Interview

Recycling is a practical way to protect nature

Intact natural life cycles and a clean environment are the basis of life for all living things.

An interview with the president of NABU, Olaf Tschimpke, on how the environmental service branch contributes towards nature conservation

Less waste and much more recycling are not dreams of the future for NABU (The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union). Today, we are already able to produce resource-efficient, long-lasting recyclable products. Besides the systems for reusable products, material recycling of all recyclable materials is an important precursor for the recycling branch. Clear legal regulations without any loopholes are needed to protect natural resources and the climate. For, intact natural life cycles are the basis of life for all living things. The preconditions for this are a clean environment and humans making as little impact on nature as possible.

been widely accepted in Germany. However, we must continue as before to carefully observe what happens to our waste. Even in the 21st century, hazardous waste is still being discovered in places in Germany where it does not belong, such as in the material used to fill clay quarries in some German states. Contamination from pollutants through waste disposal has been considerably reduced thanks to regulatory policies – e.g. setting limits – and binding political targets – e.g. recycling rates. Credit must be given to those active in environmental matters that the current recycling discussion revolves around three important subjects that are not being pitted off against each other: protection against pollutants, protecting the climate and preserving natural resources.

REMONDIS aktuell: To what extent is the recycling branch a partner of the environment and where must politicians take the helm?

Olaf Tschimpke: Practically all businesses working within the branch make a great contribution towards protecting the environment. However, this only ever happens in a limited structure, i.e. a company is active, or a company group or a branch association. A new RDF plant or a new line in a waste-to-energy plant prevents, first and foremost, resource and climate-friendly recycling even if both of them are considerably better for the climate than simply taking waste to landfill. It is the politicians’ task to set responsible, ambitious political targets, to ensure they are maintained and to set such systems in motion as necessary. The German constitution and the strategy of sustainability demand this as the guiding principle of German federal politics. The obligation and need to preserve biodiversity, which is essential if humans are to survive, must also be mentioned here. The debate about guaranteeing supplies of raw materials by having a functioning recycling branch confirms our opinion that the work shall in the end result in the active protection of nature and the environment having only positive benefits – both economical and social.

REMONDIS aktuell: Germany has had a new Government since October 2009. What do you expect of them, in particular as far as their policies concerning resource and waste management are concerned?

Olaf Tschimpke: Here, I would like to pick out three points besides the great task of protecting biodiversity and the climate: first, we do not expect a simple “Let’s continue as before” but an eco-political, high quality amendment to the Recycling Law. This law and its predecessors have set international standards. The law must continue to live up to these aspirations. This means that both waste prevention and the re-use and recycling of resources that have already been processed should be given priority so that German recycling policies once again become international forerunners. As Germany finds itself in a dilemma of having such a diverse and active waste management branch, the amendment and resulting policies will have a negative effect on some of the lines of business. In this case, politicians must show ‘backbone’. Secondly, recycling policies alone cannot save the world. Resources and the climate can only be protected if sustainable production and sustainable consumption are increased. One very important point will be that, before this term of office is over, 100 % public procurement will indirectly promote leading environmentally friendly markets. This will range from the obligation to use products made of recycled plastic to the household collection of separated waste across the whole country as well as using biowaste and green waste to produce biogas and substitute turf material. In addition, the Government must use the many climate policy instruments available to increase resource efficiency to ensure that pilot projects become effective across the market. I would name contracting models as an example of promoting efficiency.

Thirdly, I would like to argue the case for a concrete way to reduce waste: NABU recently commissioned the Öko-Institut to find a solution that pushes forward eco-friendly drinks packaging again. The results show that a resource and environmental material tax on drinks packaging is feasible from both a legal and political point of view. Moreover, it would have a guiding effect on the market without destroying it. In addition to deposits on disposable drinks packaging, this suggested tax would provide an initiative that would allow the political targets for drinks packaging to be within reaching distance.

REMONDIS aktuell: You mentioned the regulations of the EU Waste Directive and the amendment to the Recycling Law. What concrete eco-political measures would be necessary to ensure that the demands you have on a modern recycling sector could become reality?

Olaf Tschimpke: The political discussion about the amendment is in full swing. As far as the contents are concerned, the Waste Directive represents a European compromise. Germany has a great responsibility when it comes to transferring technology and know-how as it has such a strong environmental technology branch. To prevent it from becoming a ‘waste management dinosaur’, it is important to ensure that emission protection, resource preservation and climate protection become the guiding principles of the Recycling Law. This also means that some of the structures in Germany must be changed. We must implement the maxim “reduce, reuse, recycle” more vigorously than before to ensure that the recycling business promoted by the EU can become reality. In accordance with the second law of thermodynamics, the law must assume that it is better for the environment to reuse or recycle material, that has already been processed, rather than incinerating it or taking it to landfill. For this reason we need the EU’s five-step waste hierarchy (prevention, reuse, recycling, energy recovery, disposal) to become a general rule in Germany, too. If, depending on the material flow input, it can be proven that it makes ecological sense to deviate from this hierarchy, then this should only be possible through strict exemption clauses. By introducing a clear hierarchy and regulations on recycling rates, i.e. a minimum 65 percent for each individual material stream from household waste, politicians could ensure that the course is set to preserve raw materials. To simplify the debate, we should stop using the word recycling in ‘energy recycling’ but call it energy recovery instead. Quality assurance must remain the top priority when it comes to environmental policies for all matters concerning material streams. This starts with the separate collection of all secondary raw materials – including biowaste and green waste as well as goods containing pollutants – and ends with end-of-pipe technologies, such as flue-gas treatment and the necessary ongoing collection and monitoring of all emission data.

Furthermore, a greater part of the commercial waste that is currently being taken to RDF plants and cement works must be recycled by having the above-mentioned recycling rates also apply to commercial waste that is similar to municipal waste.

Last but not least, Germany must do its homework to see how more waste can be avoided. The Government’s counsel of experts for environmental matters stressed in their latest report that waste prevention cannot be achieved by the Recycling Law alone. However: each inhabitant in Germany produces almost 600 kilograms of waste which is way above the EU average. The Recycling Law should, therefore, define the goal of not only uncoupling economic growth and waste generation but also continuously lowering the absolute amount of waste generation per capita by a realistic percentage amount.

REMONDIS aktuell: Mr Tschimpke, thank you very much for the interview which has once again clarified the eco-political maxim of the recycling economy. I would like to wish you continued success with your work.

“Germany has a great responsibility as it has such a strong environmental technology branch.”

Intact natural life cycles and a clean environment are the basis of life for all living things.

 “Many players within the waste management industry have realized that a recycling branch not only benefits people and nature but can also benefit companies over the medium and long term.”

The subject of sustainability must be a dominant theme in German politics.