Minichem Environmental Services, a subsidiary of Indaver, has acquired the business of Ecotrans from the UK-based Imari Group for an undisclosed sum.
Ecotrans, which had a turnover of £2 million (#2.54 million) in 2000, exports hazardous waste for disposal and recovery in Britain and on the Continent. Set up in 1977, MiniChem also specialises in the transportation of hazardous waste for safe disposal, primarily from the pharmaceutical sector.
"We send it abroad because there are no facilities in Ireland either for incineration or what is deemed recovery," said commercial and logistics manager Mr John Johnston. The firm also has an EPA licence plant in Dublin Port.
Employing more than 30 people, MiniChem had turnover last year of just under £13 million. It has a collection centre on Tolka Quay Road in Dublin and offices Dun Laoghaire and Cork.
It is 60 per cent-owned by Belgian waste management Indaver, which plans to build an incinerator in Ringaskiddy. "We're owned by the same company but we've no direct involvement in that project," said Mr Johnston.
Should the incinerator go ahead, MiniChem would supply it with waste.