Country profile

Germany

Waste generation, collection, composition, treatment and policy statistics for Germany.

Indicator years 2022–2024Eur. & Cent. AsiaHIC

Municipal waste generated616kg per person · 2024 · Eurostat · municipal waste generated

Collection coverage—No published value

Municipal recycling rate69%2024 · Eurostat · municipal recycling rate

Uncollected waste—No published value

Open dumping—No published value

Sanitary landfill1.4%2022 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported treatment share

Waste composition

World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · 2022 · reported material shares

Food and organics35.5%

Wood22.1%

Paper and cardboard20.1%

Plastic8.5%

Glass7.6%

Textiles4.4%

Metal1.9%

World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · 2022 · reported treatment and disposal shares

Recycling in treatment mix47.0%

Incineration29.5%

Composting22.1%

Sanitary landfill1.4%

National waste lawYes

National waste planClimate Action Plan 2050

Responsible institutionFederal Environment Agency

Producer responsibilityYes

EPR operating statusLegally-binding regulations in place

Deposit-return systemYes