Report of the Federal Environmental Agency: Germans consume more packaging waste than ever before

The amount of packaging waste in Germany rose to a record high in 2017. 18.7 million tonnes were incurred, as the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) announced - mathematically, this was 226.5 kilograms per person and three percent more than in the previous year.

Private consumers had a share of 47 percent or 107 kilograms per capita. The Environment Agency published the report on "The emergence and recycling of packaging in Germany" as a prelude to the European Week on Waste Prevention. Among other reasons, she cites trends for online delivery and eating and drinking to go. Another reason for the higher consumption are smaller portions.

DPA / Alexander Heinl

Take away food is one of the main reasons for the increasing amount of packaging waste in Germany

Clear demand for more reusable

"We use too much packaging," said UBA President Maria Krautzberger. "That's bad for the environment and for the consumption of raw materials." Waste should be avoided as early as possible in the production phase.

"Unnecessary and unnecessarily material-intensive packaging should therefore be avoided." It needs "a lot more returnable", not only with mineral water and beer. "You can also take your coffee with you in a returnable cup and if you take your food with you, you should be able to do so in reusable containers," said Krautzberger.

The figures for 2018 will be published in the coming year.

Video: Plastic waste in the sea - that's how our oceans could be cleaned

Video

You Tube / Seabin

Although a lot of packaging waste is generated in Germany, it is also recycled a lot - almost 70 percent, as the UBA further communicated. The quota is heavily dependent on the material. It is very high at 92.2 percent for steel, 87.6 percent for paper and board and 84.4 percent for glass. Plastic packaging waste is recycled to 49.7 percent, from wood to 25.8 percent.

Recent articles about garbage:

• Plastic garbage: How sailors pollute the sea
• Report from environmentalists: Few companies responsible for much of the plastic waste
• Returns in the garbage: Scientists denounce waste in online trading