Legal basis

The legal framework for handling various kinds of waste is provided by the Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz (KrWG) of 1 June 2012 (law on the promotion of sustainable waste management), which replaces the older Kreislaufwirtschafts- und Abfallgesetz (KrW-/AbfG).

The aim of the law is to promote sustainability at all stages of the waste production chain in order to protect natural resources as well as humans and the environment (KrWG § 1).

The Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz creates a five-tier waste management hierarchy (KrWG § 6):

  1. Prevention
  2. Preparation for recycling
  3. Recycling
  4. Other uses, including energy production and backfilling
  5. Disposal

Waste producer responsibilities

As per KrWG § 3, waste producers are natural persons or corporate entities that produce waste. As per KrWG § 15, waste producers are required to dispose of their waste.

Action must be taken to reduce the volume of the waste and to minimise the risk that it poses. When disposing of your waste, you must ensure that the public is not endangered in any way.

However, as per KrWG § 7, the following principle applies: Waste should preferably be recycled instead of having to be disposed of (KrWG § 7)!

Vermischungsverbot (prohibition to mix waste) as per KrWG § 9: Waste of different kinds and origin must not be mixed under any circumstances.

By authority of the university’s official statement “Amtliche Bekanntmachung” no. 65 /2013, all team leaders are required to inform co-workers and employees about proper waste disposal techniques.

Additional laws and regulations (in German)

Besides the Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz (KrWG), you must also observe the following laws and regulations when collecting, storing and transporting waste: