Types of Waste / Waste Flows

All wastes are not created equal. Although the aforesaid common terms are also
used by waste management experts, waste management necessitates that subtle
distinctions be made between the various types of waste. All in all there are 842
different types of waste.

<img title="" alt="Batterien"

src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__iStock.com_daft_lion_studio__csm_batterien_kp_1200_de
59b7b6d0_5a557c30f0.png">

iStock.com/daft_lion_studio

Privacy Policy Statement

Batteries for appliances, vehicles and industry

Waste batteries

1829 - - "to topic"

<img alt="Mehrere defekte Autos stehen &uuml;bereinander"
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__TomFreeze_fotolia.com__csm_auto_schrott_kp_560_1567
e371cc_1b90bd94ba.png">

TomFreeze/fotolia.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Environmentally sound disposal

End-of-life vehicles

599 - - "to topic"

<img title="" alt="Altglas"
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__iStock.com_Richard_Villalonundefined_undefined__csm_a
ltglas_glas_kp_1200_b6f43d1efd_71772efd09.png">

iStock.com/Richard Villalonundefined undefined

Privacy Policy Statement

Glas as an ideal material for recycling

Waste glass

600 - - "to topic"

<img title="" alt=""
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__pixabay.com__csm_sperrholz_holz_kp_1200_f8ff369d78_
4b45b39bbd.png">

pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Waste wood to produce energy

Waste wood

601 - - "to topic"

<img title="" alt=""
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__pixabay.com__csm_tabletten_medikament_kp_1200_ff8c1
90705_237bad418f.png">

pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Disposing of waste medicines

Waste medicines

4400 - - "to topic"

<img title="" alt=""
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__pixabay.com__csm_schmieroel_maschine_kp_1200_341e
069447_12967de902.png">

pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Strict regulations on disposal of waste oil

Waste oil

602 - - "to topic"

<img alt="" src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__pixabay.com__csm_papier-altpapier-recycling-
kp-1200_a61f027ea7_e8022ab232.png">

pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Waste paper is a valuable resource

Waste paper

603 - - "to topic"

<img title="" alt=""
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__pixabay.com__csm_baustelle_haus_neubau_kp_1200_04
788b4d70_da4b26a966.png">

pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Information for craftsmen and trader

Construction waste

604 - - "to topic"

<img title="" alt=""
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__pixabay.com__csm_kompost_hochbeet_garten_kp_1200_
691d908b20_bcd85b4647.png">

pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Recovering biowaste as an essential part of recycling

Organic waste

605 - - "to topic"

<img alt=""
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__mekcar_fotolia.com__csm_elektroschrott_hardware_kp_12
00_698cda1389_0af1c2cc95.png">

mekcar/fotolia.com

Privacy Policy Statement

A diverse and very dynamic product group

Waste electrical and electronic equipment

1822 - - "to topic"

<img title="" alt=""
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__pixabay.com__csm_klaerschlammbehandlungsanlage_kp_
1200_768579210b_9c3cf2b955.png">

pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Municipal sewage treatment plants

Sewage sludge

608 - - "to topic"

<img title="" alt=""
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__pixabay.com__csm_lagerhalle_kp_1200_7155fcc32b_ac0
a6cb5df.png">

pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Waste from industry and commerce

Production waste

610 - - "to topic"

<img title="" alt="Zentraldeponie Cr&ouml;bern"
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__BMUB___transit___Haertrich__csm_muelldeponie_kp_12
00_4ee4877e52_ab01775cbc.png">

BMUB / transit / Härtrich

Privacy Policy Statement

Processes and monitoring

Municipal waste

612 - - "to topic"

<img alt=""
src="/typo3temp/GB/_c__pexels.com__csm_einweg_pfandflaschen_kp_1200_da26
789755_8642b2156b.png">

pexels.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Part of our daily life and used for many purposes

Packaging waste

Waste glass

©
iStock.com/Richard Villalonundefined undefined

Privacy Policy Statement

Glass is an ideal material for recycling. It can be melted down any number of times and to
obtain new high quality products. Compared with the manufacture of new glass, waste glass
recycling helps conserve raw material resources. Using waste glass also reduces energy
requirements (by an addition of about 0.2 to 0.3 percent point of waste glass). Thus recycling
 waste glass is good for the environment. It protects the climate by cutting CO2 emissions and
reduces the landfill space needed for waste.
Glass is usually recycled to produce receptacles (for example bottles and other containers for
drinks and foods). In Germany usually 2,4 million tonnes per year are recycled. Since the
start of waste glass collections in the early 1970s the proportion of waste glass used in glass
manufacture has steadily increased until it now stands at up to 90 percent depending on the
colour.

Municipal waste

©
BMUB / transit / Härtrich

Privacy Policy Statement

Municipal waste is the term applied to domestic waste and domestic-type industrial waste.
This includes bulky waste, market waste, road sweepings, faecal matter and sewage sludge.
Domestic waste (49,6 million tonnes 2003 in Germany) is the exclusive responsibility of the
local authority waste collection system. Households (waste producers) are therefore said to
have an obligation to hand over their waste to the municipal waste management enterprises,
for example the local authorities. Waste is collected from the households. The local
authorities see to environmentally sound management of the waste.
For domestic-type industrial waste there is an ordinance in force since the end of the year
2002. Besides there are regulations in Germany to separately collect and recycle special
wastes from households, like glass, paper, packaging or biowastes.
Production Waste
This is waste from trade and industry and from agriculture and forestry (about 46,7 million
tonnes 2003). The producer of the waste has individual responsibility for it. He must see to its
disposal himself or hand it over to expert private-sector waste management enterprises. If
such waste contains contaminants that may involve risks for man and the environment, it
must be collected and managed separately.
 Production Waste
Processes
Urban waste and production waste undergo specific treatment processes to enable them to be
reused or disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. These include sorting, chemical /
physical treatment, recovery as materials or energy, mechanical/biological treatment,
incineration of domestic waste and / or special waste. The waste that cannot be recovered is
then deposited on land fill sites.
Meanwhile there are special regulations for the handling of different production wastes like
the Commercial Wastes Ordinance, the Waste Oil Ordinance or the Waste Wood Ordinance.
 Waste Oil Ordinance
Monitoring
The degree of monitoring of recovery or disposal depends on the pollutant levels in the
different types of waste. A distinction is made between:

 Waste not subject to monitoring (this is waste for recovery that does not cause any
serious problems during recovery, and especially the reusable components such as
paper, cardboard, wood, glass, plastics, metals et cetera)
 Waste subject to monitoring (this means waste for recovery that is listed in a relevant
ordinance, and waste for disposal that is not subject to special monitoring. It includes
domestic waste, waste tyres, batteries, mixed waste from construction and demolition,
sludges from in-plant wastewater treatment)
 Waste subject to special monitoring (this means waste for recovery and waste for
disposal that is listed in a relevant ordinance, for example waste paints and varnishes
containing halogenated solvents, batteries containing lead, nickel or cadmium, brake
fluids, dyes, printing inks, adhesives and synthetic resins, fluorescent lamps,
photochemicals, chlorinated machine, gear and lubricating oils).

Waste subject to special monitoring may also occur in private households, as can be seen
from the examples.

Packaging waste

©
pexels.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Packaging materials are a part of our daily life and are used for many purposes. They ensure
the safe delivery of products (transport packaging), serve as containers, protect goods (sales
packaging) and are used to improve the presentation of products (secondary packaging).
These materials are divided up into different categories in accordance with their respective
intended use.
Drinks packaging
Reusable packaging
Transport packaging
Secondary packaging
Sales packaging
Limiting packaging volumes
 The most common packaging materials are glass, paper, card, cardboard, plastic, tin plate,
aluminium and wood – all of which are valuable (secondary) raw materials that if recycled or
reused, can help to reduce the exploitation of natural resources, lead to energy savings and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, to improve recycling options the population
must be prepared to separate their waste.
In 1991 in a bid to counteract the ever increasing volumes of packaging, the Federal
Government adopted the Packaging Ordinance. This ordinance was the first of its kind to lay
down a comprehensive regulation in accordance with the principles of circular economy and
for the promotion of product responsibility, for example the responsibility of manufacturers
and distributors was extended to include the whole process from production to the
environmentally friendly disposal of their product.
The obligation of manufacturers and distributors was achieved through the determination of
collection and recovery provisions. Dual systems for collection and disposal were
subsequently introduced nationwide to uphold this responsibility.
The Packaging Ordinance has proven to be an effective instrument, it has put a stop to the
annual increase in packaging consumption. Packaging consumption, for a number of years
now, has levelled off at around 17 million tonnes and thus has been decoupled from general
economic development.
 Statistics
The concept and implementation of the 1991 Packaging Ordinance have earned a great deal
of attention internationally. The German Ordinance gave rise to the implementation of
national measures in neighbouring states such as Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and
France, which in turn inspired the adoption of the European Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging
and Packaging Waste of 20 December 1994 that is now legally binding for all EU member
states.
 Directives on packaging and packaging waste
Packaging materials are a part of our daily life and are used for many purposes. They ensure
the safe delivery of products (transport packaging), serve as containers, protect goods (sales
packaging) and are used to improve the presentation of products (secondary packaging).
These materials are divided up into different categories in accordance with their respective
intended use.
Drinks packaging
Drinks packaging within the meaning of the Packaging Ordinance (Verpackungsverordnung)
means closed or mainly closed packaging for liquid foodstuffs within the meaning of section
2 subsection (2) of the Food and Feed Code (Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch)
intended for consumption as drinks, with the exception of yoghurt and kefir.

Compulsory deposits

Deposits on one-way drinks packaging have been compulsory since 1 January 2003.
Reusable drinks packaging were promoted as early as 1991 in the Packaging Ordinance
(revised in 1998) due to their ecological advantages. After falling short several times of the
required 72 percent quota for reusable packaging, intended to protect reusable drinks
packaging, a compulsory deposit on one-way drinks packaging for mineral water, beer and
carbonated soft drinks such as cola and lemonade came into effect on 1 January 2003.

The Federal Government simplified the provisions regarding the compulsory deposit on non-
ecologically advantageous one-way drinks packaging with the Third Ordinance amending the
Packaging Ordinance of 24 May 2005.
 Since 28 May 2005, all non-ecologically advantageous one-way drinks packaging with a
filling volume of 0.1 to 3.0 litres have been subject to a deposit: the compulsory deposit is no
longer dependant on achieving a quota. The compulsory deposit is 25 cents for all drinks
packaging.

The deposit does not apply to fruit and vegetable juices, milk, wine and spirits and one-way
drinks packaging that is regarded as ecologically advantageous (beverage cartons,
polyethylene bags and stand-up bags).

More detailed information on compulsory deposit regulations can be found here: Questions
and answers on compulsory deposits.

Further information

 Third Amending Ordinance on the Avoidance and Recovery of Packaging Wastes

Reusable packaging within the meaning of the Packaging Ordinance is packaging that is
intended to be reused several times for the same purpose (section 3 Packaging Ordinance).
Through the ability to be used several times, this packaging helps to conserve resources and
reduce waste. Reusable packaging therefore fulfills the primary goal of waste management
for example to avoid waste.

This type of packaging is often also preferred for economic reasons. This is why more and
more transport packaging is now reusable.

Reusable drinks packaging is placed under special protection in the Packaging Ordinance.

Transport packaging
Secondary packaging
Sales packaging
Limiting packaging volumes
The most common packaging materials are glass, paper, card, cardboard, plastic, tin plate,
aluminium and wood – all of which are valuable (secondary) raw materials that if recycled or
reused, can help to reduce the exploitation of natural resources, lead to energy savings and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, to improve recycling options the population
must be prepared to separate their waste.
In 1991 in a bid to counteract the ever increasing volumes of packaging, the Federal
Government adopted the Packaging Ordinance. This ordinance was the first of its kind to lay
down a comprehensive regulation in accordance with the principles of circular economy and
for the promotion of product responsibility, for example the responsibility of manufacturers
and distributors was extended to include the whole process from production to the
environmentally friendly disposal of their product.
The obligation of manufacturers and distributors was achieved through the determination of
collection and recovery provisions. Dual systems for collection and disposal were
subsequently introduced nationwide to uphold this responsibility.
The Packaging Ordinance has proven to be an effective instrument, it has put a stop to the
annual increase in packaging consumption. Packaging consumption, for a number of years
 now, has levelled off at around 17 million tonnes and thus has been decoupled from general
economic development.
 Statistics
The concept and implementation of the 1991 Packaging Ordinance have earned a great deal
of attention internationally. The German Ordinance gave rise to the implementation of
national measures in neighbouring states such as Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and
France, which in turn inspired the adoption of the European Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging
and Packaging Waste of 20 December 1994 that is now legally binding for all EU member
states.
 Directives on packaging and packaging waste
 Transport packaging is packaging that facilitates the transport of goods, protects the
goods from damage during transport or is used in the interest of transport safety and
arises at the distributor (section 3 Packaging Ordinance).
 In accordance with the Packaging Ordinance, manufacturers and distributors have
been obligated to accept returned transport packaging since 1 December 1991. The
returned transport packaging has to be reused or recycled outside of public waste
disposal. Reusable transport packaging has increased considerably in a number of
branches as a result of this regulation.
 Secondary packaging is packaging that is used as packaging additional to sales
packaging and is not necessary for transfer to the final consumer for reasons of
hygiene, durability or the protection of goods from damage or contamination (section
3 Packaging Ordinance).

According to the Packaging Ordinance, secondary packaging that only serves to improve
presentation of the goods can be removed and left at the point of sale. This provision led to a
considerably greater burden for retailers, which resulted in many Sales packaging
Participation in dual systems for waste collection:

Manufacturers and distributors who put sales packaging filled with product and typically
arising at the private final consumer into circulation for the first time, are obliged to
participate in one or several compliance schemes to ensure the collection of such sales
packaging on a full-coverage basis and fulfills the requirements set out in the Annexes to the
Packaging Ordinance, for instance regarding recovery quotas for individual packaging
materials.

Recovery quotas:

The following quotas for recycling of the packaging materials listed below have been
applicable under the Packaging Ordinance since 1 January 1999:

Material Percent
Glass 75 percent
Tin plate 70 percent
Aluminium 60 percent
Paper and cardboard 70 percent
At least 60 percent of plastic packaging must be consigned to recovery, and of that 60 percent
at least 36 percent has to be consigned to mechanical recycling. A further 24 percent must be
consigned to either mechanical recycling or raw material or energy recovery.

Take-back obligation:
 Final distributors of sales packaging not arising at the private final consumer, packaging not
subject to a dual collection system or not suitable for collection, or of pollutant-containing
packaging, are obligated to take back free of charge sales packaging returned by the final
consumer at or in the immediate vicinity of the place of actual transfer and to consign it to
reuse or recycling outside of public waste disposal. In addition, distributors putting into
circulation for the first time, sales packaging covered by a dual collection system not arising
at the private final consumer have the option of taking back the packaging themselves and
consigning it to recycling instead of participating in a recognised collection system via
sector-specific solutions. More information on the requirements for such sector-specific
solutions has been published by the Federal Government/Länder Working Group on Waste
(LAGA) on its website (in German only).

Sales packaging of pollutant-containing products:

Manufacturers and distributors of sales packaging of pollutant-containing products are

obligated to ensure that used and emptied packaging can be returned by the final consumer
free of charge within a reasonable distance, and to consign it to reuse or recycling insofar as
this is technically possible and economically reasonable.

Pollutant-containing products include:

1. substances and preparations which if sold in the retail trade would be subject to the
ban on self-service pursuant to section 4 of the Chemicals Prohibition Ordinance
2. plant protection products within the meaning of section 2 No. 9 of the Plant Protection
Act

2.1 which in Annex I No. 2 of the Hazardous Substances Ordinance are labelled as
very toxic, toxic, oxidising or highly flammable or
2.2 labelled as harmful to health and labelled with R-phrases R 40, R 62 or R 63 in
Annex 3 of the Hazardous Substances Ordinance,

3. preparations of diphenylmethane-4,4’-diisocyanate (MDI), insofar as such

preparations are to be labelled as harmful to health (Xn) under Annex I No. 2 and
with R-phrase R 42 under Annex I No. 3 of the Hazardous Substances Ordinance and
are put into circulation in pressurised gas packaging (section 3 Packaging Ordinance).

Further information

 Federal Government/Länder Working Group on Waste (LAGA) (German)

 businesses getting rid of secondary packaging within a short period of time.

Production waste
 ©
pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Germany's Closed Substance Cycle and Waste Management Act 1996 has set new standards
for trade and industry: In order to conserve natural resources, business establishments are
required to accept product responsibility and adopt a graduated approach:

1. Priority is to be given to avoiding waste.

2. Where this is not possible, the waste is to be reused by recycling the materials or for
generating energy (waste for recovery).
3. Where recovery is not possible, waste is to be disposed of in an environmentally
sound manner (waste for disposal).

In order to increase the recycling of wastes different ordinances on the management of

products, like packaging, batteries or end of life vehicles, came into force: Ordinances on the
management of municipal wastes of commercial origin; waste wood and underground waste
disposal followed. The disposal of non recycable production wastes must be effected in
compliance with high safety standards, which are subject to a monitoring procedure under
waste legislation.
 Stowage Ordinance (VersatzV)
Monitoring
Since different types of waste contain different levels of pollutants, there are also various
degrees of intensity for the monitoring of recovery or disposal. In other words the competent
waste authority in Germany can regulate the nature and intensity of the monitoring depending
on whether the waste is classified as:

 not subject to monitoring (for example domestic-type industrial waste; this is

managed in the same way as domestic waste and is known as urban waste)
 subject to monitoring (for example old tyres, batteries, mixed building waste and
demolition waste, sludge from in-plant wastewater treatment)
 subject to special monitoring (for example waste paints and varnishes containing
halogenated solvents; batteries containing lead, nickel and cadmium; brake fluids;
dyes, printing inks, adhesives and syntheticresins; fluorescent lamps; photochemicals;
chlorinated machine, gear and lubricating oils).

Sewage sludge
 ©
pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Sewage sludge (water containing material separated from waste water via sedimentation)
occurs in municipal sewage treatment plants where waste water, in particular from private
households and similar facilities, is purified. Due to its relatively high nitrogen and
phosphorous content, the sludge can be used as a fertiliser on agricultural land and in
landscaping as long as pollution levels are very low.
Phosphorous and phosphorous compounds are essential for all living organisms. Without
phosphorus, no organism can live or function. This applies in particular to the DNA of
humans and animals, which carries genetic information and it is also essential for bones and
teeth. Plants wither away if they cannot absorb sufficient phosphate Phosphorus is
indispensable for the production of fertilisers. This is why it is such an essential raw material:
it contributes to securing food worldwide.
In view of the significance of phosphorus as a raw material, the German Resource Efficiency
Programme (ProgRess), which was adopted by the federal government in 2012, also stresses
the need for a sustainable management of this material flow relevant for the protection of
resources. The European Commission’s communication on an updated list of critical raw
materials for the EU also rated phosphorus as a "critical raw material"; the same applies to
the implementation of the raw material initiative of 26 May 2014. The 2014 list replaces the
list drawn up in 2011, which at the time only identified 14 critical raw materials, not
including phosphorus (phosphate rock).
 German Resource Efficiency Programme (ProgRess)
 Communication of the Commission on an updated list of critical raw materials (external PDF,
429 KB)
In 2016, only about a third of the total of circa 1.8 million tonnes of municipal sewage sludge
(dry weight) was used for fertilisation purposes in agriculture and landscaping. The
remaining volume is for example used as secondary fuel in power plants and cement works or
stored on landfills, which leads to the loss of valuable constituents of the sewage sludge, in
particular phosphorus. Since 1 June 2005, landfilling of sewage sludge is only allowed after
pre-treatment in an incineration plant or after mechanical-biological waste treatment. The
soil-related use of sewage sludge in agriculture and landscaping takes place in accordance
with the Sewage Sludge Ordinance, which, in addition to provisions laid down for fertilisers,
specifies limit values for heavy metal and other pollutant loads in sewage sludge and in soils
of plots selected for sewage sludge application.
 Sewage Sludge Ordinance (AbfKlärV)
These stipulations and strict provisions based on water and chemicals legislation have led to
municipal sewage sludge pollutant loads having decreased in the case of some heavy metals
by more than 90 percent over the last 40 years. Latest figures from 2016 confirm the
continuation of this trend for the majority of heavy metals examined. This is also the case for
 several organic pollutants. Recently however, with some individual organic pollutants,
pollution loads have not decreased any further.
The Sewage Sludge Ordinance of 1992 has been amended in order to return the valuable
constituents of sewage sludge (phosphorus) to the economic cycle more intensively than has
been done up to now with the soil-related application of sewage sludge and at the same time,
to restrict conventional soil-related sewage sludge utilisation with a view to further reducing
pollutant inputs into the soil. The Ordinance on the Reform of Sewage Sludge Utilisation of
27 September 2017 entered into force on 3 October 2017.
EU wide sewage sludge recovery is carried out in accordance with Council Directive
86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the
soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture.
 European Sewage Sludge Directiv

Waste electrical and electronic equipment

©
mekcar/fotolia.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Electrical and electronic equipment is a diverse and very dynamic product group,
characterised on the one hand by ever shorter lifecycles and rising sales figures and on the
other hand by a long life and high value material contents. Over the last eight years an
average of 720,000 tonnes of waste per year has been produced by private households in
Germany. Discarded waste equipment belongs to various categories such as

 large household appliances: for example, washing machines, refrigerators, freezers,

stoves;
 small household appliances: for example vacuum cleaners, coffee makers,
microwaves;
 information and communication technology devices such as computers, monitors,
printers, cell phones, telephones;
 consumer electronics devices, for example televisions, VCRs, digital cameras;
 gas discharge lamps.

Electrical and electronic equipment contains a variety of substances and materials If waste
electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is not appropriately disposed of, for example
with household waste, there may be environmental risks due to the harmful substances they
contain. In addition to harmful substances such as heavy metals and CFCs, WEEE also
contains a number of valuable materials, which must recovered and recycled. This allows
primary raw materials (and thus their elaborate production) to be replaced and makes an
essential contribution to the conservation of natural resources.
 To achieve these goals in Germany the Act Governing the Sale, Return and Environmentally
Sound Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Act – ElektroG) in implementation of Directive 2012/19 / EU on waste electrical and
electronic equipment (WEEE) sets forth concrete obligations for all relevant stakeholders
(manufacturers, trade, municipalities, owners, disposers). Waste prevention, reasonable
checks concerning the possibility of preparing for re-use of whole appliances or individual
components as well as the extensive recycling of waste will make a substantial contribution
to the conservation of natural resources and the reduction of pollutant emissions.
 Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (German)
 WEEE-Directive

Organic waste

©
pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Recovering biowaste has become an essential part of recycling. Biowaste constitutes around
30 to 40 percent of municipal waste in Germany. Composting or fermenting of separately
collected biowaste helps to improve the share of humus in soil and to replace mineral
fertilisers. The recovery of biowaste thus contributes to the sustainable use of resources.
To recover biowaste, a large number of local authorities have introduced the bio-bin for the
separate collection of garden and food waste.
The amount of biowaste collected separately has increased sevenfold since the 90s, and this
has helped to reduce the volume of household waste considerably. Biowaste is composted or
fermented in special facilities and processed to make fertiliser for horticulture and
agriculture.
Because biowaste is collected in separate bins, composts from biowaste contain 95 percent
less contaminants than composts produced from mixed household waste.
If bio-bins are handled properly, they produce no obnoxious odour and are not infested with
flies or maggots even in summer, nor does biowaste increase the health risk for garbage men.

Construction waste
 ©
pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Apart from mining waste, construction and demolition waste represents the largest waste
segment in statistical terms. In 2003, for example, some 222 million tonnes of such waste
were generated. The waste often comprises a mixture of mineral waste, woods, metals, paper
and plastic, some of which may be contaminated with hazardous substances.
In a voluntary commitment of 1996, the German construction industry promised the Federal
Environment Ministry that it would "halve the quantity of recyclable construction waste
currently being landfilled by the year 2005". At the present time, around 87 percent of the
excavated material (that is 186 million tonnes) and 70 percent of construction waste (that is
51 million tonnes) in Germany is recovered; this category is particularly significant in terms
of its mass. As such, the recovery ratios promised in the voluntary commitment can be
considered to have been met.

Waste paper

©
pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Waste paper is a valuable resource. According to an ecological assessment carried out by the
Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), waste
paper products (recycled paper, cardboard) cause significantly less ecological damage than
paper products made from fresh fibre. For this reason, the Blue Angel eco-label may be
awarded to recycled paper products.
The most important paper product segments by volume are:

 products made from graphic paper, such as newspapers, other printed products, and
office paper, and
  products made from packaging paper, such as sales packaging, transport packaging or
secondary packaging.

In 1994, the graphic paper industry made a voluntary commitment to the BMU to gradually
increase recycling of graphic waste paper to 60 percent by 2000. The actual trend in the
amount of graphic waste paper recycled has topped this commitment by a wide margin.
In light of this positive trend, the industry updated its voluntary commitment in 2001 and
guaranteed a permanent recycling quota of around 80 percent. This commitment has been
consistently met (see statistics), thus confirming the great importance attached to waste paper
recycling in Germany and ensuring that product responsibility is assumed as laid out in the
Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz).
 Statistics on Waste Paper
 Product responsibility
In order to reduce the volume of packaging waste, the German government adopted the
Packaging Ordinance (Verpackungsverordnung) in 1991, an effective step towards ensuring
that producers and distributors accept their responsibility for products. This considerably
improved the recycling of paper packaging. The Packaging Act (Verpackungsgesetz) that will
enter into force in 2019, replacing the Packaging Ordinance, will establish a recycling quota
of at least 90 percent

Waste oil

©
pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

As all waste oil from machines, engines, gearboxes or turbines may damage the environment
if it enters soil or water, its handling is subject to stringent environmental regulations. The
Waste Oil Ordinance, for example, stipulates that the sale of engine oil and gear oil is only
permitted if a waste oil collection point exists at or in the immediate vicinity of the point of
sale.
 Waste Oil Ordinance
For instance, if a store sells engine oil it is required to accept the return of waste oil to the
same quantity free of charge. If a return is not possible at the point of sale, a written notice
must be put up clearly indicating the location of the nearest waste oil collection point, which
must be in the immediate vicinity.
There are also strict regulations governing the disposal of waste oil: waste oil is either
reprocessed to obtain new lubricants or heating oil, incinerated to generate energy or disposed
of as hazardous waste.
 Waste medicines

©
pixabay.com

Privacy Policy Statement

If medicines are no longer needed and pharmacies do not take them back voluntarily, they
have to be disposed of with household waste or – if this is an option in your community – can
be returned to a pollutant collection point or mobile pollutant collection centre. In either case
waste medicines will be treated in waste incineration plants or mechanical-biological
treatment plants.
 Waste management
Waste medicines should never be disposed of in toilets or sinks as they would thereby enter
the hydrological cycle. Since wastewater treatment plants cannot hold back all substances
contained in sewage, waste medicines would become a burden on the environment.
 Water management
Disposing of waste medicines with household wastes, in contrast, does not pose any
additional risks to human health. For the period a medicine is administered, care should be
taken that it is handled safely. The same applies to when it is disposed of, just like any other
waste that might pose a risk but inevitably ends up in household waste (for example razor
blades, mouldy leftovers, residual cleaning agents). Since, as a general rule, the person
causing waste is responsible for disposing of it, taking care of this is up to the individual
consumer.
Since 1 June 2005, municipal solid wastes may only be landfilled after thermal or
mechanical-biological pre-treatment. Landfilling pre-treated waste medicines does not cause
any problems with regard to groundwater, as complex landfill liners and leachate collection
systems ensure that pollutants, should they still be contained in the waste, do not reach the
groundwater.

Waste wood

©
pixabay.com
 Privacy Policy Statement

In Germany, used wood in commercial municipal waste, for example from the wood
treatment and processing industry – residual industrial wood, construction and demolition
waste, household waste and bulky waste – is referred to as waste wood. In 2013, around 7.6
million tonnes of waste wood were processed: around 6.1 million tonnes were used for
energy in large combustion plants and 1.5 million tonnes as material to manufacture particle
boards.
Regarding energy recovery, around 80 electricity-powered waste wood plants are currently in
operation in Germany, with an installed capacity of around 800 megawatt. These plants have
been receiving support since the 2000 Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and the
Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWärmeG). Recycling occurs almost exclusively in the
timber-based material industry during the production of particle boards. A small share of
waste wood is exported.
Waste wood is very well suited to cascading energy and material use. However, this is still
only taking place to an insufficient degree. In implementing the five-level waste hierarchy
pursuant to the Circular Economy Act (KrWG), recycling is considered a superior form of
waste recovery compared to energy recovery. However, energy recovery is promoted by the
Renewable Energy Sources Act, thus influencing this ratio to the detriment of recycling. The
legal requirements for the recovery and disposal of waste wood are laid down in the 2002
Waste Wood Ordinance (AltholzV) and in the general requirements of the 2012 Circular
Economy Act.
 Circular Economy Act
 Waste Wood Ordinance (German)

Waste batteries

©
iStock.com/daft_lion_studio

Privacy Policy Statement

The term battery refers to storage for electrical energy that is not rechargeable (or
rechargeable only to a very limited degree). They are also called primary battery. The Battery
Act classifies them according to where they are used. We differentiate between batteries for
appliances, vehicles and industry.
 Batteries Act
 Ordinance implementing the Battery Act (German)
The term accumulator refers to rechargeable storage elements, also called secondary cells.
Several secondary cells wired together are also called a battery. Batteries are mainly made of
metals. By recovering them, a contribution is made to responsible resource management.
However, batteries also contain substances that pose a risk to health and the environment. For
 this reason, it is prohibited to dispose of them as household waste. In Germany more than
50,000 tonnes of batteries and accumulators for appliances are brought to market every year.
The waste batteries for appliances are returned at retail outlets at no cost to the consumer.
Many municipalities also offer to dispose of them at recycling centres or mobile pollutant
collection centres.
Battery manufacturers have established a joint return system (Stiftung Gemeinsames
Rücknahmesystem Batterien – GRS). There are also four manufacturer-specific return
systems (CCR REBAT, ERP Deutschland, Öcorecell und Ecobat). These generally use third
party contractors, such as logistics and disposal companies, which take back the batteries for
them and fulfil the recovery obligations. By setting up the return systems, the manufacturers
fulfil their product responsibilities and provide for the collection, recycling or
environmentally sound disposal of waste batteries.
 Joint return system for batteries
 CCR REBAT
 European Recycling Platform (ERP)
 Öcorecell (German)
 Ecobat
Industrial batteries include batteries for electric bikes and pedelecs and the batteries of
electric vehicles. These can also be returned to the distributor. Vehicle batteries are also
called starter batteries, as they are used for the starting, lighting and ignition power of
vehicles. Vehicle batteries can also be returned free of charge to the distributor. They contain
large amounts of lead and can be recycled almost completely.

End-of-life vehicles

©
TomFreeze/fotolia.com

Privacy Policy Statement

Almost 50 million passenger cars and light duty vehicles are registered in Germany. This
number is constantly changing as new and used vehicles are registered or old ones are
deregistered or decommissioned. Around nine million passenger cars and light duty vehicles
are decommissioned every year. Thereof approximately three million motor vehicles are
permanently deregistered annually. However, not all of these are ELVs (that is waste) but
used vehicles (that is non-waste), because a large share is exported regularly to other EU
member states and is registered there. Another share of used vehicles is exported to non-EU
countries. About 500,000 of the three million motor vehicles that are permanently
deregistered annually are ELVs, in other words, waste. Only in 2009, the number of ELVs
was four times higher than usual because consumers could apply for an Environmental
Premium.
The environmentally sound disposal (that is the proper and safe recovery and disposal
compatible with public welfare) of ELVs is important because ELVs contain

 recyclable materials (for example steel and copper) which have to be reintroduced
into the materials cycle for the purpose of protection of natural resources, but also
 materials that are harmful to the environment (for example heavy metals). ELVs are
hazardous waste.

The environmentally sound disposal of ELVs is stipulated in the End-of-life Vehicle

Ordinance in Germany. An environmentally sound disposal which guarantees the protection
of the environment can only be ensured by treating ELVs in line with the regulations of this
ordinance.