In 1934, Josef Rethmann took over a small haulage company in Selm, Germany, comprised of 4 horses and 5 wagons. The first waste disposal contract was signed with the town of Selm in 1959 for "dust-free refuse collection" and the first waste collection vehicle was purchased.

Forty years later the company had grown into a multi-national enterprise with diverse operations throughout Europe, in Asia and Australia. The three main areas of business are waste recycling and disposal (REMONDIS Pty Ltd), biological and abattoir waste rendering (SARIA Bio-industries) and logistics (RHENUS Logistik). In 2002 they had a world-wide revenue of approx. AUS $3 billion, with approx. 14,000 employees.

REMONDIS, previously named RETHMANN, commenced operations in Australia in October 1982 for Penrith City Council where it implemented one of the first new Mobile Garbage Bin Collection Services in Australia.

Since then, REMONDIS has developed its industrial customer base, competing across all sections of industry, from small business operations to major Australian and multi-national organisations. REMONDIS services extend to large regional shopping centres, international hotels, construction companies, major industrial enterprises and thousands of small and middle-sized businesses.

Based on know-how new to Australia, in 2001 REMONDIS took into operation its first fully enclosed bio-waste composting and residential waste pre-treatment facility in Port Macquarie, NSW.

REMONDIS has and will continue to strive to build and maintain a quality relationship with its customers, meeting their needs and requirements, whilst satisfying the regulatory waste management obligations and do the best for the environment. This means REMONDIS is focused completely on sustainable resource management, environmental protection, recycling and sensible reuse of all waste types.