Global climate change, with all of its consequences, has cast massive doubts over the continuing use of fossil fuels at the current pace. As an initial international political response to this challenge, the Kyoto Protocol (agreed in 1997) set binding targets under international law for industrial economies' emissions of greenhouse gases. Not only that, sharp increases in energy prices have also helped to raise awareness and change behaviour.

After all, it will not be possible to offset the rise in global energy demand from the limited supply of fossil fuels on a permanent basis.

In recent years, the generation of energy and electricity from waste has been recognised as a significant contribution towards solving both of the main future challenges. It helps to reduce the use of fossil fuels, while at the same time generating environmentally-friendly energy. On average, municipal waste has a biogenic share of around 50 percent. This means that significantly less "fossil" CO₂ is released when it is used than is the case for coal, oil or gas.

Legislators have also recognised the need for innovative waste management. This has led to the development of a waste hierarchy that sets clear priorities:

• 1. avoidance
• 2. reuse
• 3. recycling
• 4. other use, e.g. to extract energy
• 5. disposal

Waste components unsuitable for reuse or recycling can be used as fuels. This represents a key cornerstone of any modern, resource-efficient closed loop recycling management system. Our technology takes exemplary account of this new approach to energy and environmental policy. The competence and experience we have gained with energy from waste plants and cogeneration over the last 50 years means that we are now one of the technology leaders in this field in Germany.

Today, we already make a major contribution towards the sustainable management of resources and a climate-friendly energy supply by exploiting the energy potential harboured by waste. Our strategic aim is to further develop this resource-efficient closed recycling management system and to align it even more closely with the challenges facing the energy industry. In future, we also aim to establish ourselves in the international market.

The generation of energy from waste forms the basis for our company’s activities and takes particular account of the needs of future generations. Waste management, the need to make efficient use of resources, environmental protection and energy generation are no contradiction in this respect, but are rather combined to the benefit of all.

This is the idea underlying our vision and clear position in the market – next-generation disposal.