Ludgera Decking: 21 years at the helm of RSAG – a farewell full of successes!

Ludgera Decking: 21 years at the helm of RSAG – a farewell full of successes!

A significant change is in sight in the Rhenish waste management. Ludgera Decking, who has been at the helm of Rhein-Sieg waste management company (RSAG) for more than two decades, is retiring on December 31, 2025. Her era was characterized by innovations and challenging decisions that stabilized the company and made it future-proof. The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports that District Administrator Sebastian Schuster praised Decking's clarity, reliability and integrity.

Decking took office in 2004, during times that were anything but easy for the RSAG. Immediately after corruption proceedings against her predecessor, she took over management and laid the foundation for numerous innovations. In January 2007, RSAG started organizing waste disposal on its own after a private company had previously taken over this service area.

Successful developments under deck

Under her leadership, Waste Logistics Rhein-Sieg (ARS) was founded with a fleet of 35 new trucks. A double-digit million sum from proceedings against companies involved in the garbage scandal helped to keep garbage fees constant. In the following years there was a significant expansion of regional cooperation with other waste disposal companies, whereby RSAG's proximity to citizens and service quality were also strengthened.

Among other things, Decking created the telephone registration of bulky waste, modern recycling centers and introduced the recycling bin in 2012. The recycling of organic waste has also been specifically expanded, most recently with the BIENE composting plant in Sankt Augustin. These initiatives have been a real benefit for citizens. In an area where, according to current statistics, the proportion of women in management positions is 29.1%, she took courageous steps as a female manager to further develop RSAG and set new standards. Federal Statistical Office makes it clear that the proportion of women in management levels has steadily increased over the years.

An orderly transition

Decking is looking forward to the fact that she has already been able to initiate an orderly succession process with her early decision to retire. Michael Dreschmann, who has been with RSAG since 2009 and on the board since 2022, will take over the position of CEO from January 1, 2026. He brings with him extensive experience, including from his time as managing director of ERS Disposal Service Rhein-Sieg GmbH.

Together with Sascha van Keeken, who is currently head of logistics and will also join the board from January 1, 2026, Dreschmann will lead the company into the future. Van Keeken was instrumental in setting up the company's own waste collection and will ensure that RSAG's successful work continues. The General Anzeiger also emphasizes that Decking will continue to serve as chairwoman of the Wahnbachtalsperre Association even in early retirement.

The RSAG can therefore look back on an eventful but extremely successful time under decking, which laid the foundation for future developments. It remains to be seen how waste management in the Rhein-Sieg district will develop under the new leadership.