ZAKB

Name

ZAKB

Legal name

Zweckverband Abfallwirtschaft Kreis Bergstraße (ZAKB)

Website

https://zakb.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Waste Management

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection & Transfer (BPALABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bulk Item & White Goods Collection (Bulky Waste) (BPALAAAD), E-waste & Universal Waste Collection/Transfer (Electronics, Lamps, Batteries) (EUAIABAG), Recycling & E-Waste Collection/Hauling (HSAKALAJ), Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) & Universal Waste Sorting Facilities (EUAIADAK)

Keywords

• Municipal waste management
• Waste collection services
• Recycling services
• Bio-waste processing
• Renewable energy

Headquarters

HQ city

Lampertheim-Hüttenfeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Gebührenfinanzierung (Fee-based Waste Collection): As a publicly owned fee-financed disposal company, ZAKB generates revenue primarily through waste disposal fees charged to property owners (Gebührenbescheid). These fees fund all waste collection, transport, recycling, and disposal operations. Prices must be balanced over time with surpluses and deficits passed to citizens. Economic performance is governed by the Hessisches Eigenbetriebsgesetz. Revenue is supplemented by income from sale of recyclable materials (e.g., waste paper, scrap metal) and energy generation from biogas and photovoltaics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ZAKB operates as the exclusive public-sector waste management provider for Kreis Bergstraße, Germany, collecting, transporting, and processing all household waste streams (residual, bio, paper, packaging, bulky, green, electronic, hazardous, textiles) for approximately 270,000 residents across 22 member municipalities. The company operates 19 recycling centers (Wertstoffhöfe) with the AWZ Heppenheim as main hub, a fleet of ~50 collection vehicles servicing 225,000 containers, and integrated waste-to-energy infrastructure including a biogas plant, biomass heating center, landfill gas recovery, and photovoltaic installations.

Product overview

ZAKB operates as a municipal waste management association (Zweckverband) serving approximately 270,000 residents across 22 member municipalities in Kreis Bergstraße, Germany. The core offering consists of comprehensive waste collection and disposal services delivered through a fleet of 50 collection vehicles covering roughly 1 million kilometers annually to service 225,000 waste containers. Services span multiple categories: residual waste, bio-waste, packaging (yellow bag/bin), paper recycling, bulky waste, electronic waste, hazardous materials, green waste, and textiles. The operational infrastructure includes 19 recycling centers (Wertstoffhöfe) with the Abfallwirtschaftszentrum (AWZ) Heppenheim as the main hub, a biogas plant for organic waste processing, biomass facilities for green waste conversion to compost and fuel, landfill gas recovery from the former disposal site, and photovoltaic installations. Digital service offerings include the ZAKB-App for mobile access to collection schedules, an online fee calculator, and a property owner portal for service registration. The organization generates renewable energy from waste streams and operates a dedicated heating center supplying district heating to regional public facilities. Education and outreach programs including the Abfallwerkstatt for schools and environmental initiatives like the Müllfriedhof project complement the service portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Abfallwirtschaftszentrum Heppenheim (AWZ): Main waste management center handling up to 1,000 deliveries daily
• Energiepark Hüttenfeld
• BiOTONi

Products and services

• Sperrmüll (Bulky Waste Collection) Collection service for large household items that do not fit in regular waste containers, scheduled on customer request. Available to residents of all 22 member municipalities in Kreis Bergstraße.
• Elektroschrott (Electronic Waste Collection) Collection and proper disposal of electronic waste including old appliances, devices, and batteries to prevent environmental contamination. From 2026, certain electrical equipment must be handed to trained staff at counters (Thekenmodell) per the amended ElektroG.
• Containerdienst (Container Service) Provision and transport of containers for construction debris, bulky waste, and large-scale disposal needs for both residential and commercial customers. Includes fee-based Beh\u00e4lterdienst for properties where standard collection is not possible.
• Gelber Sack (Yellow Bag / Packaging Collection) Separate curbside collection service for lightweight packaging materials, plastic containers, and metal packaging designated for recycling via the Gelber Sack system.
• Grünsperrmüll (Green Bulky Waste On-Demand) On-demand collection service for garden waste too large for bio-waste bins, bookable via website, app, or customer service. Restructured from fixed calendar dates to flexible individual appointments from January 2026.
• Altkleider (Old Clothing Collection) Collection points for reusable textiles and shoes at 16 recycling centers to meet regulatory requirements for textile recycling under the Einwegkunststofffondsgesetz and EU directives.
• Schadstoffsammlung / Umweltmobil (Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection) Mobile collection service (Umweltmobil) for hazardous waste including paints, solvents, batteries, and other household hazardous materials, visiting designated locations across municipalities on scheduled dates.
• Blitzabfuhr (Express Collection) Express collection service for urgent disposal needs of bulky or special waste items on short notice.
• Wertstoffhöfe (Recycling Center Network) Network of 19 value recycling centers across Kreis Bergstra\u00dfe for drop-off of recyclable materials, bulky waste, green waste, electronic waste, hazardous waste, textiles, construction waste, and items too large for curbside bins. The AWZ Heppenheim serves as main hub.
• Unterflursysteme (Underground Container Systems) Underground waste collection systems for large residential complexes, providing odor-controlled, space-efficient waste disposal. Integrated into the fee schedule and offered to all customers after successful pilot in Lampertheim.
• Heizzentrale Heppenheim (District Heating Service) Biomass district heating supply to public facilities including Kreiskrankenhaus Heppenheim hospital, specialist medical center, Vitos psychiatric clinic, Konrad-Adenauer school, and surrounding residential area using biomass fuel produced from green waste collected in Kreis Bergstra\u00dfe.
• BiOTONi (Kitchen Compost Bin) ZAKB-branded kitchen compost container priced at \u20ac10, dishwasher-safe with airtight seal, sold at recycling centers and local stores to support household bio-waste separation.
• ZAKB-App (Mobile App) Mobile application for iPhone and Android devices providing collection schedule information, waste container management, bulky waste booking, and additional digital services. Free download from App Store and Google Play.
• Gebührenrechner (Fee Calculator) Online tool for calculating waste disposal fees based on container size, collection frequency, and property characteristics.
• Eigentümerportal (Property Owner Portal) Online portal for property owners to register new waste disposal service, access fee information, book bulky waste and green waste collection appointments, and manage account details using customer ID from fee notices.
• Abfallkalender (Waste Collection Calendar) Digital calendar service showing scheduled waste collection dates for citizens' specific locations, available via website and integrated into the ZAKB-App.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.5 million kWh/year of solar electricity produced on former landfill — sufficient for over 550 households
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and moderate.

• Labdoo.org e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025ZAKB partners with the non-profit initiative Labdoo.org to accept donations of used laptops, tablets, and e-book readers at AWZ Heppenheim. Devices are refurbished with educational software and distributed globally to schools and educational projects. This extends device lifecycle and supports digital education access worldwide while reducing e-waste.
• ReFood GmbH & Co. KGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2024ReFood participated as an exhibitor at ZAKB's Tag der offenen Tür (open day) 2024 at AWZ Heppenheim, showcasing food waste collection and recycling services.
• GGEW (Gruppe Gemeinschaftliche Energie- und Wasserversorgung)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2024GGEW participated as an exhibitor at ZAKB's Tag der offenen Tür (open day) 2024 at AWZ Heppenheim, showcasing regional energy and water services.
• 21 municipalities of Kreis BergstraßecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ZAKB is organized as a Zweckverband (municipal association) with 22 members including 21 municipalities plus ZAKB itself. Each municipality delegates waste collection and transportation obligations to ZAKB through a public-law agreement. Collaboration includes joint decision-making through Verbandsversammlung, infrastructure investments, and coordinated waste management planning.
• Naturschutzzentrum Bergstraße (NZB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing cooperation on environmental education projects including the Müllfriedhof (Müllfriedhof project) where different waste types are buried and monitored to show decomposition rates, World Cleanup Day events, and educational workshops for children and refugees on circular economy and waste sorting.
• Goethe-Gymnasium BensheimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent 'Energiepaten' (energy sponsors) program where students receive tours of ZAKB's energy park and learn about waste-to-energy. In return, students promote energy conservation and proper waste separation at their school.
• ETA-Plus Südhessen (Energieeffizienz- und Klimaschutz-Netzwerk)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAKB participates in the ETA-Plus Südhessen energy efficiency and climate protection network, which is supported by the German federal government and economic associations. The network facilitates knowledge exchange and joint initiatives for climate protection in southern Hesse.
• Verband Kommunaler Unternehmen (VKU)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAKB is a member of VKU, the German association of municipal companies. VKU represents the interests of municipal utilities across Germany and facilitates knowledge sharing, best practices, and advocacy for public sector service providers in waste management, energy, water, and public transport.
• RWE Nuclear GmbHmoderateOthersFollowing court rulings confirming the 'Sofortvollzug' of the co-use order for the Büttelborn landfill, ZAKB is working with RWE Nuclear GmbH to dispose of cleared materials from the decommissioned KKW Biblis nuclear power plant. An interim public-law contract was signed for this purpose.
• SAVAG GmbH (Deponiebetreiber Büttelborn)moderateOthersSAVAG GmbH operates the Büttelborn landfill. Following court confirmation of the co-use order, ZAKB and SAVAG are coordinating the technical disposal process for cleared radioactive materials from KKW Biblis.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stadtreinigung Hamburg (SRH): Hamburg's municipal waste management entity providing household waste collection, bulky waste pickup, recycling yards, and waste-to-energy operations. Public utility comparable to ZAKB in function and franchised service mandate, though operating at city-state scale.
• Abfallwirtschaftsbetrieb Stuttgart (AWS): City of Stuttgart's municipal waste management Eigenbetrieb responsible for household and commercial waste collection, recycling centers, and waste treatment. Comparable German Stadtwerke-style municipal waste utility with public ownership and regulated franchise operations similar to ZAKB.
• Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR): Berlin's municipal waste management utility operating street cleaning, household waste collection, recycling, hazardous waste disposal, and energy recovery. Germany's largest municipal waste utility; broadly comparable in service model and public ownership structure to ZAKB though operating at much larger scale.
• FES Frankfurter Entsorgungs- und Service GmbH: Frankfurt am Main's municipal waste and street-cleaning services company (wholly city-owned), operating curbside collection and recycling yards. Hessian peer with strong regulatory, demographic, and operational overlap to ZAKB — both serving the Rhine-Main region under the same state-level waste policies.
• AWM München (Abfallwirtschaftsbetrieb München): City of Munich's municipal waste management Eigenbetrieb operating curbside collection, recycling centers, biowaste processing, and energy from waste. Large-scale municipal peer with a directly comparable integrated waste-energy mandate to ZAKB, including biogas/biomass operations and district heating customer base.
• Abfallentsorgung des Landkreises Kassel (ASK): Municipal waste management entity serving Landkreis Kassel (Hesse) as a public-sector Eigenbetrieb/association, comparable to ZAKB as a district-level German waste association with curbside collection, Wertstoffhöfe, and household waste franchise across a rural/suburban district. Both operate under similar Hessian regulatory environment and Anschluss- und Benutzungszwang structures.

Broad incumbents

• ALBA Group: Major German private recycling and waste services company with integrated collection, sorting, and materials recovery across Europe. Provides services comparable to ZAKB's Wertstoffhöfe, gelber Sack packaging, and recycling operations but at national/international scale and with private-sector efficiency pressures.
• Remondis GmbH & Co. KG: Germany's largest private waste management company, family-owned, operating collection, recycling, hazardous waste, water, and industrial services throughout Germany and Europe. Directly competes for commercial and industrial waste contracts that overlap with ZAKB's Gewerbetreibende segment.
• Veolia Umweltservice GmbH: German arm of global environmental services giant Veolia, operating waste collection, treatment, and recycling services including municipal contracts in multiple German cities. Overlaps with ZAKB on hazardous waste handling, recycling, and waste-to-energy value propositions that ZAKB monetizes at AWZ Heppenheim.

Emerging players

• PreZero (Schwarz Group): Recycling and environmental services arm of Schwarz Group (Lidl/Kaufland parent), rapidly scaling waste collection, sorting, and recycling across Germany and Europe. Increasingly competitive with public-sector waste operators — relevant to ZAKB as a long-term threat if PreZero enters Hessian municipal contracts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zakb
• Instagraminstagram.com/zakb.kreisbergstrasse

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 ZAKB