent between 2010 and 2011, exports from EU member states to third countries (extra-EU trade) increased only minimally last year. According to preliminary figures released by the European Statistical Office, Eurostat, the EU27 countries together exported around 11.19 million tonnes of "recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard" with a value of €1.54bn to destinations outside the European Union in 2012. That was around 60,000 tonnes more than in the prior year (2011: 11.14 million tonnes, valued at €1.72bn.)Imports were also little changed in annual comparison. Some 1.47 million tonnes of recovered paper worth €211m entered EU member states from third countries, compared with 1.46 million tonnes with a value of €244m in the previous year.
Daniel W. Dienst retires to leave Sims Metal Management
22.02.2013 - Sims Metal Management will have to launch a search for a new Chief Executive Officer. Daniel W. Dienst "will retire effective 30 June upon the expiration of his contract", Sims' board announced on Thursday. more - The international scrap recycling concern Sims Metal Management will have to launch a search for a new Chief Executive Officer. Daniel W. Dienst "will retire effective 30 June upon the expiration of his contract", Sims' board announced on Thursday, thanking Mr Dienst for his "enormous contributions" to the company. Mr Dienst, who said he made this decision with "mixed emotions", commented that "after nine years as chief executive officer I believe now is the right time to bring the next leader into the organisation in an orderly succession process."There was little information in Thursday night's earnings call on the 47 year-old's plans for the future. "Normally, when you hear these kinds of announcements, people say they want to spend more time with their family. I will tell you upfront that my family does not want me to spend more time with them," was all that Mr Dienst had to say on the topic.In the first half of its financial 2012/013 year, which started on 1 July, Sims Metal Management saw revenues tumble by 25 per cent to AUD3.43bn (ca. €2.68bn). Write-downs for inventory and goodwill as well as other extraordinary charges were among the contributing factors in the concern's net loss of AUD295m (ca. €230m) for the period.
Umicore closes 2012 with lower earnings
08.02.2013 - The Belgian metals group Umicore reported 5 per cent growth in annual revenues to €2.43bn in 2012 on Thursday. Earnings, however, were lower than one year before. Recurring earnings before more - The Belgian metals group Umicore reported 5 per cent growth in annual revenues to €2.43bn in 2012 on Thursday. Earnings, however, were lower than one year before. Recurring earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) fell by €44m or 11 per cent to €372m. Net profit declined by 28 per cent to €233m. Umicore attributed the growth in revenues mainly to increased sales volumes in its catalysis and recycling divisions. The economic slowdown had a negative impact on product mix and margins, in particular in the energy materials and performance materials divisions, the company said.For the recycling division, Umcore reported annual revenues of €681m (excluding metal). This represents 7 per cent growth compared to 2011, which was mainly due to higher revenues in precious metals refining. However, the division’s Ebit declined from €274m to €252m.
EU Commission takes action against member states
25.01.2013 - The European Commission has launched the second stage in infringement proceedings against Spain, Finland and Slovakia due to deficits in the implementation of Community waste law. The member states more - The European Commission has launched the second stage in infringement proceedings against Spain, Finland and Slovakia due to deficits in the implementation of Community waste law. The member states will receive reasoned opinions, the EU body announced on Thursday. Spain will be asked to fully implement the EU Landfill Directive’s provisions on existing facilities and to close or upgrade all landfills which do not comply with the Directive’s requirements. Finland has failed to transpose the Mining Waste Directive into national law, while Slovakia has not yet transposed the Battery Directive. If the member states do not achieve compliance with EU law within the two-month deadline set by the Commission, their cases may be be referred to the European Court of Justice in the third and final step of proceedings.
Sims to investigate potential fraud in UK WEEE business
22.01.2013 - Sims Metal Management expects to post an inventory adjustment of around AUD60m (€47) related to its UK e-scrap recycling activities and will investigate the control failures and potential fraudulent conduct it more - The global scrap recycling group Sims Metal Management expects to post an inventory adjustment of around AUD60m (ca. €47m) related to its British e-scrap recycling activities and will investigate the control failures and potential fraudulent conduct it believes to have led to a "material" overstatement of the inventory value of its UK business.In a filing with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) submitted on Monday, Sims said that the inventory adjustment in question was predominately associated with the Sims Recycling Solutions (SRS) business at Long Marston, Warwickshire, and Newport, Wales, and included both changes in the assessment of the net realisable value of certain stock and book to physical adjustments.According to Sims, the concern has already established a special committee to determine the amount of the adjustment and the impact on the company's accounts.The full story will be published in the digital and print versions of EUWID Recycling and Waste Management 02/2013 on 23 January 2013.
End of waste criteria for waste glass published
13.12.2012 - Glass cullet meeting certain conditions can be excluded from the scope of waste regulation beginning next year. The regulation laying out the criteria which must be achieved for the exemption more - Glass cullet meeting certain conditions can be excluded from the scope of waste regulation beginning next year. The regulation laying out the criteria which must be achieved for the exemption appeared in the Official Journal of the EU this week and will enter into force on 1 January 2013. Its application is to start on 11 June 2013.The draft regulation achieved the qualified majority necessary for adoption in the July meeting of the Committee for the Adaptation to Scientific and Technical Progress (TAC), after which it was referred to the EU Parliament. As no objections to the regulation were raised by the Parliament during the scrutiny period, the path was clear for the regulation to be published.
Source: Euwid
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