Reprocessing waste materials. - Germans generate reduced quantities of waste.
Germany has experienced a decrease in waste production for several years, according to a report from the Federal Statistical Office. In 2022, the total amount of waste handled was 399.1 million tonnes, which is a 3.0% drop from the previous year. The highest waste generation occurred in 2018 with 417.2 million tonnes. Waste generation has since been declining, and in 2022, it returned to the level of 2013.
Lesser Volume of Waste Generation in Germany
The reduction in waste generation was reflected across all types of waste, as noted by statisticians. The category involving private households called 'settlement waste' saw the largest decline, falling by 6.2%, down to 48.6 million tonnes. Construction and demolition waste, which accounts for the largest portion, also experienced a decrease (2.6%) of 216.2 million tonnes.
The recycling rate remained almost steady, with 326.5 million tonnes of waste being 'recycled or energetically processed,' as the office translates it. Overall, 70.2% of all waste was recycled, while 11.7% was incinerated, and 16.3% ended up on landfills.
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In this context, Destatis, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, reported the decrease in waste generation. Despite this decrease, a significant portion of Germany's waste still ends up in landfills, making it essential for further waste management strategies.
Following Germany's lead, Destatis found that private households' 'settlement waste' saw a notable decrease, causing a lower volume of garbage generated.
