Kreiswerke Schmalkalden-Meiningen

What Kreiswerke Schmalkalden-Meiningen does

Kreiswerke Schmalkalden-Meiningen GmbH is a wholly municipally owned enterprise (kommunales Unternehmen) of the Landkreis Schmalkalden-Meiningen in southern Thuringia, Germany. The company coordinates five wholly-owned subsidiaries — Seniorenpark Schmalkalden gGmbH (senior care), MBB Meininger Busbetriebs GmbH (public bus transport), Schmalkalden Stadtreinigung GmbH (street cleaning and household waste collection, ~110 employees), Bestattungen Schmalkalden GmbH (funeral services), and SG Servicegesellschaft Schmalkalden GmbH (facility management and catering) — delivering integrated municipal services to more than 120,000 citizens in the district.

Core infrastructure centers on Deponie Meiningen, the only Class II landfill (Deponieklasse II) in South Thuringia, which accepts construction debris, industrial waste, hazardous materials including asbestos, soil, and glass at fees ranging from €29/t to €458/t. The site integrates an on-site leachate treatment plant (Sickerwasserreinigungsanlage), a Blockheizkraftwerk (BHKW) landfill-gas-to-electricity plant, and a weak-gas flare system undergoing modernization. MBB operates a 2,930 km scheduled bus network across 546 stops, transporting 4.9 million passengers annually on 4.3 million schedule kilometers. Seniorenpark provides full residential and short-term care for 85 residents across 69 single and 8 double rooms with dementia specialization, and the group operates 10 barrier-free apartments at Teichstraße 11a, Schmalkalden with on-site medical practices, ambulatory care, and 24-hour emergency response. Digital citizen-facing assets include the Abfall-Kalender-App (iOS/Android) and the free online Verschenkmarkt give-away platform.

Revenue combines per-unit landfill disposal fees, recurring waste subscriptions (Biotonne launched January 1, 2025; Papiertonne; Abfallsäcke), municipal transport fares, recurring senior-care and barrier-free housing rents, and transactional funeral services (including an owned crematorium and floral shops). Distribution reaches customers via three service centers (Meiningen, Schmalkalden, Wasungen), four Wertstoffhöfe recycling centers, a twice-yearly Schadstoffmobil mobile hazardous-waste route, the Abfall-Kalender-App, the Alltagshelden Tourbus (also rentable to regional companies), and certified Entsorgungsfachbetrieb compliance (valid 22.04.2026–25.09.2027). Recent strategic activity centers on a €293,500 federally funded in-situ landfill stabilization project (2026–2028) projected to save ~18,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent over ten years.

Name

Kreiswerke Schmalkalden-Meiningen

Legal name

Kreiswerke Schmalkalden-Meiningen GmbH

Website

https://kwsm.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kreiswerke Schmalkalden-Meiningen GmbH is a municipally owned enterprise of Landkreis Schmalkalden-Meiningen in Thuringia, Germany, coordinating five wholly-owned subsidiaries across waste management, public bus transport, senior care, street cleaning, and funeral services for 120,000+ citizens.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Services

NAICS

Solid Waste Landfill (562212), Waste Collection (56211), Other Nonhazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562219)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works / In-House Municipal Collection Operations (EUAIAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Non-hazardous Waste Collection & Hauling (EUAIAGAB), Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection & Transfer (BPALABAF), Street & Public Space Litter Collection (Municipal Cleaning) (BPALAAAE)

Keywords

• Municipal waste management
• Public bus transport
• Elderly nursing care
• Recycling center operations
• Funeral services

Headquarters

HQ city

Schmalkalden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Waste Disposal Fees: Fees collected from citizens and businesses for household waste, bulky waste, construction waste, hazardous waste, and recyclable materials collection and disposal. Volume-based fees with minimum charges for small quantities.
2. Landfill Disposal Fees: Fees for disposal of mineral wastes at Deponie Meiningen, ranging from €29/t to €458/t depending on waste classification. The landfill accepts construction debris, industrial waste, hazardous materials including asbestos, soil, and glass waste.
3. Public Transport Services: Revenue from organizing public passenger transport (ÖPNV) including school transport and city transport in Schmalkalden and Meiningen, operated through subsidiary MBB Meininger Busbetriebs GmbH.
4. Barrier-Free Housing Rent: Rental income from 10 barrier-free apartments in Teichstraße 11a, Schmalkalden. Three apartment sizes available: ~30 m² (1 room), ~45 m² (2 rooms), ~70 m² (3 rooms), all with built-in kitchens.
5. Care Services: Nursing and care services through Seniorenpark SchmalkaldengGmbH providing full stationary care and short-term care for 85 residents in 69 single and 8 double rooms.
6. Funeral Services: Funeral services through Bestattungen Schmalkalden GmbH including own crematorium, mourning hall, grave maintenance contracts, and two floral shops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kreiswerke Schmalkalden-Meiningen GmbH is a municipal service conglomerate that, on behalf of the Landkreis Schmalkalden-Meiningen, coordinates seven communal enterprises delivering waste disposal (including Deponie Meiningen, the only Class II landfill in South Thuringia), public bus transport, street cleaning, senior nursing care, funeral services with own crematorium, and barrier-free housing. The group serves more than 120,000 citizens across the district.

Product overview

Kreiswerke Schmalkalden-Meiningen GmbH is a municipal services conglomerate coordinating seven communal companies for the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district. The portfolio operates as a multi-service platform spanning waste management (Deponie Meiningen landfill, Wertstoffhöfe recycling centers, Abfall-Kalender-App, Biotonne, Papiertonne, Abfallsäcke, Verschenkmarkt, and Big Bags for asbestos disposal), public transport (MBB Meininger Busbetriebs with 2,930 km network serving 4.9 million passengers annually), street cleaning and waste collection (Schmalkalden Stadtreinigung), senior care (Seniorenpark Schmalkalden with 85 beds and specialized dementia services), funeral services (Bestattungen Schmalkalden with crematorium and floral shops), barrier-free housing (Teichstraße apartments with on-site medical services), and community outreach (Alltagshelden Tourbus). The company serves over 120,000 citizens across the district.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Verschenkmarkt: Online give-away marketplace platform operated by the Kreiswerke where citizens can freely give away items they no longer need, promoting sustainability and waste reduction.

Products and services

• Deponie Meiningen (Class II Landfill Disposal)

Quantifiable outcome

• 18,000 tonnes CO₂ equivalents savings through in-situ stabilization of Deponie Meiningen over 10 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SEF-Energietechnik GmbH (Zwickau)coreTechnology or Integration · 16 April 2026Awarded planning and project management (Planung und Projektleitung) for the weak gas flare modernization project at Deponie Meiningen (KSI: In-situ-Stabilisierung), funded by Kommunalrichtlinie with 293,500 Euro.
• Elisabeth Klinikum Schmalkalden GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary practical training partner for nursing students. Nursing apprentices complete 2,500 hours of practical training at Elisabeth Klinikum Schmalkalden. Additionally, Krankenpflegehelfer (nursing assistants) train 1,000 hours at this facility. The clinic also offers catering services for patients and staff.
• SRH Zentralklinikum SuhlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for practical training of nursing students. Students rotate through this facility as part of their multi-site practical training alongside Elisabeth Klinikum and other partners.
• Blindeninstitut SchmalkaldenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner for nursing students offering practical experience in care for visually impaired individuals as part of the multi-partner training program.
• Geriatrische Fachklinik Georgenhaus MeiningenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeriatric specialist clinic serving as a practical training partner for nursing students, providing exposure to elderly care as part of the multi-partner training rotation.
• Seniorenpark Schmalkalden gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of of the Kreiswerke group, serving as practical training partner for nursing students. Also operates barrier-free housing at Teichstraße 11a with integrated care services, creating a continuum of care from housing to nursing.
• Ambulant Care Service Provider (for Teichstraße housing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmbulatory nursing service operating within the barrier-free housing complex at Teichstraße 11a, providing on-site care services including 24-hour emergency response, home cleaning, shopping, meal delivery, and escort services to medical appointments.
• Staatliche Berufsbildende Schule MeiningenminorOthersVocational school for theoretical training of Kauffrau/-mann für Büromanagement apprentices, taught in weekly blocks at the school in Meiningen.
• Staatliche Berufsbildende Schule ErfurtminorOthersVocational school providing theoretical training for florist apprentices, taught in weekly blocks.
• Berufsschule MühlhausenminorOthersVocational school for Fachkraft im Fahrbetrieb apprentices at MBB Meininger Busbetriebs GmbH, providing theoretical instruction alongside practical modules at MBB locations.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nehlsen AG: Privately held German waste management company operating collection, recycling, and disposal services across multiple regions. Comparable as a mid-sized integrated waste operator with municipal contracts and hazardous waste handling capabilities similar to Kreiswerke's portfolio.
• KBS Group (Kreislaufwirtschafts- und Baustoff-Service GmbH): German waste and recycling specialist focused on construction debris, mineral waste, and recyclables processing. Comparable in handling mineral waste streams and construction debris with landfill-adjacent operations, though operating regionally across multiple sites rather than as a single municipal authority.

Broad incumbents

• Veolia Umweltservice GmbH (Deutschland): German arm of global environmental services giant providing municipal and commercial waste collection, treatment, and disposal. Directly comparable in serving public-sector waste clients with regulated disposal streams, though operating nationally rather than locally.
• REMONDIS SE & Co. KG: One of Europe's largest privately held waste and recycling companies with deep German municipal utility relationships. Comparable as a broad incumbent in MSW collection, landfill operations, and hazardous waste handling across many German districts, though operating at vastly larger scale than Kreiswerke.
• SUEZ Recycling and Recovery Deutschland GmbH: German subsidiary providing municipal solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal services to cities and districts. Comparable business model in regulated MSW services for German municipalities, though at national scale versus Kreiswerke's single-district focus.
• ALBA Group plc & Co. KG: Major German recycling and waste management group providing collection, sorting, and material recovery services. Comparable in MSW collection and recycling center operations, though ALBA operates across many regions rather than a single district like Kreiswerke.

Regional players

• Stadtreinigung Hamburg (SRH): Hamburg's municipal waste management utility providing street cleaning, waste collection, and disposal for a major German city. Directly comparable as a publicly-owned municipal waste operator with street cleaning, MSW collection, and recycling functions, though serving an urban market rather than a rural district.
• aha Zweckverband Abfallwirtschaft Region Hannover: Municipal waste management association serving the Hannover region with household waste collection, recycling centers, and disposal services. Closely comparable as a publicly-commissioned German district-level waste utility with regulated collection, recycling, and disposal operations.
• AVG Köln (Abfallwirtschaftsgesellschaft): Cologne's municipal waste management company providing collection, recycling, and disposal for the city region. Comparable as a German municipal waste utility with similar services (street cleaning, bulky waste, recycling centers) though operating in a much larger metropolitan area.

Emerging players

• Zweckverband Restmüllbehandlung Mittelthüringen (ZRM): Central Thuringia residual waste treatment association operating thermal treatment and landfill management in the region. Directly comparable as a Thuringian waste authority with landfill gas management expertise (cited as reference for Kreiswerke's weak gas flare project), serving overlapping but different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kreiswerke-schmalkalden-meiningen-gmbh-entsorgungsbetrieb

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

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 Kreiswerke Schmalkalden-Meiningen