Herwart Wilms, the new president of the European Waste Management Association (FEAD), has called for fair and open market conditions to safeguard the competitiveness of private waste management companies in Europe. Pointing to growing market distortions, the managing director of German market leader Remondis Service International warned of a gradual weakening of the industry and sees a clear need for political action at European Union level.
Mr Wilms took up his mandate as FEAD president at the beginning of the year, having been elected to the post at the end of 2024. He succeeds Claudia Mensi, who led the association over the past three years.
In his first statements as president, Mr Wilms underlined that private waste management companies "deliver innovation, industrial excellence, and long-term investment". But these strengths are increasingly at risk, "undermined not only by distortions between public and private operators within Europe, but also by growing pressure from third-country competitors operating under different environmental and social standards".
In Mr Wilms’s view, the European Union must place far stronger emphasis on safeguarding fair competition in order to secure the role of private companies within the circular economy. "If Europe is serious about its circular economy goals, we must create a level playing field that rewards sustainability and ensures that recycled materials coming from within the EU are given priority. Boosting demand for EU-made recyclates is essential to safeguard our industry, drive investment, and strengthen Europe’s resource independence."
Mr Wilms sees FEAD as a central platform for pooling the interests of private waste management companies. “FEAD is unique in Europe,” he said. The association represents the entire private waste management industry, covering all treatment activities and all material streams, and pursues a common goal, "pushing Europe towards a more circular use of resources".
FEAD now represents 21 national waste management associations and more than 3,000 private waste management companies. Most recently, the Romanian waste management association ARSMD (Asociația Română a Serviciilor de Management al Deșeurilor) joined the European umbrella organisation.
According to FEAD, Mr Wilms spent the past year engaging with the organisation's national association members across Europe to learn about their challenges and prepare to represent them effectively at EU level. The aim is to "build a stronger, more united voice for the private waste management sector", the organisation said.
