Commercial Waste Ordinance

(GewAbfV)

Legal amendment from 01/01/2019

To increase the proportion of “industrial waste disposed of” – recycling – significantly, the federal cabinet decided in November 2016 to implement the EU requirements for the “Amendment of the Commercial Waste Ordinance”. The first relevant amendment came into effect on 1st August 2017. Other changes were implemented on 1st January 2019. Since then, the entry into force of the Commercial Waste Ordinance (GewAbfV) has resulted in significant changes for you as a waste producer or trader. We would like to support you as well as possible in the legally compliant implementation. Here is the most important information on the implementation of all necessary adaptations by our company.

With the Commercial Waste Ordinance, to further the development of climate and resource protection, the legislator has set the goal of exploiting the existing recycling potential to the best extent possible and of promoting the recycling of commercial municipal waste and construction and demolition waste through separation and sorting.

With the separate collection obligation, the Ordinance heightens the requirements for waste separation and single-origin collection .

1. Separate collection obligation according to Section 3(1) and Section 8(1) GewAbfV

The separate collection of different waste at the point of origin (in the company) applies for the following waste:

Construction and demolition waste (separation and single-origin collection directly at the building site)

Glass
Plastics
Metal
Wood
…

Commercial municipal waste

Paper, cardboard, boxes
Textiles
Organic waste
...
And where applicable other commercial and industrial waste according to Section 2(1) GewAbfV

If the separate collection obligation is not possible on a technical level or is not reasonable on an economic level, the following applies:

2. Separate collection obligation according to Section 4(1) and Section 9(1) GewAbfV

The sorting obligation is only intended as an exception to the separate collection obligation and has to be justified by the waste generator in detailed documentation.

Supply to a pre-treatment installation

If the sorting obligation is not possible on a technical level or is not reasonable on an economic level, the following applies:

3. Energetic utilization according to Section 4(4) and Section 9(5) GewAbfV

In the case of energy recovery, the waste producer must also provide detailed documentation. Other waste generated with a separation rate of at least 90 percent by mass must also be recycled for energy recovery if suitable. Otherwise, this waste must be disposed of via the public waste disposal authority (mandatory garbage can).

Non-compliance with the legal requirements can lead to prosecution on the basis of a misdemeanor.

PreZero offers an extensive service package for implementation of the Commercial Waste Ordinance:

extensive information on the legislative amendment
individual consultation by your customer support
a customized concept for the implementation of the new requirements
simple and practical solutions for the implementation of legally required documentation obligations – optionally:
- your “own documentation” online in the PreZero customer portal
- the use of PreZero documentation services

We are available at the following telephone numbers for further questions, detailed information or consultation – we look forward to your call.