Responsibility – GMH Gruppe

Sustainability for the future

Learn more here about our quality and environmental targets and our aims in the fields of plant safety, occupational health and safety, and data protection.

Certified safety and reliability

Our certifications give employees, customers and the public the certainty that we meet our responsibilities to the full – from employee safety, via environmental protection, up to our guarantee of maximum quality. Our integrated management system is orientated around the following standards and criteria:

  • DIN EN ISO 9001 (Quality)
  • DIN EN ISO 14001 (Environment)
  • ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety)
  • Specialist Disposal Organisation (SDO)
  • DIN EN 16247, Part 1 (Energy audit in acc. with the Energy Services Act)

In order to also maintain our high standards above and beyond this in the future, we are investing, for example, in environmentally low-impact processes and assure safe preparation by adhering to all safety provisions, backed up with comprehensive checks.

Waste

The Circular Economy Act obliges all organisations to avoid and/or reduce the production of waste. GMH Recycling GmbH is continuously further developing its preparation facilities in order to comply with the legal requirements and to go beyond them wherever possible.

Wastewater

Any hydrocarbons – oils and fuels, for instance – washed from the scrap by precipitation water are removed from this wastewater in separator systems. The wastewater thus cleansed can then be discharged into the main drain. Dewatering of cutting swarf surfaces is performed using emulsion separator systems. The cleansed wastewater is then discharged into the municipal sewer. All facilities and the appurtenant drain/sewer conduits are inspected for tightness at regular intervals. In addition to this, we have the wastewater analysed by an independent test laboratory at regular intervals.

Hazardous substances

Wherever possible, we choose alternative substances in order to reduce the pollutant potential of the hazardous substances used. All hazardous substances used at GMH are entered into a data-base, corresponding safety datasheets exist, and our employees are trained in the handling and use of these substances.

Radioactivity

The metals-recycling industry has undertaken to exclude from the economic and production cycle all scrap and all goods which exhibit levels of radioactivity above the metal's natural radiation. For this reason, all scrap received at our various locations is inspected for radiological safety both upon receipt and before shipment. A clearly defined procedure is implemented in case of a radioactivity alarm, in order to exclude any danger for humans and the environment.

Scrap and swarf storage

Where necessary, scrap is stored on surfaces prepared in accordance with the Water Management Act. This precaution excludes any fouling of the soil and/or the groundwater by contaminants adhering to the scrap. Turning swarf and grinding sludges in some cases contain water-polluting cutting oils and drill cooling-lubricant emulsions. For this reason, such materials are stored – in accordance with the Water Management Act – on lined and sealed steel-covered surfaces which drain into emulsion separators. Construction of these storage surfaces is supervised by sworn expert inspectors.