Mittelbadische Entsorgungs- und Recyclingbetriebe GmbH

MERB, also known as Mittelbadische Entsorgungs- und Recyclingbetriebe GmbH, is a German company engaged in waste management and recycling activities. The firm’s name indicates that it provides services for the collection, treatment, and recovery of various waste streams. Operating from its headquarters in Germany, it serves customers in the surrounding region where it is based. As a GmbH, the organisation is structured as a private limited liability company under German law. Its core business focuses on ensuring proper disposal and recycling of municipal and commercial waste.

In July 2024, MERB experienced a cyberattack that was identified following an external tip, prompting the activation of emergency protocols with assistance from a regional IT provider. Although the attack disrupted some of its communication channels, waste collection operations continued without interruption. The extent of any data compromise has not been determined, and efforts to reconstruct potentially lost information are underway. Police are investigating the incident, and the company has been operating with limited communications, relying mainly on telephone while partial email functionality has been restored. These details constitute the publicly known facts about the organisation’s recent cybersecurity event.