Evaluation of the collection and recovery of selected waste streams for the further development of circular economy : final report

As part of the general producer responsibility regulated by the German Circular Economy Act, there are special legal regulations for the collection and environmentally sound disposal of certain waste streams (e.g. for packaging, batteries, waste electrical and electronic equipment, end-of-life vehicles). These require producers to set up collection systems for the disposal of the corresponding waste and to achieve certain recycling and, in some cases, collection rates. The research project examined whether and how resource conservation and environmental relief potentials can be realized for other waste streams - especially end-of-life tyres and used textiles - through improved collection and recovery. In addition, there are other waste streams for which it can be assumed that the current regulations are insufficient to realize the inherent recycling potential in these waste streams. Bulky waste, mattresses, furniture, carpets, artificial turf and diapers were identified as such waste streams. The project examined the waste streams in terms of collection and utilization practices, identified barriers to resource-efficient waste management, and derived measures to improve prevention, preparation for reuse, and recycling of these waste streams. In a first step, the material flows of the waste streams were analyzed with regard to their quantity and used disposal routes. For this purpose, statistics and secondary sources were reviewed and interviews were conducted. In a second step, the identified disposal routes were evaluated with regard to ecological criteria, including pollutant aspects and resource conservation potentials, as well as economic criteria. From this assessment, conclusions and measures have been derived that can improve the recycling of the individual waste streams in terms of a resource-saving circular economy. The measures were prioritized based on various criteria. The results of the project were discussed in three technical meetings with the stakeholders involved in the individual waste streams.