Reworld releases 2024 sustainability report

Morristown, New Jersey-based waste management company Reworld—formerly known as Covanta—has released its 2024 sustainability report, which has integrated the sustainability achievements of eight strategically acquired companies for the first time.

Reworld says its report reflects the company’s journey towards transforming waste into valuable resources through innovative technologies and offerings, and five focused service lines comprise this transformation: Redirect360 (zero waste-to-landfill solutions); ReKiln Fuels (engineered solutions; ReDrop (wastewater treatment); ReMove (waste logistics); and ReCredit (sustainable carbon offsets).

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“At Reworld, sustainability isn’t merely a goal—it’s our central focus, and our latest report underscores this principle with the remarkable progress we’ve achieved as a company,” Chief Sustainability Officer Tequila Smith says. “Over the last two years, we have significantly grown our industry footprint and invested in technologies that deliver smart, sustainable solutions, transforming waste into economic, environmental and social values for our customers, communities and society.”

In the report, the company, which has seen a 50 percent customer base growth in less than two years, lists highlights including:

• achieving an 81 percent increase in material recycled and/or reused compared to 2021;
• a 97 percent landfill diversion rate, annually;
• the sustainable management of 20 million tons of material in 2023; and
• more than doubling the amount of wastewater treated over 2023

Additionally, the company reports its thermomechanical treatment facilities, which perform its waste-to-energy services, divert 19 million tons of material from landfills yearly. The facilities, which deliver 41 million metric tons of life cycle greenhouse gas savings yearly, outperform wind and solar by a factor of 10 in its ability to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, Reworld says.

The sustainability report also emphasizes the company’s commitment to community and workforce:

• Reworld employees are engaged in their local communities, having completed more than 12,000 service hours, 100 community cleanup events and 300 facility tours.
• Since 202, the Reworld workforce has grown in size (17 percent increase) and geographical footprint, including a 43 percent increase in female employees and a focus on local community engagement, diversity and veteran hiring.
• Reworld says it has achieved a 71 percent better safety performance than the waste industry average.

The report also lists the company’s finance-linked sustainability goals for 2025, including recycling and reusing 25 percent more material relative to an adjusted 2020 baseline.