Averda acquires Solid Waste Technologies

Global waste-management group Averda has further invested in the South African market with the acquisition of Solid Waste Technologies (SWT), a healthcare medical-waste company with more than 20 years of experience.

The acquisition of SWT alongside SharpMed (which was acquired in 2016), bolsters Averda’s position as one of the largest and most comprehensive end-to-end medical-waste-management businesses in South Africa.  

Johan van den Berg, MD at Averda South Africa, says SWT will form an integral part of Averda’s waste management operations to offer a complete turnkey solution in healthcare waste-management.

“As part of a global group, Averda South Africa is aligned with world-class standards and systems that bring a differentiated service to the market based on credibility, compliance, reporting and sustainability,” says Van den Berg.

“We’ve recently invested R250-million in the construction of a state-of-the-art hazardous-waste landfill site in Vlakfontein – which will support our integrated operations through our strategic acquisitions of SWT and SharpMed.”

Eugene Barnard, healthcare head at Averda, says South Africa is on par with global standards for operating and designing hazardous landfills, medical waste treatment facilities, and in meeting regulatory requirements and compliance.

“This acquisition boosts our footprint in the medical-waste sector and will deliver a consistent and reliable service, with world-class management systems and procedures, the latest waste-tracking technology, and state-of-the-art medical and hazardous waste technology with disposal facilities,” says Barnard.

“We employ the best people where we operate, and we draw on global expertise to enable skills transfer.  We operate state-of-the-art vehicles and utilise leading software, processes and systems. The successful delivery of a service and operation is paramount to Averda.”

Averda is the country’s first multinational waste-management company, with dedicated engineering and design departments headquartered in London to oversee its high standards, delivery, longevity and credibility wherever it operates.