As Germany transposes the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation into national law, the German Environment Agency (UBA) and the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) have cleared up common misconceptions about plastic recycling rates, glass waste collection, and more.
Around 5.5 million tonnes of packaging waste collected by the dual systems were recycled in 2024, the organizations claimed – adding that more than half of the waste recycled in the yellow bin was sent for recycling.
In particular, the recycling rate for plastic packaging was recorded at 42% in 2018 – and was said to increase by 28% by 2024. The statistic was used to counteract the perception that Germany only recycles a small amount of its plastic packaging.
“For the first time, more than 70% of plastic packaging was sent for material recycling,” says Dr Bettina Rechenberg, head of the Circular Economy Division at UBA. “This allows us to clearly debunk the misconception that everything is incinerated anyway.”
Even so, the yellow bin’s mandatory recycling target accounts for the total amount of waste collected, including missorted and non-recyclable packaging. Modern recycling facilities currently redirect most of this waste to incineration for energy recovery.
“As capable as sorting and recycling facilities may be, they cannot make up for shortcomings in packaging design,” argues ZSVR Executive Board member Gunda Rachut. “The responsibility lies with the manufacturers, because from 2030 onwards, only packaging that is at least 70% recyclable or reusable may be placed on the market. What matters is the consistent implementation of design-for-recycling principles.”
The UBA and ZSVR highlighted that Germany ‘clearly’ missed its recycling targets for composite packaging, beverage cartons, and glass containers. It took the opportunity to debunk the myth that glass waste is mixed in the recycling process, specifying that modern collection vehicles keep green, brown and clear glass separate in transit.
While recycling glass is set to unlock ‘substantial’ energy savings compared to new glass production, Rechenberg specifies: “The prerequisite for this is correct waste separation. Too much waste glass is still being lost in residual waste.”
The UBA recommends the foundation of more bring sites for glass containers – adding that consumers, local authorities, retailers, and the dual systems must work together to increase the collection volume and recycling rate.
The ZSVR will oversee an automated licensing process under Germany’s new Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG). Independent companies and organizations that take on multiple manufacturers’ EPR processes will both be expected to apply for licensing and co-fund the register.
In other news, a report from Bain & Company warns that the European chemical recycling sector could take up to thirty years, and require up to €400 billion in cumulative global capital, to achieve cost parity with virgin material production.
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