MemRe to Cease Services for Reverse Osmosis Membrane Disposal
MemRe, a leading provider of professional disposal and material recovery services for reverse osmosis membranes, announces that it will no longer accept new customers or orders starting from the 2025 business year. This decision is based on ethical considerations aligned with the company’s corporate philosophy and reflects the latest developments in desalination technology.
Background to the Decision:
For the past 15 years, MemRe has been closely monitoring the global market for reverse osmosis. The company has successfully increased material recovery from reverse osmosis membranes to an impressive 85%.
Reasons for the Suspension of Services:
Systemic challenges posed by reverse osmosis membranes cannot be resolved through disposal services alone. Millions of winding modules are introduced to the market annually without adequate disposal concepts. The maximum recovery rate of less than 85% and the discharge of wastewater containing operational chemicals are significant issues.
The impacts of microplastics and added chemicals are yet to be fully assessed.
MemRe regrets that, due to this decision, it will not be able to provide further information or services to existing or potential customers. However, the company remains committed to sustainable and forward-thinking solutions in water treatment.
MemRe provided a certified and professional way to dispose and recycle water treatment reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes at the end of lifetime. This not only in Germany underestimated issue led to the refuse of acceptance of water and sewage management membranes by noted recycling companies.
In 2015, spiral wound Reverse Osmosis Membranes showed a production volume of approx. 1.5 Mio. pcs. and 65% of it were used to refurbish operating plants. This corresponded to an amount of more than 100.000 tons of waste with loads natriumchlorid, sludges and in some cases up to radio nuclides descended out of this product use. And still not considered was the volume of Nano and Ultra Filtration membranes which also showed a growth in a two-digit percentage.
Our performance began with the registration of membranes in operation in a manufacturer independent database. In the event of a membrane exchange, the data was updated resp. carried on. This was the same for any other data or information of the specific plant. Due to possible cooperation with any membrane manufacturer, the data could also be transferred directly and recalled at any time.
MemRe supported the operators exchange of membrane in any regards already in a planning stage and guaranteed a correct, professional and certified disposal. The same was for the form of transportation and labeling. In case of over sea shipment, we planned the complete transportation according to international regulations from the pick-up on site until the final destination.
We also provided special services for radioactive contaminated membranes if needed.
If an autopsy of a membrane was necessary, the owner of the membrane learned more about the contents in and on the membranes reported in an analytic report.
The certificate of disposal performed by us to its customers confirmed conclusively the process and completed the documentation requirements of customers and e.g. regulators, official or governmental authorities or the board of control.
All data for the identification of the individual disposed modules, including comparisons with the manufacturer data such as the name and the batch number were recorded for customers and auditable archiving.
If required, even after many years, a log could be created at any time throughout the disposal process. MemRe provided an online and offline process for request that could be sent easily and provided an offer covering the complete performance.
