What Milgro does

Milgro B.V., founded in 1993 and headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, is a privately-held circular economy company that connects businesses generating waste with a network of processors who reuse or recycle residual materials. Operating across the Netherlands and Belgium, the company targets mid-market and enterprise customers with a portfolio organized around three service lines: Ontzorging (full operational handling including invoicing and compliance), Optimalisaties (ecological and economic optimization), and Inzicht (reporting and dashboards). Named customers include Verstegen, AkzoNobel, PostNL, DNP, Technische Unie, Henri, and WMD Water, spanning food, chemicals, logistics, technical wholesale, and water utilities. The company claims an 85.9% average separation rate, 20 percentage points above the market average, and 11.1 KtonCO2 of environmental impact from optimizations organized.

The underlying technology is the patented Bee Connected Platform, which Milgro describes as a unique method for routing waste streams between generators and processors, augmented by 'advanced data' capabilities including a Partner Performance Index and chain risk index. The product suite consists of six offerings: Afvalscan (a quick waste assessment tool), Dashboard (central reporting and compliance tool), Compleet afvalmanagement (full-service outsourcing), Optimalisaties (optimization services), Zero Waste gedrag (behavior change program), and Afval bij calamiteiten (incident and emergency waste handling). Revenue is generated through managed services fees under quote-based, tailored contracts. Go-to-market is sales-led targeting enterprise buyers, with self-serve elements including online appointment booking, a 7-day trial offer, and a customer portal.

Milgro has built a substantial credential stack including B Corp certification, ISO 9001/14001/45001, GMP+ FSA, NIS2, CO2 Prestatieladder, EcoVadis top 15%, Better Biomass, and CDP featured status. The company employs 101-250 people and reports a goal of a world free of waste by 2040. Leadership includes CEO and founder Laurens Groen and CEO Ruud Hageman, supported by specialized team leads in food (Alex Van Kuilenburg), circular economy (Marco de Groot), and impact (Nienke Keen). The company received funding in 2015 from InnovationQuarter and Rabobank and was recognized as an FD Gazellen 2023 fast-growing company.

Name

Milgro

Legal name

Milgro B.V.

Website

https://milgro.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Milgro is a Netherlands-based circular economy company founded in 1993 that connects waste-generating businesses with a network of processors across the Benelux region, offering managed waste handling, compliance reporting, and optimization services to enterprise and mid-market customers including AkzoNobel, PostNL, and Verstegen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waste Management Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (5621)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging) (EUAHAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial Packaging Waste Services (Pallets, Cardboard, Film, IBCs/Drums—Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAD)

Keywords

• Waste management services
• Circular economy solutions
• Waste stream optimization
• Compliance reporting tools
• Residual stream processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Waste Management Services: Complete operational handling of waste streams including facturatie (invoicing), compliance with laws and regulations, and customer portal access. Revenue derived from service fees for managing waste processing and optimization.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Milgro provides complete waste management and circular economy solutions for businesses, connecting companies that generate waste with companies that process or reuse raw materials. The company delivers full operational handling including invoicing, regulatory compliance, and customer portal access, along with optimization, reporting, and emergency response services via its patented Bee Connected platform and extensive processor network.

Product overview

Milgro offers a suite of waste management and circular economy solutions centered around its core Dashboard platform and several specialized modules. The portfolio consists of: Afvalscan (a quick waste assessment tool), Dashboard (the central management and reporting platform with compliance features), Compleet afvalmanagement (complete operational outsourcing), Optimalisaties (optimization services), Zero Waste gedrag (behavior change programs), and Afval bij calamiteiten (emergency waste handling). The services are offered in three main categories: Ontzorging (full operational handling), Optimalisaties (ecological/economic optimization), and Inzicht (reporting and insights). The company connects businesses generating waste with processors that reuse raw materials, and utilizes a Partner Performance Index and chain risk index for service management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• bee connected: Program name for Milgro's circular economy initiative connecting businesses for sustainable waste management

Products and services

• Compleet afvalmanagement Complete operational waste management for businesses seeking full outsourcing. Includes complete operational handling, invoicing (facturatie), regulatory compliance, and customer portal access.
• Afvalscan A waste assessment tool that scans and analyzes an organization's waste streams in approximately 2 minutes, providing initial insights into waste composition and improvement opportunities.
• Dashboard Management and reporting tool providing real-time insights into waste streams, functioning as both a steering tool and a solution for meeting all reporting requirements including compliance and CO2 reporting.
• Optimalisaties Optimization services using expertise to achieve ecological or economic results, focused on improving separation rates and reducing environmental impact.
• Zero Waste gedrag Behavior change program focused on achieving zero waste ambitions through employee engagement and organizational behavior modification.
• Afval bij calamiteiten Emergency waste management service for handling waste during incidents and calamities, providing rapid response solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average separation rate of 85.9% achieved (20% higher than market average)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Extensive Processor NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive network of processors who handle waste and reuse raw materials. This network enables Milgro to provide Plan B and Plan C backup options for critical waste streams, ensuring continuity for customers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SUEZ: SUEZ is a global water and waste management major with extensive circular economy, recycling, and resource recovery operations. Operates as a broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities to Milgro in industrial waste management and circular services, but as part of a much wider utility portfolio.
• Stericycle: Stericycle provides specialized waste services including regulated waste management and compliance-driven disposal for enterprise customers. Comparable to Milgro in regulated waste services and compliance focus, but operating primarily in North America and serving different regulatory regimes.
• Waste Management, Inc. Waste Management, Inc. is the largest North American waste management company offering collection, recycling, and disposal services with growing circular economy capabilities. Comparable to Milgro in managed waste services for enterprise clients, but as a much broader portfolio incumbent rather than circular-economy specialist.
• Veolia: Veolia is a global environmental services major providing waste management, water, and energy services with a strong circular economy focus. Overlaps with Milgro in industrial waste management and ESG reporting services for enterprise customers, though operating at vastly greater scale.

Emerging players

• TOMRA: TOMRA provides sensor-based sorting technology and reverse vending solutions that enable material recovery and circular economy value chains. Comparable to Milgro at the technology layer — TOMRA powers material sorting that Milgro orchestrates via its processor network.

Others

• Bollegraaf: Bollegraaf is a Netherlands-based manufacturer of recycling machinery and turnkey sorting systems for the circular economy. Adjacent to Milgro — both serve the same waste-to-resource value chain, but Bollegraaf supplies capital equipment while Milgro orchestrates processor relationships.

Direct peers

• Renewi: Renewi is a Benelux-based waste management company with circular economy services, including sorting, recycling, and value recovery from industrial and commercial waste streams. Directly comparable to Milgro in geography (Netherlands/Belgium), customer base (enterprise industrial clients), and service offering (managed waste services).
• PreZero: PreZero is the Schwarz Group's environmental division operating across Europe in waste management, recycling, and circular economy services. Highly comparable to Milgro in offering circular economy solutions and connecting waste with material recovery, though PreZero operates at significantly larger scale and broader geography.
• Shanks Group: Shanks Group was a UK/Benelux waste management services company that merged with Van Vliet to form Renewi. Listed separately here because Shanks historically competed directly with Milgro in industrial and commercial waste services in Benelux, and remains a useful historical comparable for Milgro's enterprise services positioning.

Regional players

• Biffa: Biffa is a UK-based waste management services provider offering collection, recycling, and circular economy services to enterprise and municipal customers. Comparable to Milgro in managed services model and circular focus, but operating primarily in the UK rather than Benelux.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/444015

Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Milgro