There is often a prevailing opinion that our mountains of waste are constantly growing. If we look at Rhineland-Palatinate, with a per capita waste generation of 523 kilograms in 2022, that is a lot. If we go back twelve years to 2010, it was “only” 515 kilograms. The reason for this is unclear. Population growth cannot really have been the decisive factor. In 2010, 4,003,745 people lived there, and in 2022, the figure was 4,108,555. However, the situation was different in Lower Saxony, Berlin, and Bavaria, for example. In these three states, as in others, the amount of waste is declining
(Source: Statistische Ämter)
Looking at the figures for Berlin, one might say that it is only natural that the amount of household waste collected there is declining. People are simply throwing everything onto the streets. This statement is certainly true for Berlin-Mitte, for example. The district is littered with trash. Fortunately, however, this is not the case throughout the entire country.
Waste separation was the first step toward waste prevention
Waste separation is likely to have made many people aware of the issue of waste. The indifferent treatment of household waste that prevailed until the 1970s was successfully replaced. Back then, batteries ended up in the kitchen trash can along with newspapers, potato peels, and plastic. The whole hodgepodge was dumped in landfills. Frankfurt’s “Monte Scherbelino” was the “garbage landmark” in the Main metropolis. Terms such as recycling or recyclable materials did not appear in the vocabulary at that time. It was only with the introduction of waste separation that people became aware that not all waste had to be destroyed, but could be recycled.
In the case of food, for example, the learning process led to some shops, which initially seemed strange, encouraging their customers to bring their own containers. This served to avoid packaging waste. Chain stores came to the conclusion that disposable plastic vegetable bags should be replaced by reusable cloth bags.
When it comes to packaging waste, especially for fruit and vegetables, Germans still have a lot to learn from southern Europe. Goods are sold loose much more frequently. At Aldi Italy, for example, the range of pre-packaged vegetables is much more manageable than at Aldi Germany.
Refurbed – the alternative to throwing away non-food products
When it comes to electronic goods in particular, there are two very contrasting trends among the population. Some want to always have the latest technology, while others think the main thing is that the device works.
The increasingly strong link between these consumer groups are companies that buy used devices, refurbish them, and resell them with a warranty, but at a significantly lower price. The Huawei P40 smartphone costs around 470 euros new. As a “refurbed product,” it is available for around 300 euros.
What are the trends for household waste in the future?
The almost nationwide decline in waste from private households is a welcome development. The general attitude toward waste prevention also shows a trend that we can consider positive.
Unfortunately, it is still visually overshadowed by outliers, such as Berlin-Mitte. A relaxation of food law regarding the use of consumers’ own means of transport, even for meat and sausage products, would further counteract the need for packaging waste.
In principle, however, we in Germany should be on an acceptable path – fortunately, the situation elsewhere in the world is not discussed in this article.
