With a view of the port: Bauer Umwelt opens new soil treatment center in Duisburg

Duisburg, Germany – Right in the middle of Duisburg port, where there are lines of wide warehouses and cranes as high as houses loading ships, BAUER Resources GmbH and logistics service provider Rhenus have opened a soil treatment center together. This allows the certified state approved treatment expert to increase its capacity for professional disposal of mineral waste and also moves operations closer to its clients in western Germany.

Before the soil treatment center could be put into operation, the former piece goods storage area was refurbished in accordance with the latest codes and state of the art technology. Now, the site has a completely updated look and is able to treat around 85,000 t of non-hazardous and hazardous mineral waste per year. The experts take care of all issues that arise, from simple disposal advice and transport to mechanical processing and subsequent utilization, including appropriate documentation. Protected from the weather, around 8,000 t of material can be stored and treated in the 3,000 m² hall.

A special detail of the hall is the sliding roof on the port basin side. It enables direct transshipment from the hall to a ship or train. "This trimodal connection, in other words access with truck, train and also ship via the port, reduces transport costs and contributes to a reduction in transport-associated CO₂ emissions," explains Manuela Evers, Head of Disposal Region West from the Bauer Umwelt Division at BAUER Resources GmbH. Connection via train and ship also significantly reduces the number of truck transports. This means a reduction in road traffic, which benefits the local population..

Not only the functionality of the hall meets the highest standards, but also the safety precautions. "The waste storage area is completely enclosed to protect the surrounding area and the adjacent Rhine River. In addition to this, the steel elements of the hall walls were firmly welded into the base so that substance leakage is completely prevented," emphasizes Benjamin Steden, Manager of the soil treatment center from the Bauer Umwelt Division at BAUER Resources GmbH. Plus: Special mist cannons are used to bind the dust during waste handling and mechanical processes such as screening or crushing. This allows the production of specific grain sizes for reuse in the economic cycle, but also allows polluted fine particles to be sieved out. This not only conserves resources but also reduces strain on limited landfill space. "Disposal safety as well as protection of the environment and resources are both very important to us," summarizes Manuela Evers.