Pressurised gas cylinders and cartridges are considered packaging and are subject to the German Packaging Act. The Advisory Board of the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) recently adopted a recommendation dealing with thick-walled pressurised gas cylinders and cartridges. These are increasingly accumulating as waste in private households. The ZSVR Advisory Board deals with measures to improve the collection, sorting and recycling of waste containing recyclable materials, discusses issues of particular importance for cooperation between local authorities and systems and issues recommendations.
The disposal of pressurised gas cylinders and cartridges is often a problem for private end users. There is often uncertainty as to whether the cylinders are completely empty. As recycling proves to be very time-consuming and in order to ensure trouble-free disposal, the Advisory Board is unanimously in favour of a Mandatory deposit for thick-walled disposable pressurised gas cylinders and cartridges with gases of all types (helium, butane, propane) in the 200 ml range and above out. Accordingly, the introduction of a mandatory deposit in the Packaging Act should be examined.
An important concern of the advisory board is the development of measures that contribute to improving collection quality. Pressurised gas cylinders and cartridges are generally disposed of in the disposed of in the yellow bin or the yellow sack. The assumes, however, that the packaging has been completely emptied. Consumers cannot always determine this and the weight of the packaging also makes it unsuitable for disposal in the yellow bag.
A A mandatory deposit could ensure the reuse of packaging and reduce the risks associated with recycling unused pressurised gas cylinders and cartridges. The Advisory Board of the ZSVR in favour of a deposit solution, which should also be enshrined in the Packaging Act.
Source: Central Agency Packaging Register Foundation
