Karle Recycling

What Karle Recycling does

Karle Recycling GmbH is a third-generation, family-owned waste management and recycling company headquartered in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, Germany, founded in 1948. The company operates four Wertstoffhöfe (value yards) across the Stuttgart metropolitan region — Feuerbach (headquarters), Böblingen, Heilbronn, and Stuttgart-Münster (via subsidiary Degenkolbe Recycling GmbH) — and serves both private individuals (through an online webshop, cash scrap-metal payouts, and end-of-life vehicle pickup) and commercial/industrial customers (through container and skip services, demolition waste management, and certified hazardous-waste handling). Its service portfolio covers ferrous and non-ferrous metals (steel scrap, aluminum, copper, brass, lead, stainless steel), end-of-life vehicle dismantling, construction and demolition debris, WEEE processing, industrial waste, rail recycling, and event waste management for venues such as the Kessel Festival.

The business operates on a transaction-fee and unit-pricing revenue model: customers pay per container (e.g., mixed waste from €650, construction debris from €410, old wood from €245, gypsum from €594, end-of-life vehicle pickup from €145) and receive market-based payouts for scrap metals above a €20 minimum. Supporting add-ons include CO2 certificates (via GlobalFlow), waste balance documentation (Abfallbilanz), hazardous-waste certificates, and secure product destruction via a 1,000-ton press. The Karle Akademie training program and the ANNA digital waste-management assistant extend the offering into compliance services. The company holds a dense certification stack — PÜG (electrical and ELV), ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ElektroG, GewAbfV, Entsorgungsfachbetrieb, End-of-Waste (iron/steel), and Carbon Footprint — which collectively constitute the regulatory backbone of its competitive position. Technology is operational rather than frontier: GPS-enabled fleet with real-time dispatch, tablet-equipped vehicles, and a private-customer webshop, with no disclosed AI/ML, proprietary software platform, or external funding.

Name

Karle Recycling

Legal name

Karle Recycling GmbH

Website

https://karlerecycling.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Karle Recycling GmbH is a family-owned (third generation, founded 1948) Stuttgart-region waste management and recycling company operating four Wertstoffhöfe, serving private and commercial customers with scrap metal, end-of-life vehicle, construction, hazardous, and WEEE disposal plus documentation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waste Management & Recycling Services

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Recycling & E-Waste Collection/Hauling (HSAKALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

E-waste Collection, Aggregation & Reverse Logistics (BPALAIAB), Bulk Item & White Goods Collection (Bulky Waste) (BPALAAAD), Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection & Transfer (BPALABAF), Certified Compliance & Reporting Services (R2/e-Stewards, Audit, ESG) (BPALAIAL), E-waste & Universal Waste Collection/Transfer (Electronics, Lamps, Batteries) (EUAIABAG)

Keywords

• Waste management services
• Scrap metal recycling
• Construction waste disposal
• End-of-life vehicle recycling
• Container rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Waste Disposal and Recycling Fees: Fees charged for professional disposal and recycling services for construction waste, industrial waste, hazardous materials, and special waste. Customers pay for proper disposal with documentation and compliance support.
2. Scrap Metal Sales: Purchase and resale of ferrous scrap (Fe-Schrott) and non-ferrous metals (NE-Metalle) including aluminum, copper, brass, lead, and stainless steel. Customers receive fair market prices when selling scrap materials to Karle Recycling.
3. Container and Skip Services: Rental and delivery of containers (Absetzmulden, Abrollcontainer) for construction sites, events, and commercial facilities. Includes pickup and disposal services.
4. Transportation and Logistics: Fleet services for pickup of materials, including specialized vehicles for end-of-life vehicles, heavy equipment, and oversized loads.
5. End-of-Life Vehicle Processing: Certified dismantling and recycling of end-of-life vehicles with extraction of usable parts, fluids, and materials. Issuance of recycling certificates for vehicle deregistration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Karle Recycling operates a fully certified waste management and recycling business across the Stuttgart region, offering container and skip rental, ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal trading, certified dismantling of end-of-life vehicles, construction and demolition debris disposal, industrial and hazardous waste handling, and WEEE (ElektroG) electrical equipment processing. Services are delivered through four Wertstoffhöfe (value yards), a GPS-equipped fleet for container delivery and pickup, and an online webshop that allows private customers to order drop-off containers with published pricing. The portfolio is rounded out by documentation and certification (waste balance sheets, CO2 certificates, disposal certificates), the Karle Akademie training program, and event waste management for festivals and large gatherings.

Product overview

Karle Recycling is a third-generation family-owned recycling and waste management company operating primarily in the Stuttgart region with over 70-75 years of experience. The company operates a unified service model combining multiple waste disposal and recycling capabilities under one roof, offering container and skip services, metal recycling (ferrous and non-ferrous), end-of-life vehicle processing, construction and demolition waste management, hazardous waste handling, and specialized services including event waste management, on-site training (Karle Akademie), and digital waste assistance (ANNA). The portfolio centers on physical disposal and recycling services enhanced by supporting offerings such as documentation and certification services (waste balance sheets, CO2 certificates, disposal certificates), a private customer webshop for online container ordering, fleet logistics, and partner programs like Karle-Annahmestelle for car dealerships. The company holds multiple certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, WEEE treatment facility status, and operates from multiple locations in Feuerbach, Böblingen, and Heilbronn.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Container and Skip Rental (Mulden- und Containerdienst) Rental, delivery, swap, and pickup of Absetzmulden, Abrollcontainer, and skip containers of various sizes for construction sites, commercial facilities, events, and private customers across the Stuttgart region. Used to collect mixed waste, construction debris, wood, gypsum, and other materials on a per-pickup basis.
• Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Scrap Metal Trading (Fe/NE Schrott) Purchase, qualified analysis, weighing, and resale of ferrous scrap (Eisenschrott) and non-ferrous metals (NE-Metalle) including aluminum, copper, brass, lead, and stainless steel. Customers receive fair-market monthly or weekly pricing with cash payout at Wertstoffhöfe subject to a €20 minimum payout.
• End-of-Life Vehicle Dismantling and Recycling (Altautoverwertung) Certified PÜG Altfahrzeug-Demontagebetrieb service accepting petrol, diesel, gas, and electric end-of-life vehicles at Wertstoffhöfe and via pickup service from €145. Includes fluid drainage, parts and material recovery, and issuance of a disposal certificate (Verwertungsnachweis/Sterbeurkunde) for vehicle deregistration.
• Construction and Demolition Waste Disposal (Baustellen- und Bauschuttabfälle) Collection, sorting, and processing of construction debris (Bauschutt), construction site waste, and demolition debris using Absetz- and Abrollcontainer, with separation for downstream reuse (e.g., reuse partners Concular, Trick Brick, KIT Karlsruhe). Includes uncontaminated construction debris from €410 per container for private customers.
• Industrial Waste Services (Industrieabfälle) Professional waste management for industrial facilities covering diverse industrial waste streams, including machine and tank dismantling, demolition of production equipment and railway bridges, with complete planning and execution from a single provider.
• Event Waste Management (Evententsorgung) End-to-end waste management for events and festivals, including waste concept planning, colored separation stations, on-site disposal personnel, and rapid cleanup. Demonstrated as the official disposal partner for the Kessel Festival in Stuttgart.
• WEEE (ElektroG) Initial Treatment and Take-Back Services Certified ElektroG Erstbehandlungsanlage operations for sorting, shredding, screening, and compaction of waste electrical and electronic equipment, plus an authorized ElektroG Rücknahmestelle take-back point for electrical appliances and large household appliances at the Feuerbach location.
• Commercial Waste Pre-Treatment (GewAbfV Vorbehandlungsanlage) Certified pre-treatment facility operating under the German Commercial Waste Ordinance (GewAbfV) to sort, shred, screen, and compact commercial waste streams, supporting downstream recycling and ensuring regulator-compliant separation.
• Online Webshop for Private Customers (Webshop für Privatpersonen) E-commerce ordering platform enabling private individuals to book drop-off containers (mixed waste from €650, construction debris from €410, old wood A I–A III from €245, hazardous wood A IV from €460, gypsum from €594) and end-of-life vehicle pickup (from €145) with publicly listed pricing.
• Karle Akademie Training Services Training and seminar program covering waste management regulations, digital tachograph operation, UVV inspections, hazardous materials handling, and related topics, delivered at the Stuttgart-Feuerbach headquarters, as webinars, or on-site at customer locations. Customers include transport firms such as Rösch Container GmbH.
• Waste Documentation and CO2 Certification Services Documentation and certification services for customers, including commercial waste records (GewAbfV), hazardous waste certificates, disposal certificates, annual waste balance sheets (Abfallbilanz), and individualized CO2 certificates produced in partnership with GlobalFlow that quantify avoided CO2 emissions per customer based on recycled volumes.
• Demolition and Dismantling Services (Abbau und Demontage) Professional dismantling and demolition of production machinery, tank systems, and railway bridges with complete planning and execution from a single provider, supporting customers during plant decommissions and infrastructure removals.
• Product Destruction and Disposal Services (Produktzerstörungen und -vernichtungen) Secure destruction and disposal of prototypes or products under camera surveillance using a 1000-ton press at 300 bar pressure, with complete documentation for regulatory and IP-protection purposes.
• Karle-Annahmestelle Authorized Collection Point Program Partner program enabling automotive dealerships to act as authorized collection points under Karle Recycling's Altfahrzeug certification, allowing dealers to directly accept end-of-life vehicles and issue disposal certificates to their own customers in cooperation with Karle.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72% less energy consumption when producing steel from scrap vs. primary ore (Electrosmelting process)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GlobalFlowcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for CO2 certification services. GlobalFlow provides the technical platform and methodology for calculating and certifying CO2 savings from recycling activities, enabling Karle Recycling to issue individual CO2 certificates to customers demonstrating their environmental impact reduction.
• ConcularminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for building material reuse. Concular connects reusable building materials from demolition projects with new buyers. For the Robert Bosch Hospital project, high-quality timber elements were directed to Concular for resale to KIT Karlsruhe.
• Trick BrickminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for processing reused building materials. Receives selected timber and construction materials from Karle Recycling projects for further processing and reuse, supporting circular economy goals.
• KIT Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of high-quality reused timber from demolition projects. Building materials from Robert Bosch Hospital project were directed to KIT Karlsruhe for reuse in new construction projects.
• Degenkolbe Recycling GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company subsidiary operating in Stuttgart-Münster. Part of the Karle Gruppe providing additional capacity and specialized services including paper recycling with electric forklift equipment. Collaborates on shared training initiatives (LKW safety training).
• ANNA - Die Abfallassistenz (Nadine Speidel, Anne Kathrin Antic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital waste management assistant solution developed in partnership with waste management expertise from Karle Recycling. Karle's practical experience informed ANNA's development. ANNA provides digital support for waste management professionals with knowledge database, checklists, and training modules.
• FISCHER WeilheimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDemolition contractor partner for major projects. FISCHER handles demolition work while Karle Recycling provides exclusive disposal services. Partnership demonstrated in Robert Bosch Hospital demolition project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• REMONDIS: REMONDIS is Germany's largest privately-owned waste management and recycling company, offering collection, sorting, treatment, and disposal services across all waste streams including metals, construction debris, hazardous waste, and e-waste. Directly comparable to Karle Recycling's full-service model but at vastly greater geographic and volume scale.
• PreZero: PreZero is the recycling and environmental services arm of the Schwarz Group (Lidl/Kaufland parent), operating collection, sorting, and processing for plastics, paper, metals, and hazardous waste in Germany and Europe. Comparable to Karle's comprehensive multi-stream recycling services with strong focus on circular economy and ESG reporting.
• Interseroh+: Interseroh+ is a German recycling specialist within the ALBA Group, focused on packaging licensing, e-waste (ElektroG) take-back, and closed-loop services for producers and retailers. Directly comparable to Karle's certified ElektroG Erstbehandlungsanlage work and partner collection point model.
• ALBA Group: ALBA Group is a major German recycling and waste management company serving industrial and commercial customers with services spanning metals, electronics, plastics, and hazardous waste. Comparable to Karle's B2B-focused multi-stream recycling offering, though at significantly larger scale.
• Tönsmeier: Tönsmeier is a mid-sized German recycling and disposal company (now under the RETHMANN Group) operating container services, scrap metal yards, and municipal/industrial waste collection across multiple regions. Comparable size profile and full-service recycling model to Karle Recycling.

Broad incumbents

• Suez Recycling & Recovery Germany: Suez Deutschland (formerly Sita/Suez) provides commercial and industrial waste services in Germany including hazardous waste management and recycling. Comparable on hazardous waste and industrial collection streams, though operating as part of the global Suez group.
• Veolia Umweltservice: Veolia's German environmental services division provides commercial and industrial waste collection, treatment, and disposal across hazardous and non-hazardous streams. Comparable to Karle on hazardous/industrial waste capabilities though operating as part of a much larger global utility.

Emerging players

• Reclay Systems: Reclay Systems is a specialist provider of take-back systems and e-waste/electrical equipment compliance services in Germany. Comparable to Karle's ElektroG-certified WEEE processing operations and compliance/documentation offering, but with a more focused product portfolio.

Regional players

• Wittmann Entsorgung: Wittmann is a mid-sized German recycling and disposal company operating container services, scrap metal, and demolition waste handling in southern Germany. Comparable in scale and service mix to Karle but operating in different regional markets.
• AVG Abfall-Verwertungs-Gesellschaft: AVG is the public waste management company serving the Karlsruhe region in Baden-Württemberg, operating collection, sorting, and disposal services. Regionally adjacent to Karle's Stuttgart-area operations with overlapping customer base and waste streams.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KarleRecycling
• Instagraminstagram.com/karlerecycling

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Karle Recycling