Figures, Trends, and Outlook Plastic Recycling in Germany

Plastics recycling is considered a key component of the circular economy. But how efficiently is waste actually recycled in Germany? A look at the latest figures, trends, and future challenges.

It is hard to imagine modern daily life without plastics. According to the study “Material Flow Map of Plastics in Germany 2023,” which is conducted every two years, the industry processed a total of 12.8 million metric tons (Mio. t) of plastics in 2023 for material applications, such as packaging, automotive, medical technology, as well as sports and electronics. 

At the same time, waste disposal poses a major challenge for the environment and society. In Germany, the plastic recycling therefore plays an important role in conserving resources and reducing environmental impact.

Plastic Waste in Germany

In 2023, 5.91 million metric tons of plastic waste were generated in Germany. About 94 percent of this waste was generated after the plastics had been used (post-consumer waste). The remaining six percent was generated during the production and, above all, the processing of plastics.

In 2023, nearly all of the collected plastic waste was recycled or used for energy recovery. In addition, there were slightly more than 0.4 million metric tons of byproducts from production and processing; however, these were not classified as waste but were returned to the manufacturing process.

Trends in Plastic Waste Recycling: The recycling volumes reported refer to plastic waste generated in Germany—measured at the output-based calculation point—regardless of whether it was recycled in Germany or abroad.&They therefore do not represent the quantities processed by German recycling companies. The same applies to energy recovery volumes.

Source: Material Flow Map of Plastics in Germany 2023 -Facts and Figures on the Life Cycle of Plastics (Conversio)

Plastic Recycling in Germany

In 2023, 99.5 percent of all collected plastic waste was recycled:

• Of the 5.91 million metric tons of total plastic waste, 2.27 million metric tons—or 38.4%—were used for industrial and raw material purposes or in chemical processes.
• 3.61 million metric tons, or 61.1 percent, were used for energy recovery—2.25 million metric tons of which were incinerated in waste-to-energy plants, while 1.36 million metric tons were used as substitute fuel to replace fossil fuels in facilities such as cement plants and power plants.
• 32,000 metric tons, or about 0.5 percent, were disposed of. This plastic waste was therefore sent to landfills or incinerated in facilities that did not recover sufficient energy.

These figures show that plastic recycling is the second most common method of waste disposal in Germany. Energy recovery ranks first—that is, the conversion of plastic waste into usable heat, electricity, or fuels through incineration or other processes.

How Plastic Recycling Works

In plastic recycling, used plastics are collected, sorted, processed, and then turned into new material. The goal is to conserve raw materials and reduce the amount of plastic waste.

A distinction is generally made between mechanical and chemical recycling:

• In mechanical recycling, the plastic is largely preserved and is simply cleaned and reshaped. 
• In chemical recycling, the plastic is broken down into its chemical components, which can then be used to produce new plastics.

Differences in Material Recycling

In 2023, the recycling rates for waste from plastic production and plastic processing were 85% and nearly 88%, respectively. Just under 33% of plastic waste from private households was recycled, while approximately 39% of plastic waste from commercial end-use was recycled. 

The reason for these differing rates is that plastics generated by industry are usually very clean and sorted by type, whereas those from households and many commercial businesses are contaminated and mixed. 

Use of Recycled Plastics in Germany

Main applications of recycled plastics (1.93 million metric tons) and reused by-products (0.5 million metric tons) in new products are construction materials and packaging. In 2023, approximately 67% of the recycled materials and by-products used in Germany were applied in these two areas. Of the recycled materials used in plastics processing, 1.54 million metric tons (79.8%) came from post-consumer waste (waste from private and commercial end-use), and 0.39 million metric tons (20.2%) came from production and processing waste.

Use of Recycled Plastics in Germany in 2023: Recycled plastics are in high demand as a raw material, particularly in the construction and packaging sectors. 

Source: Material Flow Map for Plastics in Germany 2023 -Facts and Figures on the Life Cycle of Plastics (Conversio)

Problems and Challenges 

Among the biggest challenges in plastics recycling are the quality and price of recycled materials compared to virgin materials. The plastics processing industry requires large quantities of recycled plastics that are produced under strictly controlled conditions and at a competitive price. 

However, since plastics often need to be tailored to the functional and aesthetic requirements of their intended use, the wide variety of raw materials further complicates the recycling process. This makes it expensive and compromises the quality of the final product.