What Atica does

Atica is a Colombian environmental services group operating under the holding IA4 S.A.S., founded in 1994 and comprising nine specialized subsidiaries. The company provides integrated waste management (hazardous, hospital, ordinary, and recoverable waste), used oil re-refining, plastic densification and recycling, brand protection, and water and energy management — operating 9+ incinerators (3 with CDR energy recovery), 4 plastic valorization plants, 7 classification stations, and a fleet of 270+ specialized vehicles across eight Colombian cities plus selective international operations in Peru and the Dominican Republic. Its core technology stack includes the proprietary Plataforma 360 waste management platform, PMAt brand protection platform with digital destruction certificates, SAP-integrated operations, and satellite-tracked fleet logistics — collectively providing real-time traceability, certification, and chain-of-custody for regulatory compliance under frameworks such as Resolution 1407/2018. Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring multi-year collection contracts, per-tonne incineration fees, BOMT and EPC water treatment projects with 10-15 year horizons, sale of refined oil products and densified recycled plastics, and cogeneration energy sales — serving industrial manufacturers, healthcare providers, oil & gas companies, consumer goods producers, and industrial water clients across Latin America.

Name

Atica

Legal name

IA4 S.A.S.

Website

https://atica.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Atica is a Colombian environmental services group operating nine subsidiaries to provide integrated waste management, water treatment, used oil re-refining, plastic recycling, and energy recovery for industrial, healthcare, and consumer goods clients across Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Services & Waste Management

NAICS

Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Hazardous Waste Services (Manufacturing, Refineries, Metals, Automotive) (EUAIAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Used Oil, Lubricants & Industrial Fluids Recovery/Recycling (IMAIAFAM), Anaerobic Digestion (AD) & Biogas/RNG Production (Organics Feedstocks) (BPALAEAC), Aftermarket Fluids, Lubricants & Chemical Products Manufacturing (Oils/Coolants/Additives/Cleaners) (IMACANAK)

Keywords

• Industrial waste management
• Hazardous waste disposal
• Water treatment services
• Used oil re-refining
• Plastic recycling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Waste Collection and Management Services: Recurring service fees for collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of hazardous, hospital, ordinary, and recoverable waste. Revenue is generated per collection event or through service contracts with industrial clients. Volume-based pricing with frequency determined by client generation patterns.
2. Water Treatment Design, Construction & O&M: EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) contracts for water treatment plant design and build. BOMT (Build, Operate, Maintain, Transfer) financing model for water assets with 10-15 year operational horizons. O&M services provided under long-term contracts. Revenue includes project fees, operational service fees, and financing income.
3. Used Oil Re-refining and Processed Fuel Products: Collection and processing of used motor oil into refined products: process bottoms (fuel substitute), diesel substitutes (ACPM replacement), fuel oil substitutes, base oils for greases. Products sold to industrial customers as fuel alternatives. Also purchase and processing of hydrocarbon-contaminated solids.
4. Recycled Plastic Raw Materials: Processing and sale of densified, milled, and pelleted recycled plastics (PE, PP, PET, PVC). Materials sold back to manufacturing industries as reusable raw materials. Includes own production of 11,000 tonnes of recycled plastic annually.
5. Packaging and Containers Recovery (EmpAtica / Resolution 1407): Collective Environmental Management Plans for packaging under Resolution 1407/2018. Services to producer companies for fulfillment of recycling obligations. Revenue from service fees and potential savings from avoided landfill taxes.
6. Incineration Services: Certified incineration of hazardous, hospital, and special waste. Includes conventional incineration and incineration with energy recovery (CDR). Revenue per tonne treated with certification fees.
7. Brand Protection and Destruction Services: Controlled destruction of branded merchandise, documentation, expired products, and materials. Services include mechanical, thermal, manual destruction and densification. Certified destruction reports issued. Revenue per event or contract.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Atica provides integrated environmental services for industrial, healthcare, oil & gas, and consumer goods companies in Colombia and Latin America, covering collection, transport, treatment, and certified disposal of hazardous, hospital, ordinary, and recoverable waste. The company also designs, builds, finances (BOMT), and operates industrial water and wastewater treatment plants, re-refines used motor oil into fuel substitutes and base oils, densifies industrial plastics into reusable raw materials, provides controlled brand-merchandise destruction services, and operates a biogas cogeneration plant for energy recovery.

Product overview

Atica offers a comprehensive portfolio of waste management and environmental services through a multi-platform approach. The core offering is organized around three main pillars: (1) Waste Management covering recoverable, hazardous, hospital, and ordinary waste; (2) Valorization including used oil management, refined products, and plastic processing; and (3) Water and Energy with wastewater treatment and cogeneration. Key digital platforms include Plataforma 360 (comprehensive waste management software), Movilidad Atica (client portal), PMAt (brand protection platform), and EmpAtica (packaging compliance under Resolution 1407). The company operates 4 plastic valorization plants in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Barranquilla, and manages over 9 incinerators with 3 equipped for energy recovery (CDR). With 30+ years of experience, the group consolidates 9 companies including IA4 S.A.S. as the parent entity, serving industrial, hospital, oil and gas, and chemical sectors across Latin America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gestión de Residuos Aprovechables (Recoverable Waste Management) Collection, classification, and reintegration of industrial recoverable waste — plastic, cardboard, scrap metal, paper, glass, and non-ferrous metals — into circular economy processes. Service for industrial generators across Colombia managing 120,000 tonnes/year of recoverable materials.
• Gestión de Residuos Peligrosos y Especiales (Hazardous & Special Waste Management) Comprehensive management of hazardous and special industrial waste including incineration with energy recovery (CDR), conventional incineration, bioremediation, security cells, and composting. Converts industrial waste into energy resources with certified documentation. For oil & gas, chemical, and heavy industrial clients in Colombia.
• Gestión de Residuos Hospitalarios (Hospital Waste Management) End-to-end hospital and infectious-waste management covering collection, transport, and disposal of infectious, chemical, and pharmaceutical waste through own incinerator facilities in Cartagena, Cundinamarca, and Valle del Cauca. Uses 20+ 100% electric vans specialized for hospital waste.
• Gestión de Residuos Ordinarios (Ordinary Waste Management) Source collection, secure transport, and proper final disposal of ordinary industrial waste using advanced-technology vehicles including arm roll trucks, tankers, and hermetic vans. Supports Zero Waste certification programs for client companies.
• Gestión de Aceite Usado (Used Oil Management) National collection and re-refining of used motor oils across Colombia, processing them into industrial fuel substitutes. Serves 2,000+ clients nationally with 6,252 successful collections/year.
• Procesamiento de Plásticos (Plastic Processing) Industrial plastic waste densification and processing using proprietary technology, transforming HDPE, LDPE, PP, PET, PVC, and polystyrene into reusable raw materials through milling, pelletizing, and agglomeration.
• Productos Refinados (Refined Oil Products) Refined products derived from used oil processing including process bottoms (fuel substitute), fuel oil substitutes, light paraffinic base for grease production, processed oil as ACPM (diesel) substitute, and Lubemax lubricants. Sold to industrial customers as fuel alternatives.
• Gestión de Aguas y Energía (Water and Energy Management) Integrated water and energy management encompassing industrial wastewater treatment (PTARI), domestic wastewater (PTARD), leachate treatment, potabilization, and cogeneration of 1.5MW neutral energy from biogas. Delivered through EPC projects and 10–15 year BOMT operations. 400+ EPC projects executed; 230,000+ m3/month of wastewater treated.
• Protección de Marca (Brand Protection / Secure Destruction) Secure collection, controlled destruction, and final disposal of documentation, packaging, expired products, and articles that could identify a brand — preventing reputation damage. Methods include mechanical, thermal, and manual destruction. Issues certified destruction reports.
• EmpAtica (Collective Packaging Management Plan under Resolution 1407) Collective packaging management plan under Resolution 1407 of 2018, enabling companies to meet Extended Producer Responsibility obligations through collection, recycling, and recovery of packaging waste. Recovers 6+ million PET-bottle equivalents annually.
• Green Pass (Used Lubricant Container Recovery Program) Post-consumer recovery program for used lubricant containers in partnership with the lubricant and hydrocarbon industry. Operates 250+ collection centers across Bogotá, Sabana, Medellín, and Montería with digital traceability, recovering 125,000 used containers.
• Energía Pura Cogeneration Plant (Alpina Sopó Project) Cogeneration plant at Alpina's Sopó production facility utilizing biogas from wastewater treatment to generate 2.2 MW capacity through 4 generators, producing 11.4 million kWh annually — equivalent to 25,000 people's annual consumption. Energy supplied to Alpina under a 14-year power purchase agreement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years of experience in environmental management
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• AlpinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCogeneration energy project at Alpina's Sopó production plant. Atica designed, built, and operates a biogas-based cogeneration facility (2.2 MW capacity) at Alpina's wastewater treatment plant. Biogas from the PTAR feeds generators producing electricity and thermal energy supplied to Alpina for self-consumption. 14-year PPA contract for electricity sale.
• SAPcoreTechnology or IntegrationSAP systems integrated for real-time inventory management and waste flow tracking across operations. Enables agile invoicing and operational efficiency for in-house waste management operations.
• EmpAtica Program Participants (105 companies enrolled)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor105 companies enrolled in the collective packaging management plan (EmpAtica) under Resolution 1407. Participating companies delegate their packaging recovery obligations to Atica's collective plan, which manages collection, recycling, and regulatory reporting on their behalf.
• Green Pass Plan Partners (lubricant industry)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with lubricant and hydrocarbon industry for collection and recovery of used lubricant containers (Plan Green Pass). Over 250 collection points established across Colombia, recovering 125,000 containers and promoting sustainable sale and recycling of post-consumer plastic.
• Strategic Technology Allies (water treatment)majorTechnology or IntegrationTechnology integrators with strategic allies worldwide for water and wastewater treatment solutions. Supports EPC project delivery and BOMT financing model for water assets across Latin America.

Scale indicators31 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Veolia (Veolia Colombia): Global environmental services leader with a Colombian operation offering hazardous waste management, water treatment, and energy recovery. Competes directly with Atica for industrial and municipal accounts in Colombia and across LatAm.
• Clean Harbors: North American leader in hazardous waste management, incineration, and environmental services. Closely comparable in scope: industrial waste collection, treatment, recycling, and energy recovery with own incinerator network.
• Stericycle: Specialist in regulated waste streams including hospital/medical waste and secure information destruction. Comparable to Atica's hospital waste collection and PMAt brand-protection service lines.
• Befesa: European-based environmental services firm focused on industrial waste recycling, particularly steel dust and salt slags, with growing hazardous waste treatment. Comparable on industrial waste valorization and recycling technology.
• Indaver: European hazardous waste treatment company operating dedicated incinerators and recycling facilities. Direct comparable on industrial hazardous waste management, energy recovery from waste, and integrated treatment solutions.
• Renewi: European waste-to-product company specializing in recycling, hazardous waste, and industrial services. Comparable business model of converting waste streams into reusable materials with energy recovery operations.
• Promoambiental Colombia: Colombian environmental services operator providing waste management and disposal services to industrial sectors. Most direct domestic competitor to Atica for hazardous, hospital, and industrial waste contracts in Colombia.

Regional players

• Promotora Ambiental (PASA): Mexican environmental services company providing waste collection, transfer, recycling, and final disposal. Comparable regional player in LatAm focused on municipal and industrial waste with similar integrated service model.
• Repsol Palas Atenea (Rotania): Spanish/Latin American used oil collection and re-refining business comparable to Atica's used oil valorization line, producing base oils and lubricants from recovered hydrocarbons across Iberia and LatAm.

Broad incumbents

• SUEZ: Global environmental services and water management major with significant Latin American presence. Competes with Atica on water treatment (EPC/O&M) and industrial waste contracts, but as part of a much broader utility-services portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Atica