Gelsendienste

What Gelsendienste does

GELSENDIENSTE is a municipal utility company (Stadtwerk / eigenbetriebsähnliche Einrichtung) wholly owned by the City of Gelsenkirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Formed on 1 January 2003 through the merger of three predecessor entities — GELSENREIN (waste management and street cleaning, est. 1994), GELSENGRÜN (green spaces and cemeteries, est. 1994), and GELSENHAUS (municipal building cleaning, est. 1994) — the company delivers the full portfolio of municipal public services for the city. Core operations cover household and commercial waste collection across all waste streams (residual, paper, bio, packaging, bulky, electronic, glass, textiles, construction, and hazardous), four Wertstoffhöfe (recycling centers), mechanical and manual street cleaning, winter service (snow removal and salting), planning and maintenance of parks/forests/playgrounds, cemetery services, and weekly and evening market operations across 13 locations. Adjacent service lines include professional cleaning for approximately 260 municipal buildings (~400 dedicated staff), container rental, hazardous-waste mobile collection, and in-house fleet/workshop management for approximately 500 vehicles.

Revenue is generated through regulated municipal fees (Gebührensatzungen) approved annually by the city council — household waste fees based on container size and pickup frequency, street cleaning fees based on property frontage, recycling center usage fees, commercial waste contracts, market stall rental from approximately 200 traders, building cleaning service revenue, and cemetery fees. The customer base consists of all private households and businesses in Gelsenkirchen, the housing industry segment, the City of Gelsenkirchen as the institutional anchor, and approximately 200 market traders.

The technology base is conventional municipal infrastructure rather than a proprietary platform, but includes hydrogen fuel cell waste collection trucks (deployed 2022 with EU co-funding), five electric sweeping machines (2020), electric waste vacuum cleaners (2019), a digital tree-irrigation management system, and a suite of citizen-facing apps (Baum-App Gelsenkirchen, GE-meldet defect reporter, Mülldetektive, Wertstoffhof Süd self-service app) plus an online iCal-based waste collection calendar. Marketing and citizen engagement are conducted via the corporate website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, press releases, and large community campaigns such as GEputzt (~10,000 participants in 2026) and GEpflanzt (600+ trees distributed).

Name

Gelsendienste

Legal name

GELSENDIENSTE

Website

https://gelsendienste.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

GELSENDIENSTE is a municipal utility wholly owned by the City of Gelsenkirchen, Germany, providing waste collection, recycling, street cleaning, winter service, green space and cemetery maintenance, weekly markets, and building cleaning for approximately 260 municipal facilities, employing roughly 1,200 staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Waste Management Services

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Waste Collection (56211), Janitorial Services (56172)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Street & Public Space Litter Collection (Municipal Cleaning) (BPALAAAE), Commercial & Office Waste Collection (Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAA), Bulk Item & White Goods Collection (Bulky Waste) (BPALAAAD), Bulky Waste & White Goods Drop-Off/Transfer (BPALABAE)

Keywords

• Municipal waste management
• Recycling center services
• Street cleaning services
• Urban green space maintenance
• Waste collection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gelsenkirchen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Waste Disposal Fees: Fees charged to households and businesses for waste collection and disposal services, regulated by municipal fee schedules (Gebührensatzungen)
2. Street Cleaning Fees: Fees for street cleaning services based on property frontage and usage
3. Market Operation Revenue: Revenue from weekly and evening markets including stall rental fees from approximately 200 traders
4. Building Cleaning Services: Building cleaning services for approximately 260 municipal buildings including schools, kindergartens, museums, and civic buildings
5. Recycling Center Fees: Fees for commercial waste disposal at recycling centers (Wertstoffhöfe)
6. Cemetery Services: Funeral and cemetery services including burial plots, columbarium, and funeral hall rental
7. Container Rental Services: Container rental for construction, demolition, and commercial waste

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GELSENDIENSTE delivers essential municipal services for the city of Gelsenkirchen, including household and commercial waste collection across all waste streams (residual, paper, bio, packaging, bulky, e-waste, glass, textiles, construction, hazardous), four Wertstoffhöfe recycling centers, street and winter cleaning, urban green space and forest maintenance, management of 13 weekly and evening markets with roughly 200 traders, cemetery operations, and cleaning of approximately 260 municipal buildings.

Product overview

GELSENDIENSTE is a municipal services company of the city of Gelsenkirchen offering a comprehensive portfolio of public services. The core offerings include waste collection and disposal (Kreislauf- und Entsorgungswirtschaft) with services for both private households and businesses, covering various waste types from residual waste to problematic/hazardous materials. Street cleaning and winter maintenance services ensure clean and safe roads. Green space management encompasses parks, playgrounds, forests, and municipal cemeteries. The company also operates weekly and evening markets across 13 locations. Additional services include building cleaning for 260 municipal facilities, fleet management for approximately 500 vehicles, and environmental education programs. Digital offerings include an Abfallkalender (waste calendar) for collection scheduling, a Baum-App (tree app) for urban tree information, and a Verschenkmarkt (giveaway market) online platform. The company employs approximately 1,200 staff and was established in 2003 through the merger of GELSENREIN, GELSENGRÜN, and GELSENHAUS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Baum-App Gelsenkirchen: Mobile application for reporting issues related to waste, cleanliness, and public green spaces in Gelsenkirchen.
• GE-meldet
• GEputzt

Products and services

• Waste Counseling (Abfallberatung) Educational and advisory services on waste prevention, proper disposal, recycling practices, and waste sorting guidance for citizens and businesses.
• Waste Collection Services for Private Households Scheduled municipal waste collection for residential properties covering residual waste, old paper, bio and green waste, packaging, bulky waste, electrical equipment, old glass, old clothing, construction waste, and problematic/hazardous waste.
• Waste Collection Services for Businesses Commercial and industrial waste collection services for businesses in Gelsenkirchen, including commercial waste bins, container services, recycling center access, bulky waste pickup, and electrical equipment disposal.
• Wertstoffhöfe (Recycling Centers) Four permanent municipal recycling centers where citizens and businesses can drop off various recyclable and special waste materials, including extended hours and app-based self-service access at Wertstoffhof Süd.
• Street Cleaning (Straßenreinigung) Mechanical and manual cleaning of streets, sidewalks, paths, squares, and operational areas throughout Gelsenkirchen, including autumn leaf collection.
• Winter Service (Winterdienst) Snow removal and gritting/salting of public roads and streets in Gelsenkirchen during winter months.
• Green Spaces and Forests (Grünflächen und Wälder) Planning, construction, and maintenance of public parks, playgrounds, forests, urban trees, and water bodies across Gelsenkirchen.
• Weekly and Evening Markets (Wochen- und Feierabendmärkte) Organization and operation of 11 weekly market locations plus 2 evening markets across Gelsenkirchen, accommodating approximately 200 traders and nearly 1,000 market-related employees.
• Container Service (Containerdienst) Container rental and service for waste disposal of construction, demolition, and commercial waste, available for both private households and businesses.
• Hazardous Waste Mobile (Schadstoffmobil) Mobile collection service for hazardous waste disposal visiting various locations throughout the city on a published schedule.
• Municipal Cemeteries (Städtische Friedhöfe) Management and maintenance of municipal cemeteries including cemetery services, columbarium, burial plot sales, and funeral hall rental.
• Building Cleaning (Gebäudereinigung) Professional cleaning services for approximately 260 municipal buildings including schools, kindergartens, museums, fire stations, and civic offices, employing around 400 cleaning staff.
• Workshop and Fleet Management (Werkstatt und Fuhrparkmanagement) Vehicle maintenance and fleet management for approximately 500 vehicles, including GELSENDIENSTE's own fleet and the city's municipal vehicle pool.
• Exterior Surface Cleaning for Businesses (Reinigung von Außenflächen) Professional exterior surface cleaning services offered to commercial customers in Gelsenkirchen.
• Housing Industry Services (Wohnungswirtschaft) Full-service waste management, bin optimization, site maintenance, and bulk waste collection tailored to housing companies and property management firms.
• Bulky Waste and E-Waste Pickup Service (Abholservice) Free on-demand collection service for bulky waste (Sperrmüll) and large electrical appliances from residential properties in Gelsenkirchen.
• Verschenkmarkt (Giveaway Market) Online platform enabling citizens to give away reusable items they no longer need to others in the Gelsenkirchen community, supporting waste prevention.
• Depot Container Network Network of neighborhood collection containers across Gelsenkirchen for paper, glass, textiles, and packaging materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 10,000 volunteers participated in GEputzt 2026 community cleanup event
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and support.

• Local Gelsenkirchen BusinessesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2024Partnership for urban tree watering support, with local companies assisting in tree irrigation efforts
• GELSEN-NET Kommunikationsgesellschaft mbHsupportTechnology or IntegrationTechnical planning and implementation partner for GELSENDIENSTE website, located at Willy-Brandt-Allee 26, 45891 Gelsenkirchen
• Benning, Gluth & Partner Gesellschaft für Kommunikation mbHsupportTechnology or IntegrationWebsite realization and digital communication services, located at Max-Planck-Ring 56, 46049 Oberhausen
• datenschutz süd GmbHsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesignated data protection officer (Datenschutzbeauftragter) for GDPR compliance, located in Würzburg

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR): Berlin's municipal waste collection, street cleaning, and recycling utility. Direct comparable as a city-owned public service company delivering the same core portfolio (waste, Straßenreinigung, recycling yards) at much larger scale.
• Stadtreinigung Hamburg (SRH): Hamburg's municipal waste and street cleaning operator with similar mandate covering collection, recycling, winter service, and fleet management for a major German city. Closely aligned service mix and municipal ownership model.
• AWB Köln (Abfallwirtschaftsbetriebe Köln): Cologne's municipal waste management utility offering household and commercial collection, recycling centers, bulky waste, and street cleaning within a single-city franchise. Comparable operating model and product breadth.
• AWM München (Abfallwirtschaftsbetrieb München): Munich's city-owned waste and street cleaning enterprise delivering residential/commercial collection, Wertstoffhöfe, and cleaning services to a major German municipality. Highly comparable as a municipal Eigenbetrieb.
• EDG Entsorgung Dortmund GmbH: Dortmund's municipal waste disposal and street cleaning company, also covering recycling centers, bulky waste, and hazardous-waste mobile collection. Directly comparable in scope and Ruhr-region context.
• WBO Wirtschaftsbetriebe Oberhausen: City of Oberhausen's municipal service company covering waste management, street and winter cleaning, green spaces, cemeteries, and fleet management - a near-twin service portfolio to Gelsendienste in a neighboring Ruhr city.
• ZKE Zentraler Kommunaler Entsorgungsbetrieb (Saarbrücken): Municipal waste collection and street cleaning utility of Saarbrücken operating Wertstoffhöfe and bulky waste services. Comparable German municipal Entsorgungsbetrieb with similar single-jurisdiction franchise.

Broad incumbents

• Stadtwerke München (SWM): Larger Munich municipal utility with adjacent waste subsidiary MUC and broader utilities portfolio (energy, transport). Comparable as a city-owned multi-service municipal holding company but at materially larger scale and scope.
• Remondis SE & Co. KG: One of Germany's largest privately held waste and recycling groups offering collection, treatment, and disposal nationwide. Comparable on the commercial waste and recycling services Gelsendienste delivers, but at national scale and as a private-sector competitor for commercial contracts.

Regional players

• Veolia Umweltservice Süd GmbH: German arm of the Veolia group providing commercial and municipal waste services across southern/central Germany. Comparable as a regional service provider competing for some of Gelsendienste's commercial and bulky-waste customers beyond Gelsenkirchen.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-N4fG3XO7BSkTW59uwD4gw
• Facebookfacebook.com/WochenmarktGE
• Instagraminstagram.com/wochen_feierabendmaerkte_ge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gelsendienste

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Gelsendienste