As of: 27.07.2010Legislation
The German law on waste management comprises a dense body of legislation. Legislative action is divided into two areas:
firstly, measures aimed at substances and materials used in production and, secondly, binding procedural rules to create
uniform standards for the measurement, recycling or disposal of waste.
The most important milestones when it comes to the procedural regulations the German legislature has adopted independently of
EU-wide regulations are:
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The Closed Substance Cycle and Waste Management Act. It establishes a broad-based closed substance management.
Priority is given to the avoidance and recycling of waste over waste disposal.
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The Packaging Ordinance. It transfers responsibility for taking back and recycling packaging waste to
producers or distributors. It encourages producers/distributors to use packaging only where it is really indispensable. In
addition, materials that can be recycled more cost-effectively are increasingly being used for packaging.
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The End-Of-Life Vehicle Ordinance. It gives consumers the right to return their end-of-life vehicles free of
charge. The manufacturers are obligated to observe legally prescribed recycling quotas and not to use certain substances and
materials in production.
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The Battery Ordinance. It obligates consumers to return batteries to retailers or to local authority
collection points. Manufacturers must recycle the returned batteries and dispose of non-recyclable batteries.
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The Waste Deposit Ordinance. It constitutes that untreated biodegradable or municipal waste rich in organic
substances may no longer be landfilled. This prevents the accumulation of landfill gas - a key factor in protecting the
climate.
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