A survey by Deutsche Umwelthilfe shows that the lack of enforcement of the Commercial Waste Ordinance leads to massive destruction of resources and climate pollution

Berlin, 05.09.2022: Even six years after the amendment of the Commercial Waste Ordinance, the authorities are completely inadequate in controlling the specifications for the separate collection of recyclable materials - with fatal consequences for the environment and the climate. This is the result of a current survey by the German Environmental Aid (DUH) among the federal states responsible for implementation. With fewer controls, many traders collect their waste improperly, making recycling difficult and causing valuable raw materials to be incinerated. For many years, the amounts of mixed commercial waste and the materials that are therefore incinerated have been very high and not decreasing. If the enforcement authorities were to consistently enforce the existing rules of the Commercial Waste Ordinance, According to estimates by the environmental and consumer protection association, up to 1.4 million tons of mixed commercial waste could then be recycled per year. This would correspond to a further savings potential of up to 2.9 million tons of CO2 per year.