What Korn Recycling GmbH does

Korn Recycling GmbH is a family-owned waste management and recycling company founded in 1978 and headquartered in Albstadt on the Schwäbische Alb in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The company operates across seven branch locations with more than 210 employees, serving industrial enterprises, commercial customers, municipalities, trades/Handwerk businesses, and private households with a vertically integrated service stack: container rental (5-10 cbm), waste collection and certified disposal, commercial waste sorting, alternative fuel (Ersatzbrennstoffe/EBS) production since 2002, secondary raw material recovery, secure BDSG-compliant data carrier destruction, and winter/sweeping municipal services. Logistics are handled in-house via the wholly-owned subsidiary Korn Rekotrans GmbH (founded 2002). Customers are billed through quote-based transaction fees for container delivery, collection, and disposal, with separate revenue from EBS sales to cement works and power/heating plants (1,000 kg EBS replaces up to 800 L oil).

The technical core is the company's flagship Albstadt facility — a ~30,000 m² commercial waste sorting and EBS processing plant commissioned in 2008 (Hall 3 / EBS hall, ~€10M investment) and rebuilt after a major 2009 fire — equipped with 10 NIR sorters, 6 magnetic separators, 3 ballistic separators, and 2 X-ray sorting systems. Korn was the first operator in the German waste industry to deploy X-ray sorting (2008) and, in March 2025, became the first company globally to integrate an AI-powered X-ray battery detection system (BatterySort, co-developed with WeSort.AI) into an operational sorting line. The company maintains ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, and Entsorgungsfachbetrieb certifications, and reports only 2% sorting residue (98% circular economy yield). The company is led by second-generation Managing Directors Alexander Korn (Korn Recycling GmbH) and Markus Korn (Korn Rekotrans GmbH), supported by a Prokurist-level management team covering commercial operations, HR, technology development, sales, and IT. Korn was awarded the Grüner Engel 2026 and has held the kununu Top Company badge for four consecutive years (2022-2025).

Name

Korn Recycling GmbH

Legal name

Korn Recycling GmbH

Website

https://korn-recycling.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Korn Recycling GmbH is a family-owned German waste management company operating the world's most modern commercial waste sorting and alternative fuel processing facility, serving industrial, commercial, municipal, and private customers across Baden-Württemberg through seven regional locations with 210+ employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waste Management and Recycling Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (56211), Solid Waste Collection (562111), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Packaging Waste Services (Pallets, Cardboard, Film, IBCs/Drums—Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

E-waste & Universal Waste Collection/Transfer (Electronics, Lamps, Batteries) (EUAIABAG), Lithium-ion Battery Recycling (Mechanical, Hydro, Direct Recycling) (EUAIAIAF), Collection, Logistics & Reverse Supply Chain (Transport, Sorting, Tracking) (EUAFACAA), Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) & Universal Waste Sorting Facilities (EUAIADAK)

Keywords

• Waste management services
• Commercial waste sorting
• Alternative fuel production
• Container rental services
• Secondary raw materials recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Albstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Waste collection and disposal services: KORN provides container rental, waste collection, and disposal services for industrial, commercial, municipal and private customers. Fees are charged for container delivery, collection, and disposal. The company provides compliance documentation and certified disposal certificates.
2. Alternative fuels (Ersatzbrennstoffe) production and sale: KORN produces high-quality alternative fuels from commercial and industrial waste, selling them to cement plants and conventional power/heating plants for energy generation. This is a key product revenue stream, with approximately 1000kg of alternative fuels replacing up to 800 liters of oil.
3. Logistics and transport services (Rekotrans): Through subsidiary Korn Rekotrans GmbH, KORN provides national and international transport and logistics services, winter maintenance (Winterdienst), and sweeping services (Kehrdienst) using their own vehicle fleet.
4. Data carrier destruction: Secure destruction of data carriers (documents and digital storage media) according to strict BDSG requirements, as part of their service offering.
5. Secondary raw materials: KORN recovers and sells secondary raw materials from sorted waste streams, contributing to circular economy objectives and providing additional revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Korn Recycling GmbH operates a commercial waste sorting and substitute fuel processing plant at its Albstadt headquarters, providing container rental, waste collection, sorting, certified disposal, and alternative fuel (Ersatzbrennstoff) production for industrial, commercial, municipal, and private customers across 7 locations in Baden-Württemberg. The company also delivers winter maintenance, sweeping, secure data carrier destruction, and transport/logistics services via its subsidiary Korn Rekotrans GmbH, and has pioneered AI-powered X-ray BatterySort technology for lithium-ion battery detection in waste streams.

Product overview

Korn Recycling GmbH operates as a diversified waste management and recycling company offering integrated services through its core facility and sub-brands. The company runs the world's most modern commercial waste sorting and alternative fuel processing plant at its headquarters in Albstadt, complemented by its Rekotrans logistics subsidiary. The flagship innovation is BatterySort, an AI-powered X-ray sorting system developed with startup WeSort.AI that automatically detects and removes lithium-ion batteries from waste streams. Core offerings include container services, waste sorting, alternative fuel production, winter and sweeping services, and secure document destruction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Only 2% of processed waste becomes sorting residue; 98% enters circular economy
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• WeSort.AIcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 March 2026KORN is the first company globally to deploy WeSort.AI's BatterySort AI+X-ray technology in an operational sorting line (installed March 2025). BatterySort uses artificial intelligence, specialized cameras, and X-ray sensors to automatically identify and sort lithium-ion batteries from mixed waste, preventing fires and enabling recovery of critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths. KORN co-developed and supported the development from prototype to market readiness since March 2023.
• Fraunhofer-Institut (Fraunhofer Institute)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKORN is collaborating with the Fraunhofer Institute on BioMining research. The goal is to recover valuable metals such as gold, palladium, and rare earths from electronic waste using microbial processes — resource-conserving and with significantly lower energy consumption than conventional methods.
• Plattform Umwelttechnik e.V. (PU)minorOthersKORN is a member of Plattform Umwelttechnik e.V. (PU), which organized the Ghana delegation visit and facilitates international exchange on sustainable recycling solutions. KORN participates in PU-sponsored events and knowledge sharing programs.
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKORN hosted a delegation from Ghana led by Prof. Jerry John Kponyo of KNUST. The exchange focused on recycling processes in Germany and developing solutions for Ghana's waste management challenges, particularly PET plastic recycling and waste-to-energy concepts. Organized via Plattform Umwelttechnik.
• WIS – Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Standortmarketinggesellschaft Landkreis SigmaringenminorOthersWIS organized a 'Fabrikgespräch' (factory dialogue) at KORN's Albstadt facility, bringing together industry professionals, companies, and interested parties to discuss sustainable residual material utilization and innovative recycling processes.
• Various sports clubs (FC 07 Albstadt, Albstadt Bike Marathon, Citylauf Albstadt, Gestüt Marbach, etc.)minorOthersKORN sponsors local sports clubs and youth organizations as part of regional community engagement: FC 07 Albstadt, Albstadt Bike Marathon, Citylauf Albstadt, Reitturnier (equestrian), Handballvereine, Schwimmverein, and other local sports.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• PreZero Stiftung & Co. KG: Environmental services division of the Schwarz Group (parent of Lidl/Kaufland), operating collection, sorting, and recycling across Europe. Comparable to KORN's waste sorting and alternative fuel orientation, with significantly larger portfolio and pan-European footprint.
• Veolia Umweltservice Süd GmbH & Co. KG: German subsidiary of global environmental services giant Veolia, providing commercial and industrial waste collection, treatment, and recycling. Comparable to KORN's certified disposal and industrial/commercial customer focus, with vastly greater regional and international capacity.
• REMONDIS SE & Co. KG: One of the largest private waste management and recycling companies in Europe, with operations across Germany and globally. Directly comparable as a comprehensive waste services provider (collection, sorting, recycling, alternative fuels) but operates at massively broader scale than KORN.
• ALBA Group plc & Co. KG: German recycling and environmental services group active across Europe and Asia, with strong sorting and secondary raw materials operations. Comparable to KORN in commercial waste sorting and circular economy positioning, but at a much larger national and international scale.

Regional players

• Schönmackers Umweltdienste GmbH & Co. KG: Family-owned German waste management company operating across North Rhine-Westphalia and adjacent regions, offering container services, sorting, and recycling for industrial and commercial customers. Highly comparable in size, family-owned structure, and service portfolio to KORN, but operating in a different German region.
• Knettenbrech + Gurdulic Service GmbH & Co. KG: Mid-sized German waste management and recycling company serving Hessen and surrounding regions with container services, sorting, and disposal. Comparable in scope and family/Mittelstand character to KORN, serving a different regional market.
• Tönsmeier Umwelt-Service GmbH & Co. KG: German waste management company with regional collection, sorting, and recycling operations, now part of the PreZero network. Comparable to KORN in commercial waste sorting and certified disposal services, with overlapping service portfolio but broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• WeSort.AI GmbH: German AI startup that developed the BatterySort technology deployed at KORN. Directly comparable as the technology partner and originator of KORN's flagship innovation; the Deutscher Gründerpreis 2024 award (Nathanael and Johannes Laier) further validates the technology pedigree.
• ZenRobotics Ltd. Finnish AI and robotics company specializing in intelligent waste sorting systems for C&D and commercial waste. Comparable to KORN's BatterySort platform in deploying AI-driven sorting automation, but operates as a technology supplier rather than a waste operator.
• AMP Robotics Corp. US-based AI robotics company applying computer vision and machine learning to material recovery facilities globally. Comparable to KORN's AI+X-ray approach in automating sorting, though focused on sorting lines rather than Li-ion battery detection specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=TvGtzkjQ41M
• Facebookfacebook.com/KornRecycling
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/korn-recycling-gmbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Korn Recycling GmbH