CIRCULAR ECONOMY ACT

WHAT DOES CIRCULAR ECONOMY MEAN? WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY ACT?

The purpose of the Act is to promote the circular economy to conserve natural resources and to ensure the protection of people and the environment in the generation and management of waste. The circular economy act emphasises the avoidance, recovery and recycling of waste over disposal.

This results in the 5-level waste hierarchy §6 (1):

Avoidance
Preparation for recycling
Recycling
other recovery, in particular energy recovery and backfilling
Disposal

Determining the optimal recycling measure requires a comprehensive life cycle assessment comparison.

The entire life cycle of the waste is to be considered, with regard to §6 (2):

the emissions to be expected
the degree of conservation of natural resources
the energy to be used or recovered
the accumulation of pollutants in products, in waste for recycling or in
products obtained therefrom

The highest-quality measure is to be selected in each case. The aim of the high quality requirement is to counteract so-called downcycling, i.e. the progressive deterioration of the recycled products with increasing duration of the recycling cycle.

Priority should be given to the measure
that best ensures the protection of people and the environment

in the production and management of waste,

taking into account the precautionary and sustainability principles!