"If environmental problems now reached a worldwide dimension, most solutions remain local. It was therefore of our company's interest to join a reliable partner on the long term", said Alain Jacob, CEO of Lamesch SA, Luxembourg's leading company in waste collection, treatment, disposal and recycling, public and industrial cleaning.

The 45 year old firm recently finalized its takeover by Société Industrielle de Transports Automobiles (SITA) a division of the multi-services group Suez. This agreement follows a strategic alliance that both providers of recycling and waste management services initiated in 2002.

"This is a new step in Lamesch's development: without loosing its Luxembourgish character, our company now benefits from the strength and the support of a big international group", Alain Jacob added. Sita is the European leader in waste management industry and ranks 4th in the world. Its parent company - Suez - is a global provider of waste, water, energy and communication solutions.

The acquisition will reinforce Suez's presence in Luxembourg, while extending Lamesch's international position. Both will "strengthen their commitment to natural resources, to environmental preservation and to sustainable development", both companies reported.

Indeed, Lamesch collected in 2005 about 50 000 metric tons of household garbage and assimilated, circa 130 000 metric tons of recyclable waste (paper, glass, plastic, wood, metal, tires...) and 60 000 metric tons of special rubbish (polluted soil, PCB oil, asbestos...).

Its site of Bettembourg collects all municipal, industrial and commercial waste, from the Grand-Duchy. Its disposal techniques consist mostly in sorting the waste, recovering material for recycling, producing energy from the waste, or reducing its volume for more efficient disposal.
Besides its regular materials recovery infrastructures, the company equipment includes among others a palette repair unit, a dismantling facility of obsolete computers and electronic equipment as well as a sweepings waste treatment center.

Lamesch employs some 350 persons on its site in Bettembourg. Its fleet includes about 100 trucks as well as about 2.400 containers and compressing machines.

"Key player in the environment sector, Lamesch ambitions to provide global economic and ecological solutions which fit our clients' expectations: by integrating sustainable development principles and policy and by implementing technical solutions, that are efficient and respectful of the environment" Alain Jacob concluded.