The German Environment Agency (UBA) and the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) have reported a notable increase in recycling rates within Germany’s dual systems in 2023. Over the period from 2018 to 2023, the proportion of plastic packaging subjected to mechanical recycling rose significantly from 42.1% to 68.9%.
In 2023, the country’s waste management industry successfully collected, sorted, and recycled over 5.5 million tonnes of packaging waste from private households. This initiative aims to recover raw materials for reuse, contributing to resource conservation.
According to the agencies, statutory recycling targets have risen since 2018, with dual systems achieving five out of the eight required quotas. Plastic recycling is evaluated through two separate measures: one focusing on mechanical recycling and the other encompassing both recycling and energy recovery.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain, particularly with composite packaging. Due to its complex composition, it is more difficult to recycle, leading to a substantial shortfall in meeting recycling targets. The gap widened by an additional 7.9 percentage points compared to the previous year.
UBA and ZSVR highlight that producers have yet to fully embrace their responsibility for composite packaging. Many stakeholders are not investing the necessary resources to establish sufficient recycling capacities. Among the primary obstacles identified are inadequate sorting and waste separation by consumers. Furthermore, a decline in collection quality, resulting from sorting errors, has caused significant amounts of waste to end up in the incorrect bins.
The agencies emphasize that recycling household packaging waste in Germany prevents approximately 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. A 2022 study by the Öko-Institut suggests this figure could rise to 2.55 million tonnes by 2030. However, research conducted by UBA indicates that yellow bins and bags often contain between 20% and 40% residual waste, which severely impedes recycling efforts.
Strict separation of household waste is crucial for achieving higher recycling rates. Beginning in 2030, all packaging must be recyclable under new EU regulations, which will also mandate the inclusion of a minimum proportion of secondary raw materials in packaging. Consumers seeking information on waste separation can refer to the Mülltrennung wirkt website.
In other developments, BASF partnered with Endress+Hauser, TechnoCompound, and the Universities of Bayreuth and Jena in late 2024 to explore advancements in mechanical plastic recycling. Their project integrates measurement techniques with artificial intelligence (AI), employing spectroscopic methods to analyze the interaction of light with materials, thereby obtaining insights into the chemical composition of recycled plastics.
Additionally, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste has introduced a new Solution Model playbook to improve the conversion of mixed plastic waste into valuable products. This initiative emphasizes minimal investment and technological requirements, ensuring accessibility for countries with less developed recycling infrastructures. The playbook focuses on collection, processing, and conversion as essential components of the recycling value chain, ensuring a consistent supply of recyclable materials.
