Topics | Umweltbundesamt

The recycling rate for municipal waste rose from 56 % in 2002 to 67.7 % in 2022.The target set by the Federal Government of increasing the recycling percentage for municipal waste to 65 % by 2020 has therefore been achieved.However, there is still a need for action for individual subgroups of municipal waste. read more

The volume of municipal waste fluctuates only slightly over time. In 2022 it stood at 48.6 million tonnes.The target of environmental policy is the avoidance of waste generation.This target has not been achieved for the municipal waste. To reduce resource consumption, municipal waste has to decline. read more

The aims of the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) are "to protect the environment and health" and "to conserve natural resources". The basic prerequisites for achieving these aims are to prevent waste and an efficent, high quality recycling. The ElektroG also requires producers to assume responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products. read more

Raw materials and energy are key resources when it comes to product manufacturing as well as product use – which, however is inextricably bound up with other resources as well. For product use can have an environmental impact on air, water and soil resources, and can even be harmful to ecosystems and biodiversity. read more

Antarctica was only first discovered in the early 19th century – no human had ever set foot on the southernmost continent before that. Even today, there are no permanent settlements aside from scientific stations. The people who travel to the Antarctic today are researchers, tourists or journalists. read more