Our Story

2019

A New Name: Convertus

Soon after being acquired by Convent Capital, Renewi Canada (formerly Orgaworld Canada) and WTT merge to form Convertus. Together our history has been a story of opportunity and resiliency – one where we’ve adapted time-and-time-again through technological change and customer demand. Convertus will continue to strengthen our business to help our customers meet their sustainability goals and protect the environment.

2018

Expanding Operations

Building on our global presence, our group opened offices in China, Australia and Canada, completing their first projects in these regions.

Driven by the needs of the market and our expertise, this was also the year our group acquired their first composting facility in Canada in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

During this time, WTT and Renewi (formerly Orgaworld Canada) continued to build their relationship through the retrofitting of the Ottawa facility and upgrading the facility’s odour abatement and capacity.

2017

A Year of Change

Shanks Group, Orgaworld’s parent Company merged with Van Gansewinkel Group to become Renewi plc. Shortly thereafter, Orgaworld Canada re-branded as Renewi Canada.

Later that year, WTT and Renewi Canada (previously Orgaworld Canada) worked together to finalize construction North America’s First closed-loop organic waste facility in Surrey, British Columbia. A milestone for the waste industry and working towards a sustainable future for all.

2014

Building for the Future

Here is where our stories collide — Orgaworld and WTT worked together for the first time on a Canadian Public Private Partnership (P3) project for the City of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada to Design, Build and Operate (DBO) an organic waste facility. After months of collaboration and hard work, the teams were awarded the contract in 2015.

2013

Old Traditions, New Opportunities

Convent Capital, a long-term Dutch investor that focuses on buying and improving sustainable businesses, acquired WTT strengthening their position in the industry. Over the next few years, they worked together to refocus their strategy on services, operational excellence and project sales.

2011

New Technologies

WTT secured a major contract for a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) facility in downtown London, England.

2010

Canada’s Capital

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada became the second Canadian composting facility for Orgaworld designed for Canada’s Capital.

2008

Canada

Orgaworld’s first Canadian facility became operational in London, Ontario.

2007

New Ideas and Directions

The development of anaerobic digestion opened a realm of possibilities for WTT. During this time, WTT closed various large contracts as a turnkey supplier of aerobic and anaerobic technologies.

This was also the year that Orgaworld was acquired by Shanks Group. With over 100 locations worldwide and 75 years’ experience, they were amongst the top-level players worldwide in organic waste recycling.

2005

Crossing the Pond

As a market leader in waste technology, Orgaworld was established in Canada to execute a 10-year contract for a source-separated organics composting facility located in London, Ontario. The facility took two years to complete construction and become fully operational.

2004

Growing and Facing Challenges

Shortly after Horstmann GmbH filed for bankruptcy, WTT became independent through a management buyout. The years that followed gave WTT exciting opportunities to demonstrate the quality of its services in the field of waste management.

A little ways down the road, Orgaworld began construction on a bio-stabilization plant in Nijmegen, Netherlands and an anaerobic digestion plant in Groningen, Netherlands a year later.

2001

Expansion and Innovation

The turn of the millennium signaled a period of rapid expansion for Orgaworld, as they acquired three plants in Europe, including two tunnel composting facilities and one wet anaerobic digestion facility.

1999

A Strategic Partnership

Reflecting on the strength and future of their business WTT operated as a subcontractor in the area of process engineering for Horstmann GmbH projects in the waste industry, eventually taking over as the contractor of choice for Horstmann GmbH projects.

1996

Beginnings

Our history begins in 1996 where our founders, together with Horstmann GmbH and NON B.V. shared one simple goal: to design, construct, build and maintain waste recovery and recycling projects around the world. Right from the start Waste Treatment Technologies (WTT) was characterized by innovative designs and functionality.

Meanwhile, Orgaworld (a Dutch waste processing company) was born with the construction of an anaerobic digestion plant BIOCEL in Lelystad.