Balance on mass flow, climate change and environmental aspects for the federal province of Berlin in 2020

SKU-balance 2020

© Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Mobilität, Verbraucher- und Klimaschutz

The SKU balance has been compiled every two years since 2010. The goal and intention is to further optimize Berlin's waste and recycling management, to evaluate goals and to control waste streams. The 2020 SKU balance includes some important updates and new features.

The energy transition also has an impact on the potential contribution to climate protection through recycling. Greenhouse gas emissions are declining, particularly for power-intensive primary processes such as the production of aluminum or cellulose. New findings on the recycling paths and savings potential were researched in a UBA project led by ifeu (Vogt, et al., publication planned for 2022) and used to update the fact sheets for waste paper and scrap metal.

Furthermore, the framework conditions have changed, especially for packaging waste that is subject to mandatory system participation. Since 2019, new recycling quotas (Packaging Act) have been in force, which will increase from January 2022 (§ 16 VerpackG). The packaging waste that is subject to the system is a subset of light weight packaging and non-packaging made of the same material. Thanks to information for the Hultschiner Damm sorting plant, the calculation for these packaging wastes and their fact sheet could be updated.

A special focus of the SKU balance 2020 is on investigations into the generation and treatment of used textiles and e-waste. There was no reliable, Berlin-specific data for these two material flows. Overall, the data for these material flows is incomplete. To determine the collection volumes, the project partner ARGUS researched existing data sources and carried out a comprehensive stakeholder survey. ifeu provided support and redesigned the climate gas and environmental balance sheet.

Results for used textiles were briefly presented in the specialist dialogue "Circular Textile Economy in Berlin". The specialist dialogue series under the Berlin Re-Use Initiative also includes an ifeu contribution on the subject of retreading truck tires (specialist dialogue “Use of retreaded truck tires”).

As part of the SKU balance 2020, the tool for welfare and used goods department stores created for 2018 was expanded to include further used goods in cooperation with ebay. The tool allows the orienting calculation of greenhouse gas savings potentials through the re-use of used items. The calculator can be used online as a CO₂ calculator in a web version of ebay.