Federal Environmental Agency (UBA)-Umweltbundesamt

III 1.6 Plastics and Packaging

Umweltbundesamt

Gerhard Kotschik

Woerlitzer Platz 1

06844 Dessau-Rosslau, Germany

We are reporting according to the new calculation rules.

The derogation to make use of the delegated act on average loss rates has not been applied.

Table : Institutions involved in the collection of data and distribution of tasks.

56 packaging segments, 1,400 product groups.

The R/D codes in Annexes I and II of Diective 2008/98/EC were solely used.

Full market coverage.

Reconditioned wood packaging is classified as reusable packaging and is not reported as repaired. They therefore do not have to be taken into account for the calculation of the recycling rate.

The amount of metals in incineration bottom ash (IBA) should be taken into account for the calculation of the targets.

• Glass: open and closed reuse systems for bottles.
• Plastic: open and closed reuse systems for bottles, crates, pallets and other packaging.
• Wood: reuse system for pallets.
• Steel: reuse system for pallets, barrels and crates.

Feedstock recycling; organic recycling. Feedstock recycling of plastic packaging is reported in "other recovery".

34% of Energy Recovery that is from R1 incinerators, out of all Energy Recovery reported.

A correction for storage of packaging waste was not necessary since there were no disproportionate seasonal fluctuations of packaging waste.   

Domestic packaging waste, Germany, metric tons.

Total packaging waste generated in Germany (by resident population (83.798.000), tourists or seasonal workers).

Germany.

01 January 2022 – 31 December 2022.

Not applicable.

Tonnes.

Calendar year.

Directive 94/62/EC sets out the EU’s rules on managing packaging and packaging waste (Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste).

Statistics on packaging and packaging waste are in accordance with the Commission Decision 2005/270/EC.

European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

No disaggregated data collected individually from an actor is published. All data is aggregated before being reported/published.

Expected publication November 2024.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Most of the statistics are updated annually, normally two years (t + 2) after the reference year (t).

Report with information on packaging waste generated and recycled in 2022 is published in the second half of 2024. Information of the press with news article.

Not applicable.

The numbers are checked but the study is not jet published because of some editorial Points that have to be corrected. The GVM has to submit us a corrected version. Then the study will be published on this websit (Publications).

The method for the numbers for 2022 is the same as for the numbers of 2021. The 2021 study with a description of the method is published  on this website ("Aufkommen und Verwertung von Verpackungsabfällen in Deutschland im Jahr 2021"-(DE)).

In Germany, there is no online database with this information.

In the report mentioned under 10.1, the data is broken down and presented in much greater detail.

Report with information on packaging waste generated and recycled in 2022 is published in the second half of 2024.

The methodology is described in the annual report (see 10.1) which will be published at this website (Publications).

The procedure is described in the annual report (see 10.1) which will be published at this website (Publications).

Specification book / service description (Federal Environmental Agency (UBA).

• Maximal error (packaging consumption): 4,2 %.
• Maximal error (packaging recovery): 4,1 %.

Information is not available.

Information is not available.

Information is not available.

The main data weakness is waste treatment of industrial end-users. These results are estimated based on data from waste operating companies.     

Only packaging that was placed on the market for the first time is considered. Medium- and long-term developments are inadequately taken into account by such a static query of the results.

The information in this section is to provide an overarching understanding of the accuracy of any statistical surveys used relating to packaging waste. Some of the information may be available in previous questions.

The information in this section is to provide an overarching understanding of the accuracy of any statistical surveys used relating to packaging waste. Some of the information may be available in other concepts.

Not applicable.

No data from samples was used to report the data on packaging volume and recycling. For this reason, no error can be stated.

Due to the chosen method, a non-sampling error can also not be reported.

Only packaging that was placed on the market for the first time is considered. Medium- and long-term developments are inadequately taken into account by such a static query of the results.

The maximum error for packaging consumption is 4.2 %.

The maximum error for packaging recovery is 4.1 %.

This is also reported in section 11 of the Quality Report.

t+18 (months).

No time lag.

Not applicable.

The new calculation methods were applied since the reference year 2020. Therefore, there are no significant differences.

Information not available.

Coherent data for the different materials.

Explanation detailing the causes of the tonnage difference (in relation to which waste streams, sectors or estimates have caused the difference, and what the underlying cause is) for any component of packaging waste generated and recycled which shows greater than a 10 % variation from the data submitted for the previous data year.

Not applicable.

Results are compiled by the GVM in the year following the reference year and published as part of the recycling balance. These data are revised again at a later date (final results) in order to submit them to the EU Commission.

Germany did not correct backwards data series when when changing sources and methods.

Data of consumer surveys and trade panels were analysed. These data describe the amount and structure of product consumption in Germany. Informations on confidence levels and error margins  of these data is not available.    

The waste samples for waste analysis are taken from:

Most of the statistics are updated annually.

Data from the official statistics are taken into acount when beeing published.

A cross-check of the results on the generation and recycling of packaging was carried out with data from waste analyses. For this purpose, it was compared whether the quantities of private final consumption that are not collected separately and sent for recycling are compatible with the amount of packaging in residual household waste. 

The comparison showed that the differences are small or that the differences can be explained. For plastic packaging, the difference is comparatively higher. The differences may depend on the different years of of the househould residual waste analysis, assumptions regarding rests of the product and the moisture content of the waste. Possible further explanations are aged data of the household residual waste analysis or definitional differences. 

For commercial packaging consumption, a cross-check was carried out with extrapolated data from mixed municipal waste. The magnitudes of these extrapolations match the results on the generation and recycling of packaging. It is planned to find out the reasons for the difference in the coming reference years. 

For all composite packaging, where it was possible with reasonable effort, the different materials from composite packaging were assigned to the respective materials (even if the main material makes up more than 95% of the mass). Examples of composite packaging with more than 95% main material are: Plastic/Aluminum/Plastic (depending on mass percentage of aluminum), Paper/Plastic (depending on mass percentage of plastic). All composites that had less than 95% of a main material were classified into the respective materials. Examples of composites with less than 95% of a main material are: Beverage cartons, paper/aluminum/plastic (depending on the mass fraction of aluminum), paper/plastic (depending on the mass fraction of plastic), tinplate beverage cans with aluminum closures, metal closures with plastic seals. The results refer to a technical analysis of packaging articles.

Additional information about the methodology, including the combination of methods used:

The methodology was comprehensively described in the report.  The main sources are: data from EPR-schemes, data from waste management companies, data from bottom ash analysis (metals), data from surveys (wood), data from sorting plants, data from paper industry, data from foreigen trade statistics.

Data of consumer surveys and trade panels were analysed. These data describe the amount and structure of product consumption in Germany. Informations on confidence levels and error margins of these data is not available.

For the collection of data, only packaging that was placed on the market for the first time is considered. 

Essentially, the following work steps were carried out:

• Database query;
• Estimation of individual reusable systems on the basis of available market knowledge;
• Determination of recycling volumes and/or return rates of major reusable fillers;
• Determination of additional purchases for the purpose of inventory expansion;
• Determination of the development of return rates and/or internal loss rates;
• Expert interviews.

Information on the rotations per year was determined in a simplified procedure and is based on an update of the reference year.

Calculation of recycling of metals from incinerator bottom ash : Detailed description of the method to collect data in order to calculate the amount of metals separated from incineration bottom ash in accordance with the Commission Implementing Act adopted in accordance with Article 37(7) of Directive 2008/98/EC.

Different data is validated by environmental experts and authorities.

The quality control was randomly ensured by special environmental experts ("Sachverständige für die Verpackungsentsorgung"). To a substantial extent, traceability is guaranteed by weighting tickets as a basis of mass-flow-balances.

The shipment of waste was randomly proved by special environmental experts ("Sachverständige für die Verpackungsentsorgung").

The columns in the table relate to information on verification procedures used within the national statistical reporting system to validate the accuracy of the data.

The columns in the table relate to information on verification procedures used within the national statistical reporting system to validate the accuracy of the data.

Compilation of data is done in a study.

Primary sources and their shares in the total.

(*) Necessity of a certain minimum amount of waste, turnover etc. to be registered.

Primary sources and their shares in the total.

(*) Necessity of a certain minimum amount of waste, turnover etc. to be registered

Packaging waste generated estimated by waste analysis

The Approach relys not on data from EPR-Scemes, there a correction for free riders was not necessary. Online sales are included.

Estimations have been made for gross-sale packaging and for tertiary packaging: these estimations were made on the basis of official data on the apparent consumption (=production minus exports plus imports) of films, pallets and Corrugated board in Germany.

Average loss rates were determined on a material-specific basis according to return paths. 

The average loss rates range from 0 percent (recycling quantities that have already been calculated net) to 64 percent (Aluminum household collection).

Data on biowaste treatment were reported for wood and Papier (not for plastics); The estimations were made on the basis of industrial waste stream analyses. The quality of these estimations is weak.

Consumption of composite packaging and of packaging where the materials account for less than 5% of the total mass of the packaging was broken down into the different packaging materials.

In the case of recycling, it was taken into account whether a minor packaging component was recycled, energetically recovered or was a loss. 

Further and more detailed information can be found in the report. 

Description of the sorted packaging waste to which ALRs are applied, types of sorting plants to which different ALRs apply, the methodological approach to calculating ALRs at such point(s), including the statistical accuracy of any surveys used, or the nature of any technical specifications.

Adjustments are done in a study.

Description, where applicable, of the methodology to exclude non-packaging waste from the reported amount of recycled packaging waste and of the methodology to correct the amount of packaging waste at the measurement point in order to reflect the natural humidity rate of packaging (including by using relevant European standards). Aggregated data across facilities of a similar type is acceptable.

Description of the methodology to exclude waste originating from other countries, where applicable. Aggregated data across facilities of a similar type is acceptable.

Data from official statistics, authorities, market information, and special surveys summarized and adapted according to the specifications in a study.