Cederbaum Container GmbH

Cederbaum has been a constant in the waste disposal industry for over 110 years. We will find optimized solutions and efficient disposal concepts for you.

Philosophy

We dispose of with responsibility

Punctual and reliable

As a raw material trader, waste disposal company and service provider, people and the environment are important to us. We offer sustainable disposal concepts and are committed to the responsible use of resources.

Waste is a valuable raw material and resource that needs to be recycled in an ecologically and economically sensible way. Cederbaum has been active in raw materials trading for 116 years and has a wealth of experience in material flow cycles, which we have brought to our disposal, storage and recycling of valuable materials.

As a service provider, we focus on the customer. Good contact and extensive on-site support are very important to us. Personal contacts work out individual solutions. We have also set up a separate service area for our customers on our website.

We know and meet the high requirements for flexible and needs-based disposal concepts for different industries. A punctual and reliable service is a matter of course for us.

Cederbaum places the highest demands on resource-saving and efficient processes. That is why we use the most modern production and work equipment. The combination with our committed team of experienced experts forms the foundation for competent individual disposal concepts as well as satisfied customers and employees.  

Waste is both a raw material and a valuable material. This knowledge has determined the work of our traditional Braunschweig company Cederbaum since 1904.

History

Working for you for over 110 years
Competence with long experience

As a traditional company for raw materials trading and disposal concepts, we offer reliable service.

1904 - 1947: The beginnings

Eduard Lotzkat opened his 'raw product wholesaling' in 1904 at the current location of Cederbaum Container GmbH in Braunschweig-Lehndorf. At that time, trading goods already included metals and waste paper, which he processed for the steadily growing industry.

After more than 20 years, Eduard Lotzkat handed over the management of his “raw products trade” to his son-in-law Otto Köhling, who maneuvered the company through the war years. Köhling managed the company until 1947 before leasing it and then selling it to Salomon Cederbaum.

1947 - 1967: Economic boom years (1)

Salomon Cederbaum gave the company its name and ran it together with his son Lorenz.
In the years of the post-war period and the economic miracle, the company grew and steadily achieved new successes. After Salomon's death in 1959, Lorenz Cederbaum brought a new partner on board: Heinz Niemann, who took over the waste paper trade.

1947 - 1967: Economic boom years (2)

In addition, he integrated his scrap trading company, which was founded in the 1950s, into the operation of Salomon Cederbaum.

Together, the three partners succeeded in expanding the waste paper, scrap and metal trade beyond the borders of Braunschweig. They bought scrap and metals in northern Germany via drop shipments and sold them to steelworks and smelting works in western and southern Germany as well as Italy. Paper mills from all over Germany were also among their customers in the waste paper trade.

1967 - mid-1980s: management changes and upheavals

Lorenz Cederbaum left his father's company in 1967 in search of new challenges. After Heinz Niemann's death in 1975, Karl-Heinz Backmeyer from the sister company of the same name in Kassel joined Friedrich Karl Fegert and took over the management of Cederbaum's waste paper trade.

A little later, the scrap iron division moved to the Braunschweig port area, where it developed into a modern scrap processing company.

Late 1980s: groundbreaking realignment (1)

By the end of the 1980s, Friedrich Karl Fegert gradually acquired all of the company's shares and from then on led Cederbaum as sole owner.

In 1986, a new waste law was published that laid down fundamental changes in the handling of waste and is considered the basis of modern waste management.

Late 1980s: groundbreaking realignment (2)

As early as 1987, Fegert acquired Möhle Containerdienst, which later changed its name to what is now Cederbaum Container GmbH.

Shortly afterwards, Cederbaum achieved another important milestone in cooperation with the city of Braunschweig. The nationwide installation of 200 waste paper collection containers in the city area turned out to be a trend-setting decision and ensured a long-term partnership between the city of Braunschweig and Cederbaum.

1990s: times of change

Friedrich Karl Fegert fulfilled his lifelong dream shortly after the reunification of Germany when he opened a scrap and metal trading company in his hometown of Magdeburg in 1991, which also bears his name: Fegert-Recycling. In order to be able to devote himself entirely to this task, he hands over the management of CEDERBAUM to his son-in-law Martin Wagner and to Karl-Heinz Backmeyer.

Within a few years, Fegert-Recycling became one of the most important scrap trading companies.

1990s: New disposal solutions with the Green Dot (1)

The already existing collection system for waste paper was transferred to the newly created dual disposal system for sales packaging in 1993 after negotiations based on partnership and trust with the Braunschweig city cleaning office. Together with the collection containers for light packaging, which are almost unique in Germany, 600 collection stations will be set up, at which citizens can dispose of their packaging waste such as plastics, metals and composite materials in addition to their waste paper.

1990s: New disposal solutions with the Green Dot (2)

The 'Braunschweig model' of packaging disposal is very well received by the Braunschweig residents. The exemplary use of the containers by the environmentally conscious Braunschweig residents leads to a sorted collection of recyclable materials and saves time-consuming and costly re-sorting.

The decision of the administration of the city of Braunschweig in favor of the 'Braunschweig Model' is a success for the environment and the economy.

From 2000: Successful into the new millennium with the blue bin

Inspired by the sight of blue bins for the waste paper collection in his hometown Magdeburg, Friedrich Karl Fegert decides to implement this project in the city of Braunschweig and can already see the blue CEDERBAUM waste paper bin in front of every house in Braunschweig. A citizen-friendly and service-oriented waste paper collection right on the doorstep. The success proves Fegert and the CEDERBAUM team right: After the starting shot in 2001, almost 10,000 blue bins ordered directly by the citizens will be set up within the next 4 years.

2002 to 2009: Time for restructuring (1)

At the end of 2002, Beate Wagner, daughter of Friedrich Karl Fegert, joins the management. At the end of 2003, Karl-Heinz Backmeyer took his well-deserved early retirement after having worked for CEDERBAUM for 42 years. The restructuring of CEDERBAUM begins with the installation of a second management level and the appointment of Wolfgang Titz as another managing director. Fundamental changes in the economic environment as a result of the complete privatization of municipal waste disposal represent new challenges. The politicians responsible for the city of Braunschweig are clearly committed to Braunschweig's medium-sized businesses and are encouraging CEDERBAUM to continue its future-oriented realignment.

2002 to 2009: Time for restructuring (2)

In 2005, the operational business areas of waste paper trading, non-ferrous metal trading and logistics, which were bundled under Sal. CEDERBAUM Rohstoff GmbH & Co. KG, are merged with the container service and waste management business areas of Cederbaum Container GmbH. Under the name CEDERBAUM Container GmbH by the current management Beate and Martin Wagner, the entire range of services and a contact person is now available to all customers.

In 2009, the scrap trading activities will also be integrated directly into this portfolio by relocating operations from the Braunschweig-Hafen location to the company location in Braunschweig-Lehndorf.

2009 to today: Shaping the future

The CEDERBAUM team proves every day that CEDERBAUM sees itself as a PARTNER for our customers for raw materials and disposal and answers all questions competently and flexibly. Extensive investments in production and work equipment that are always state-of-the-art are a guarantee for constant growth and employee satisfaction.

Cultural and sporting sponsorship activities - Eintracht Braunschweig, Arminia Vechelde, Löwen Classics, basketball Löwen Braunschweig etc. - are carried out by CEDERBAUM through Martin Wagner in traditional ties with the region.