REKO investing EUR 125 million in the Rotterdam port area

REKO, short for Recycling Kombinatie REKO B.V., has started construction on a new thermal treatment plant that will process an annual total of 1.2 million tonnes of residual mineral waste – a mix of tar asphalt granulates and roofpaper  – into clean sand, gravel, electricity and heat. The project, which will be realised in Rotterdam’s port area, involves a total investment of EUR 125 million, and the plant is expected to be taken into operation in mid-2020.

In the first decade of the 21st century, REKO, working in partnership with renown suppliers of process engineering equipment, developed an innovative process that focuses on the thermal treatment of this mineral waste. This in-house development resulted in the construction of the first thermal treatment plant, which REKO put into operation in 2006. Since then, this system has processed some 600,000 tonnes of mineral residues per year. Over the past 12 years, the facility has produced 7.2 million tonnes of clean sand and gravel for the Dutch building industry.

The new thermal treatment plant will be considerably more efficient since it can utilise the latest developments in technology. In addition, REKO will be taking advantage of 12 years of experience in the field of thermal treatment. For example, the new system’s power requirement is not only substantially lower than its predecessor – it will also generate a considerably higher amount of energy. The system will generate electric power for no fewer than 50,000 households. What’s more: the system will not only be made suitable for supplying power, but also heat for district heating.

REKO’s processing technology is a prime example of the circular economy, in which 100% of residues are converted into new raw materials, thus closing the supply chain. After completing the new plant, REKO will have the largest processing capacity in the world for the complete recycling of this category of contaminated construction materials.

David Heijkoop, REKO’s Director: “Thanks to the size of our facility, combined with the large-scale recovery of energy, we are able to limit the costs for our clients. Together with REKO’s extremely favourable location in Rotterdam’s port area – we can ship in tar asphalt by water – we enjoy an excellent competitive edge compared to other European facilities.”

www.portofrotterdam.com; www.rekobv.eu