{{Short description|French waste management company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Veolia Environmental Services | logo = Veolia-environmental-services-logo.svg | type = Division | traded_as = | foundation = | location = Paris, France | key_people = Denis Gasquet, CEO of Veolia Environmental Services and Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Veolia Environnement | services = | industry = Management and treatment of waste | parent = Veolia Environment | revenue = €9.02 billion – 2009 | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | num_employees = 77,864 (31 December 2009) | homepage = | intl = }}
'''Veolia Environmental Services''' (in French '''Veolia Propreté'''), formerly '''Onyx Environnement''', is a division of Veolia Environnement. It employs nearly 78,000 staff, has operations in 35 countries around the world, and generated revenues of nearly €9.02 billion in 2009.<ref name="veolia-proprete">{{Cite web |title=Veolia |url=http://www.veolia-environmentalservices.com/veolia/ressources/files/1/1203,VEOLIA-PROPRETE-GB.pdf |access-date=2015-09-21 |publisher=Veolia-environmentalservices.com}}</ref>
It specialises in the management, treatment and disposal of waste, as well as the recycling, reclamation and re-use of waste products. Veolia Environmental Services manages solid and liquid waste, as well as hazardous and non-hazardous waste materials.
==History== The businesses predecessor, the Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE) was created by imperial decree in 1853<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2020 |title=Suez et Veolia, une longue histoire d'eau et de rivalité |url=https://www.linfodurable.fr/suez-et-veolia-une-longue-histoire-deau-et-de-rivalite-20036 |website=linfodurable.fr with AFP}}</ref> and in 1953 they began to collect household waste. SARP Industry was founded in 1975 to treat hazardous waste.
CGE took full control of the Compagnie Générale de Chauffe (CGC) in 1980, a company that they had operated incineration plants with since 1967. In addition, CGE also assumed control of the Compagnie Générale d'Entreprises Automobiles (CGEA), a business active in household waste management and in urban transportation.
CGE opened its first waste drop-off centres in 1986. Three years later, it created the Onyx Environnement brand, which unified all of CGEA's waste management activities.<ref name="history1950">{{Cite web |title=The history of Veolia : 1950 - 2000 |url=https://www.veolia.com/en/veolia-group/profile/history/1950-2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129081710/https://www.veolia.com/en/veolia-group/profile/history/1950-2000 |archive-date=29 January 2018 |access-date=29 January 2018 |publisher=Veolia}}</ref>
In 1998, the parent company CGE was renamed to Vivendi.<ref name="history1950" /> The following year Vivendi Environnement consolidated the environmental activities of Vivendi. Vivendi Environnement was divested by Vivendi between 2000 and 2002.<ref name="history2000">{{Cite web |title=The history of Veolia : 2000 - 2010 |url=https://www.veolia.com/en/veolia-group/profile/history/2000-2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129080552/https://www.veolia.com/en/veolia-group/profile/history/2000-2010 |archive-date=29 January 2018 |access-date=29 January 2018 |publisher=Veolia}}</ref> Vivendi Environnement became Veolia Environnement in 2003,<ref name="history2000" /> and two years later Onyx became Veolia Environmental Services.<ref name="history2000" />
In 2006, the Italian utility Enel, alongside Veolia, launched a takeover bid for Suez. Opposed to the entry of a foreign group, the French government orchestrated a merger between Suez and the state-owned operator Gaz de France, resulting in the creation of GDF Suez.<ref name=":0" />
In 2009, the company collected 42.7 million tonnes of waste, treated 62.5 million tonnes, and recycled 12.7 million tonnes.<ref name=veolia-proprete/> Veolia sold its US solid waste business to Advanced Disposal in 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.waste360.com/waste-collection-transfer/advanced-disposal-closes-purchase-of-veolia | title=Advanced Disposal Closes Purchase of Veolia }}</ref>
In 2015, Veolia North America was paid $40,000 to produce a report on Flint, Michigan's water supply. Veolia Vice President Rob Nicholas stated that the water was safe to drink and met state and federal standards.<ref name="veolia-report-mlive">{{Cite web |date=2015-02-20 |title=See initial water quality report from Flint consultant Veolia North America |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/02/see_initial_water_quality_repo.html |publisher=Milve.com}}</ref> The report received additional scrutiny in 2016 after a state of emergency was declared over toxic levels of chemicals detected in Flint's water supply. A Veolia spokesperson asserted that testing for lead and copper levels was beyond the scope of their work.<ref name="freep-report">{{Cite web |date=2016-01-21 |title=2015 report urged corrosion control |url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/01/21/flint-red-flag-2015-report-urged-corrosion-control/79119240/ |publisher=Detroit Free Press}}</ref>
=== Boycotts === Veolia has been the target of boycotts and divestment campaigns, primarily by pro-Palestinian groups. In 2013, a "Dump Veolia" campaign organized by the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee succeeded in halting approval of a multi-million dollar contract with Veolia. The pro-Palestinian group opposed contracting with Veolia on three primary human rights grounds. They allege that: *Veolia Environmental Services-Israel, a subsidiary, manages the Tovla landfill in the Jordan Valley. *The subsidiary Connex-Israel "confiscated land with portions closed entirely to Palestinians". *Veolia Transport's development of the Jerusalem Light Rail system.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Anne |date=25 January 2013 |title='Dump Veolia' Water Debacle in St. Louis Is Latest in BDS Battle |work=The Forward |url=https://forward.com/news/breaking-news/169918/dump-veolia-water-debacle-in-st-louis-is-latest-in/}}</ref>
In 2012, Veolia withdrew from a £4.7 Billion contract in north London, under pressure from a 2-year campaign by the No to Veolia Action Group (No2VAG). In addition to the objections of the "Dump Veolia" campaign, No2VAG also highlighted what it described as racist literature in Veolia's advertisements for drivers, which required completion of military service and a "mother tongue" of Hebrew.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Malaka |first=Mohammed |date=23 December 2012 |title=Veolia withdraws bid for North London waste contract under boycott pressure |work=Mondoweiss |url=https://mondoweiss.net/2012/12/withdraws-contract-pressure/}}</ref>
Several university organizations have supported anti-Veolia protests and boycotts, including at Oberlin College and at the University of Sheffield. In 2013, the Sheffield Palestinian Solidarity Group succeeded in petitioning the university to end their waste management contract with Veolia.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oberlin Students for a Free Palestine |date=12 April 2013 |title=Call For Divestment in Support of Palestine |work=The Oberlin Review |url=https://oberlinreview.org/2133/opinions/call-for-divestment-in-support-of-palestine/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mohammed |first=Malaka |date=3 May 2013 |title=Down with Veolia: The University of Sheffield Palestine Society celebrates university's decision to drop Veolia |work=Mondoweiss |url=https://mondoweiss.net/2013/05/university-sheffield-palestine/}}</ref>
==Activities== Veolia Environmental Services collects, recycles and treats waste. Its activities cover liquid waste, solid waste, hazardous or non-hazardous waste, and refuse collected from household and industrial sources.<ref name="veolia-proprete" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2011-08-02 |title=Veolia Environmental Services |url=https://energy-oil-gas.com/news/veolia-environmental-services/ |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=Energy, Oil & Gas magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref>
===Company services=== For private companies, its services include: * Management and exploitation of waste, including collection and treatment of hazardous waste * Operation and maintenance of chemical, petrochemical, metallurgical and automotive plants and equipment, including high-pressure cleaning services and cryogenics
In 2009, Veolia Environmental Services had 819,000 business customers in the world.<ref name="veolia-environmentalservices.com">{{Cite web |title=Veolia |url=http://www.veolia-environmentalservices.com/about/key-figures/ |access-date=2015-09-21 |publisher=Veolia-environmentalservices.com}}</ref>
===Public authority services=== For local authorities and boroughs Veolia Environmental Services collects and sorts waste, transports it to treatment subsidiaries and plants, and operates landfill sites.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veolia |url=http://www.veolia-environmentalservices.com/veolia/ressources/documents/2/1124,2417,Services_references-1.pdf |access-date=2015-09-21 |publisher=Veolia-environmentalservices.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-23 |title=FOI - Contracts with Veolia [OCT 2024] {{!}} London City Hall |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/governance-and-spending/sharing-our-information/foi-disclosure-log/foi-contracts-veolia-oct-2024 |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=www.london.gov.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref>
Nottinghamshire County Council planned to appoint Veolia Environmental Services to operate a waste incinerator at Rainworth, Nottinghamshire, in 2006, but local opposition resulted in planning permission being declined in 2011.<ref>Wikipedia Foundation, Rainworth, accessed 21 March 2023</ref> In connection with this local opposition, a request for information about Nottinghamshire's "public finance initiative" (PFI) contracts with Veolia Environmental Services resulted in an investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office and an order that the County Council must release certain information in compliance with the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.<ref>Information Commissioner's Office, [https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKICO/2010/FS50206320.pdf Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Section 50) Environmental Information Regulations: Decision Notice], dated 30 June 2010, reference FER0206320, accessed 21 March 2023</ref> Veolia had requested the documents be kept confidential in accordance with the relevant provisions in the regulations.<ref>England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court), [https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2009/2382.html Veolia ES Nottinghamshire Ltd v Nottinghamshire County Council & Ors], EWHC 2382 (Admin), Paragraph 1, 1 October 2009, accessed 5 June 2023</ref>
Examples of contracts involving Veolia Environmental Services in 2010: * A 6-year contract to recover energy from compost and recyclable materials from household waste in the Angers region of France. The contract was awarded by the Angers Loire metropolitan area, and is worth over €45 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veolia |url=http://www.veolia-environmentalservices.com/media/press-release/2010-05-04,biopole-center.htm |access-date=2015-09-21 |publisher=Veolia-environmentalservices.com}}</ref> * The Hong Kong Government contracted Veolia Environnement to design, build and operate a sludge treatment plant. Veolia Environmental Services will operate the facility jointly with Veolia Water. The contract is worth €20 million per year, and the site is designed to produce 20 MW of electricity through energy recovery techniques.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Press Releases |url=http://www.veolia.com/en/medias/press-releases/hong-kong.htm |access-date=2015-09-21 |publisher=Veolia}}</ref> * VES has a long-term contract in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, in partnership with the local council, operating an energy recovery facility.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Tom |date=2020-09-14 |title=Veolia Environmental Services Limited |url=https://ukdea.org.uk/veolia-environmental-services-limited/ |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=UKDEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>
===Sorting and recycling=== Veolia Environmental Services operates 352 centres for sorting and recycling.<ref name="veolia-environmentalservices.com" /> It treats and recycles waste to produce raw materials for industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kühlers |first=Ann |date=2025-07-10 |title=Veolia to build £70m PET recycling facility in Shropshire |url=https://www.euwid-recycling.com/news/business/veolia-to-build-pound70m-pet-recycling-facility-in-the-uk-100725/ |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=www.euwid-recycling.com |language=english}}</ref> This includes collecting paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, wood, metal and waste electrical and electronic items.
===Treatment and recovery of waste=== A number of Veolia Environmental Services are based on specific treatment and waste recovery techniques and technologies.
* Treatment of hazardous waste: incineration of organic liquid waste, recycling of solvents etc. * Storage and energy exploitation of non-hazardous waste. In 2008, Veolia Environmental Services launched a pilot facility for the production of biofuels from biogas emitted by non-hazardous waste stored at Claye-Souilly near Paris, France. The pilot has been fully operational since September 2009, and produces enough biomethane to power Veolia Environnement's fleet of vehicles serving the Claye-Souilly site, resulting in a net savings of 882 metric tons of CO<sub>2</sub> per year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Press Releases |url=http://www.veolia.com/en/medias/press-releases/biomethane-fuel-non-hazardous-waste-landfill-biogas.htm |access-date=2015-09-21 |publisher=Veolia}}</ref> * Treatment of urban and industrial sewage and its re-use in agriculture. * Incineration and energy exploitation of non-hazardous solids for urban heating networks.
In 2009, Veolia sold: * €5.1 million MWh of electricity * 3.2 million MWh of thermal energy<ref name="veolia-environmentalservices.com" />
===Hazardous waste treatment=== Veolia Environmental Services operates facilities for the treatment of hazardous waste materials.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-06-26 |title=Veolia Expands U.S. Hazardous Waste Treatment Leadership Through Strategic Acquisitions and Organic Growth |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250626770891/en/Veolia-Expands-U.S.-Hazardous-Waste-Treatment-Leadership-Through-Strategic-Acquisitions-and-Organic-Growth |access-date=2026-04-02 |work=Business Wire}}</ref> These include toxic liquid wastes, battery acids and fluids, solvents and metals. It has 71 physical-chemical hazardous waste treatment facilities.<ref name="veolia-environmentalservices.com" /> As part of its hazardous waste treatment activities, Veolia Environmental Services was contracted by the Ukrainian Environment Ministry to safely dispose of 1,000 tonnes of pesticide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veolia |url=http://www.veolia-environmentalservices.com/news-media/focus/pesticides-ukraine.htm |access-date=2015-09-21 |publisher=Veolia-environmentalservices.com}}</ref>
==Veolia Environmental Services worldwide== Veolia Environmental Services is located in 32 countries around the world:<ref name="veolia-environmentalservices.com" />
* Europe (77% of revenues): France, UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia. * North America (14% of revenues) and South America : United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico * Africa, Middle East, South America (2% of revenues): Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Qatar, UAE, Mexico, * Asia-Pacific (7% of revenues): China, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veolia |url=http://www.veolia-environmentalservices.com/veolia/ressources/files/1/1480,Brochure-corp-VP_GB.pdf |access-date=2015-09-21 |publisher=Veolia-environmentalservices.com}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.veoliaenvironmentalservices.co.uk Official Veolia Environmental Services website ] * [http://www.veolia.com/ Veolia website] — ''parent corporation''. * [http://www.sustainable-development.veolia.com/en/ Veolia — sustainable development website] * [http://www.fondation.veolia.com/en/ Veolia Environnement Foundation website]
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Category:Veolia Category:Waste management companies of France Category:Multinational companies headquartered in France Category:French companies established in 2005 Category:Waste management companies of the United States