Overview
- Germany’s packaging monitor ZSVR and the Environment Agency UBA report roughly 71% of plastic packaging reached material recycling in 2024, about two points higher than 2023 and 29 points above 2018, exceeding the EU minimum of 63%.
- Officials reject the belief that most yellow-bin waste is burned, noting that more than half goes into sorting and material recycling, while non-recyclables and mis-sorted items mostly go to energy recovery.
- Glass reached 82.9% and beverage cartons 69.5% in 2024, missing the EU target of 90%, with five of eight overall packaging quotas achieved and calls for more glass container sites and better household separation.
- Gains are attributed to modern sorting systems using magnets, sieves and near-infrared scanners and to more recycling-friendly packaging designs, with producers facing tighter EU design rules from 2030.
- Austria now requires all empty plastic and metal packaging to go into the yellow bin or sack since January 1, 2025, excluding deposit containers, reflecting broader efforts to improve collection clarity.