Entsorgungshinweise.de, a group founded in March 2020 around the Leipzig-based start-up Pharetis, has now presented a four-point programme to improve the recycling rate in Germany. Among other things, it calls for a recycling traffic light to indicate the recyclability of packaging.
Only around 16 per cent of all waste in Germany is properly recycled - the majority ends up in incineration plants. For this reason, the team at Entsorgungshinweise.de has now presented a four-point programme to improve the recycling rate. The programme also includes the demand, Disposal and separation instructions on all packaging and thus take a decisive step towards sustainable disposal.
Although Germany is considered a pioneer in waste separation and 67 per cent of households stated in a representative survey that they separate their waste correctly, this is often not the case. The reason: many people do not realise that the Separation of individual packaging components is essential for successful recycling. This prevents a better recycling rate, as packaging made from a mix of materials can only be recycled poorly or not at all.
Clear disposal instructions on all packaging would be a simple visual measure to raise awareness of correct separation and minimise waste separation errors. In general, the team would like to see a Increased educational work, to ensure that correct waste separation reaches households and clearly opposes the official interpretation that the incineration and export of waste also counts as recycling and is included in the statistics.
Entsorgungshinweise.de wants to reform recycling
Other demands include the revision of the Green Dot symbol. The symbol, which was introduced in 1990, created the first recycling awareness before the turn of the millennium, but no longer does justice to today's packaging. Also a recycling traffic light is recommended by Entsorgungshinweise.de to indicate on all products and packaging how complex the recycling process is. Although thermal recycling generates energy, it also harms the environment.
„It should be a matter close to all our hearts to reform recycling so that it doesn't just remain lip service. Clear labelling on products would be a first step towards promoting transparency and a sustainable cycle. But without the industry and without political will, we consumers will only be able to accelerate this to a limited extent, which is precisely why companies must be held accountable. In addition, environmentally conscious behaviour should be rewarded.“ Dirk Ehrlich, initiator of Entsorgungshinweise.de
After the team around founder Dirk Ehrlich had already been working on packaging problems for a long time, the project picked up speed during the first lockdown in 2020. Students, philosophers, parents, experts from the food sector, members of various socio-political initiatives and employees of Pharetis GmbH, a company that promotes the free exchange of knowledge on the Internet, joined the group. There was much discussion, information was collated and mutual additions were made. As a result Disposal instructions.de to raise awareness of this complex issue and offer solutions. To this end, the group has launched a Four-point programme with their political demands:
Mandatory disposal instructions
For an immediate improvement in the recycling rate, all packaging must be labelled with helpful separation and disposal instructions. These material separation instructions can be printed immediately without major investment and help environmentally conscious households to separate and dispose of materials correctly.
Update of the Green Dot
The Green Dot, which was introduced in 1990 and has brought the separation of lightweight packaging into people's minds, needs an update because today's recycling requirements are significantly higher and more complex.
Increased educational work
More educational work needs to be done. Consumers need to know clearly how to dispose of packaging waste correctly.
The recycling traffic light
A recycling traffic light, which indicates the recyclability of the packaging or even the product, would provide a simple, visual incentive to make a sustainable, recycling-friendly purchasing decision.
[infotext icon]Entsorgungshinweise.de is a voluntary group of employees from the Leipzig-based start-up Pharetis GmbH as well as students and other experts from various fields who care about the conscious use of the earth's resources. They want to publicise their pooled knowledge, draw attention to the current problems with recycling and encourage those responsible in politics and industry to increase the recycling rate and suggest pragmatic solutions in order to raise consumer awareness. The group was founded in Leipzig in March 2020[/infotext].Source: Disposal instructions.de
