Climate und environmental protection potentials

Waste management in Germany has undergone considerable change since the early 1990s. Both the policy and legal framework, as well as voluntary commitments and declarations of the industry, have allowed a paradigm shift from a disposal economy towards a circular economy..

This paradigm shift allowed a considerable contribution of waste management to climate protection. For instance, after the landfill ban for untreated waste adopted in 2005,  generation of methane emissions effectively ceased altogether. Municipal solid waste is increasingly source-separated and recycled or recovered in Germany since the ban came into effect. This avoids the consumption of primary raw materials for production or energy purposes, and makes an additional important contribution to climate protection as well as resource conservation and environmental protection.

All contributions of waste management to climate and environmental protection are modelled and quantified with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, which allows a holistic evaluation of waste management activities. Both direct emissions and emissions avoided by substitution of primary products and energy factor into a model. The results represent mitigation potentials. They offer decision-making aids in politics, for public authorities andthe industry. Moreover, LCA results transparently identify opportunities for substantial emission mitigation.

Contact

Regine Vogt

Dipl. Ing. Technical Environment Protection
+49 (0)6221 4767 22
regine.vogt@ifeu.de

Projects

SWM-GHG Calculator (2023)

Tool for calculating Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in Solid Waste Management (SWM)

The SWM-GHG Calculator first released in 2009 to support developing and emerging countries better understand the GHG effects of solid waste management has now been updated and includes further…

Disposal - Recycling - Reuse

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

SKU-balance 2020

The SKU balance has been compiled every two years since 2010. A focus topic of the SKU balance 2020 is the investigation into the generation and treatment of used textiles and e-waste.

Second-Hand-Shop

Balance on mass flow, climate change and environmental aspects for the federal province of Berlin in 2018

SKU-balance 2018

The SKU balance has been compiled every two years since 2010. A special topic for 2018 is the preparation for re-use accompanying the Berlin Re-Use Initiative..

2016 MGE waste balance for Berlin

The material flow, greenhouse gas and environmental balance for the year 2016 – the 2016 SKU balance sheet – provides an update of the impact of waste disposal in Berlin on the climate and the…

India waste container

Resource and Climate Protection through integrated Waste Management Projects in Emerging Economies and Developing Countries – Example India

Waste management India

Waste management in developing and emerging countries such as India is often still dependent on land-filling, and in many cases there is no organised waste collection. The study shows evaluation and…

2014 MGE waste balance for Berlin

The material flow, greenhouse gas and environmental balance (MGESKU) for the state of Berlin is used to optimise waste management, taking into account climate and environmental protection issues, and…

Climate protection potentials in waste management

The study reveals significant international potential for greenhouse gas reductions in the waste management sector. This applies to newly-industrialised countries and developing countries, but also…

Action plan for the implementation of an exemplary and climate-friendly waste management in the Federal State of Berlin

The purpose and goal of the present study was the analysis of the waste management situation in the Federal State of Berlin including waste material flows and associated greenhouse gas emissions.…

Berlin waste as a resource

The present study is an extension of the Plan of measures for the implementation of an exemplary climate-friendly waste management in the Federal State of Berlin. The goals included the support of the…

Kreislauf

Climate Protection Potential in the Waste Management Sector. Examples: Municipal Solid Waste and Waste Wood

This research project has used the methodology of eco-balancing to examine the efforts of the municipal waste management sector – including the use of waste wood – in Germany, the 27 Member States as…

Tool for Calculating Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in Solid Waste Management (SWM)

Developing and emerging countries may improve their greenhouse gas (GHG) balance significantly by establishing sustainable solid waste management systems. The “Tool for Calculating GHG emissions in…