Pouze anglicky
Germanys Recycling Rates Still Exemplary
"The willingness of German consumers to sort recyclables is still
exemplary. In 1999, they collected a total of 5,710,628 tonnes of
used sales packaging manufactured from glass, paper, cardboard,
plastics, tinplate, aluminum and composites in Green Dot collection
containers. This exceeded the high result of 5,622,525 tonnes which
was achieved in the previous year. Including impurities, 6,382,454
tonnes (1998: 6,215,416 tonnes) were collected by way of the Dual
System. This corresponds to a per capita collection of 77.7
kilograms (1998: 75.8 kilograms).
The recycled quantity also remained at a high level. The volume
forwarded for recycling can be broken down as follows:
glass - 2.71 million tonnes (1998: 2.70 million tonnes),
paper/cardboard - 1.48 million tonnes (1998: 1.42 million
tonnes),
plastics - 610 thousand tonnes (1998: 600 thousand tonnes),
tinplate - 322 thousand tonnes (1998: 375 thousand tonnes),
aluminum - 37 thousand tonnes (1998: 43 thousand tonnes);
composites - 391 thousand tonnes (1998: 345 thousand
tonnes).
The Dual System has fulfilled the higher targets set by the Packaging
Ordinance Amendment. As from Jan. 1, 1999, the Packaging
Ordinance Amendment raised the recycling and recovery quotas for
glass to 75%, for paper and cardboard to 70%, and for plastics,
aluminum and composites to 60%. The target for tinplate remained
constant at 70%. The recycling and recovery quotas are calculated
on the basis of the quantity of packaging licensed with the Dual
System.
The increase in the recycled quantity recorded for composites and,
correspondingly, the decrease recorded for the materials tinplate and
aluminum is the result of an updated study that determines the
seasonal fluctuations of the composite fraction more accurately. The
results of this study affected the Mass Flow Verification in that a
higher proportion of the quantity of packaging recycled had to be
allocated to composites. In contrast, the total quantity of
composites, tinplate and aluminum was practically unchanged as
compared to the previous year.
In the past year, the Dual System succeeded in winning around
2,000 new licensees, bringing the total number to more than 18,500
licensees. As a result, the quantity of licensed packaging rose
substantially. Since this quantity is used as the basis for calculating
the recycling and recovery quotas, the recycling quotas achieved by
the Dual System were lower than in the previous year even though
the recycled quantities were more or less constant.
Strict surveillance
In accordance with the Packaging Ordinance, the Dual System is
obliged to prepare a Mass Flow Verification each year. This
document lists the quantities collected in the specific Federal States
as well as the nationwide recycling and recovery quotas for sales
packaging per material fraction.
The Mass Flow Verification is based on two data sources: Firstly, the
monthly records prepared by the waste management companies.
These document the collected quantities of glass, paper, and
cardboard as well as the quantities of lightweight packaging placed
by consumers in yellow bags, bins, and containers. Secondly, the
figures presented in the Mass Flow Verification are based on
certificates issued by the guarantors in respect of the subsequent
recycling of used sales packaging. The data are reviewed
continuously, as well as being subjected to plausibility checks. This
also applies to all quantities of sorted recyclables, stock on hand and
sorting residue. In 1999, independent experts inspected around 100
sorting plants and 50 recycling plants.
Background
Duales System Deutschland AG is a privately operated public limited
company that is not traded on the stock exchange. It is organized as
a non-profit company on account of the purpose for which it was set
up: The Dual System fulfils the obligations prescribed by the German
Packaging Ordinance of 1991 and the Amendment of 1998 on behalf
of industry and trade. As an umbrella organization for the recycling of
sales packaging, the company neither owns nor runs any sorting or
recycling plants itself. On the contrary, it organizes the collection,
sorting and recycling of packaging in line with the specifications of
the Packaging Ordinance with the support of 537 waste management
partners in the Federal Republic of Germany. The objective of the
company is to prevent and recycle sales packaging.
Source: Duales System Deutschland
Edited by Kate Goff
Solid Waste.com Newsletter
Sdílet článek na sociálních sítích