The Circular Economy Strategy of the City of Freiburg

based upon the Concept of Waste Management 2015 - Abfallwirtschaftskonzept AWIKO 2015

with updated new achievements 2015 – 2019

introducing Circular Economy as promoted by the EU-Interreg-Project Greencycle

including 12 Key principles for a Transition towards a Circular Economy - Manifesto for Circular Economy

Deliverable D.T2.2.2_D_Circular Economy Strategy of the City of Freiburg

City of Freiburg

IMPRESSUM

Publisher

Stadt Freiburg im Breisgau /City of Freiburg

Eigenbetrieb Abfallwirtschaft Freiburg / Public waste authority Freiburg

Authors

Susanne Knospe, project management EU-Interreg Greencycle

Edith Wild, Abfallwirtschaftskonzept 2015 (Waste management concept 2015)

1. Publication

28. February 2020

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1 PREFACE

The vision of a Circular Economy is the complete overcoming and transformation of disposable economic activities into sustainable economic activities:

 From a waste economy into a zero waste economy.  From a fossil energy economy into a renewable energy economy.

In Circular Economy resource consumption, the loss of energy, waste and emissions are minimized by closing, slowing down and reducing the loops of material and ener- gy.

How can this be achieved?

 Design, which is durable and recyclable.  Maintenance, repair and re-use, refurbishment, recycling and usage in cas- cades.  Business models which focus on the use instead of the ownership.

Circular Economy is what we're already doing,

 When we make new glass bottles from used glass bottles.  If plastic does not end up in China or the sea, but is recycled into a plastic bot- tle or a garden hose.  If we recover energy from waste and use the slag to build roads.

We also do Circular Economy,

 When waste heat in the Industrial Area becomes the thermal heat of the neighbouring quarter.  When people in Freiburg share cars and drills with each other.

Circular Economy will be more strengthened,

 When used electrical appliances are repaired and passed on.  If we do not stockpile no longer needed clothing and household goods at home, but can pass them on easily. For example, when large employers and schools set up exchange shelves for employees' or pupils' used goods: "simp- ly exchange used goods at work or at school".  When we organise mobile phone collections for the tons of unused but valua- ble phones in household drawers.  As soon as we think in terms of re-usables and recyclables instead of waste, with zero waste as our goal.

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 And when finally everyone, new citizens and long-time residents, better sepa- rate their waste. By putting organic waste into the organic waste bin without plastic bags, and by placing unusable electrical appliances, batteries, corks, CDs, metal and waste glass into the recyclable containers.

We will continue to improve Circular Economy in Freiburg

 With a sustainable procurement and waste management strategy for the city of Freiburg that focuses even more on waste avoidance and circular economy than today.  With networks of people in politics and administration, in companies, private households and associations.  And use digitization to make circularity easier and measurable.

Dr. Klaus von Zahn

Head of Environmental Protection Authority First Operations Manager Public Waste Authority City of Freiburg

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Impressum ...... 2 1 PREFACE ...... 3 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... 5 3 EU-INTERREG ALPINE SPACE GREENCYCLE – PROMOTING CIRCULAR ECONOMY ...... 9 3.1 Introduction to Circular Economy ...... 9 3.2 Factsheets from the Greencycle project work ...... 11 3.2.1 Circular Economy - Greencycle Factsheet ...... 11 3.2.2 Waste management - Greencycle Factsheet ...... 12 3.2.3 Recycling - Greencycle Factsheet ...... 13 3.2.4 Seconday raw materials - Greencycle Factsheet ...... 14 3.3 From Disposable to Circular Economy in Baden-Württemberg ...... 15 3.3.1 Freiburg leads again in 2018...... 16 4 MANIFESTO FOR A TRANSITION INTO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY...... 16 4.1 The Manifesto ...... 17 4.2 The 12 Key Principles and Examples in the City of Freiburg ...... 19 Key 1: Implement Circular Economy Principles Into Local Policies ...... 19 Key 2: Strive towards the UNO Sustainable Development Goals ...... 19 Key 3: Network Transnationally ...... 19 Key 4: Support Multi-Sector Cooperation ...... 20 Key 5: Lead by Example...... 20 Key 6: Educate the Public ...... 20 Key 7: Promote Circular Products ...... 21 Key 8: Promote Sustainable Consumption Patterns ...... 21 Key 9: Support Research, Innovation And Qualification ...... 21 Key 10: Implement Financial Incentives ...... 22 Key 11: Invest in Infrastructure ...... 22 Key 12: Monitor and Measure ...... 22 5 THE WASTE MANAGEMENT CONCEPT OF THE CITY OF FREIBURG ...... 23 5.1 Objectives and Achievements viewpoint 2015 ...... 23 5.2 Objectives and Achievements viewpoint 2019 ...... 24 5.3 Outlook Update in 2020 ...... 25 6 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ...... 26 6.1 EU Law including 2018 amendments ...... 26 6.2 Federal Law ...... 28

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6.3 State Law ...... 28 6.4 Municipal Law ...... 29 7 ORGANISATION AND COOPERATION ...... 30 7.1 Organisation of waste management in Freiburg since 1999 ...... 30 7.2 Co-operation with other public waste authorities ...... 31 8 WASTE PREVENTION EXAMPLES ...... 31 8.1 Waste education in schools and the “Ökostation” ...... 31 8.2 Public relations for waste prevention and recycling ...... 32 8.3 Second-hand reduces waste ...... 33 8.3.1 Established markets ...... 33 8.3.2 New tools: Give-away-shelf and phone collection ...... 33 8.4 Outlook: City tax on disposables to reduce to-go waste? ...... 35 8.5 Municipal lead and promotion ...... 36 8.5.1 Reusable dishes since 1990 ...... 36 8.5.2 Supporting parents ...... 37 8.5.3 National competition “Paper Atlas” ...... 37 8.5.4 Waste fee system ...... 37 8.5.5 Procurement directive demands sustainability ...... 38 9 RECOVERY FACILITIES HELP CLOSING THE LOOP ...... 39 9.1 Biogas plant for organic waste ...... 39 9.2 Vegetable charcoal plant for green cuttings ...... 40 9.3 Thermal heat and power of residual waste in TREA ...... 41 9.4 Interim soil management in progress...... 42 10 WASTE SEPARATION SERVICES HELP CLOSING LOOPS ...... 43 10.1 Recycling rate ...... 43 10.2 Recyclables islands all over the town ...... 43 10.3 Organic waste ...... 44 10.4 Green cuttings ...... 44 10.5 Paper, paperboard, cardboard ...... 45 10.6 Glass ...... 45 10.7 Light packaging ...... 46 10.8 Electrical and electronic scrap ...... 46 10.9 Scrap iron ...... 48 10.10 Wood ...... 48 10.11 Construction waste ...... 48 10.12 Textiles ...... 49

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11 SERVICES FOR WASTE FOR DISPOSAL ...... 49 11.1 Residual waste ...... 49 11.2 Bulk waste ...... 50 11.3 Pollutants ...... 50 12 DISPOSAL SAFETY AS OBLIGATION FOR THE PUBLIC WASTE AUTHORITY ...... 51 12.1 Disposal safety for waste for disposal ...... 51 12.2 Disposal safety for waste for recovery ...... 52 12.3 The Eichelbuck: from waste mountain to energy mountain ...... 53 12.3.1 Decommissioning ...... 53 12.3.2 Largest photovoltaic plant extended in 2019 ...... 53 12.3.3 Vegetable charcoal plant started 2017 ...... 54 13 SOURCE LIST ...... 55

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3 EU-INTERREG ALPINE SPACE GREENCYCLE – PROMOTING CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Freiburg is located in the EU-Interregion Alpine Space and is funded from 2017 to 2020 with the Interreg-Project Greencycle in order to further strengthen the "Circular Economy". With their best practice examples from waste management, energy, mo- bility/transport, construction and networks, 6 partner cities serve as beacons and de- velop strategies to strengthen the circular economy. A manifesto at the end under- lines the movement.

"Circular Economy" - the management of material and energy cycles - has long been part of Freiburg's concept of waste management and climate protection and is to be- come even stronger. Freiburg is also guided by the 17 Global Sustainable Develop- ment Goals (SDG) of the UN and the Champions League of Global Sustainable Smart Green Cities. In Germany, Europe and the whole world, they are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, renewable and networked.

3.1 INTRODUCTION TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY

“A circular economy is a regenerative system in which resource use and waste pro- duction, emissions and energy wastage are minimized by slowing down, reducing and closing energy and material cycles; this can be achieved through durable design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing and recycling.

The opposite of the circular economy is usually called linear economy or disposable economy; a large proportion of the used products are disposed of or incinerated after the products have reached the end of their useful life.” Source citation: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreislaufwirtschaft

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The disposable economy has been the predominant principle of industrial production and consumption for a long time. Within Europe it has started to change in the past decades. The countries of the EU are in different stages of a transition into becoming more and more circular economies.

In reference to closing the energy and material cycles a circular economy is also called a closed-loop economy. A closed-loop economy is easily understood by looking at glass bottles. Glass can be re-used and re-melted over and over again, no waste is produced, and the loop is closed. Old glass becomes a secondary raw material.

What is done in the City of Freiburg for closing the loops of the different waste frac- tions will be looked at in the chapters 8 “RECOVERY FACILITIES” and 9 “WASTE SEPARATION SERVICES”.

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3.2 FACTSHEETS FROM THE GREENCYCLE PROJECT WORK

3.2.1 CIRCULAR ECONOMY - GREENCYCLE FACTSHEET

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3.2.2 WASTE MANAGEMENT - GREENCYCLE FACTSHEET

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3.2.3 RECYCLING - GREENCYCLE FACTSHEET

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3.2.4 SECONDAY RAW MATERIALS - GREENCYCLE FACTSHEET

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3.3 FROM DISPOSABLE TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG

2019 marks 30 years of monitoring municipal waste in the Annual Waste Balance of Baden-Württemberg. The 2018 balance was presented by Environment Minister Franz Untersteller. He showed that within 30 years the state has achieved a high level in collection, recycling and disposal of municipal waste. The Packaging Ordi- nance and the introduction of the Dual System, the Technical Instructions for the Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste and the increasingly consistent implementation of waste separation have brought about a turnaround from the "waste emergency" of 1990.

The annual per capita volume of household and bulky waste in the state has fallen by almost half in the last three decades, from 269 to 140 kilograms.

On the other hand, the amount of recyclables and bio-waste col- lected has increased steadily from 83 kg per inhabitant in 1990, equalling 24%, to 230 kg per inhabitant, equalling 60 % of the collected municipal waste from households in 2018.

The municipal volume of waste from households, commercial and construction waste has fall- en from 31 million tonnes in 1990 to 12.4 million tonnes to- day.

"The figures show that it is pos- sible to make progress on the path from a throwaway to an en- vironmentally friendly recycling society," said the Environment Minister. "However, the road is not yet over. We are still lagging behind, especially when it comes to the collection of bio-waste. And, of course, in the king's discipline of waste management: prevention."

The topics of waste avoidance, incineration and landfill continue to pose major chal- lenges within the state. The waste incineration plants are almost fully utilised. A land- fill concept to provide the lacking capacities for polluted soils and non-recyclable building rubble is currently being developed by the districts with the support of the state.

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3.3.1 FREIBURG LEADS AGAIN IN 2018

The city of Freiburg leads within the state with the lowest amount of household and bulky waste per inhabitant in the category “non-district major cities” at 109 kilograms. Adding organic waste and recyclables to that Freiburg still leads with only 332 kilo- grams per capita.

From 1996 to 2018 Freiburg reduced the amount of household and bulky waste by 115 kg down to 109 kg per inhabitant and year.

68 kg of the 115 kg were separated as organic waste (Source: Waste balance (Ab- fallbilanz) Baden-Württemberg 2018, p. 48).

4 MANIFESTO FOR A TRANSITION INTO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The transition towards a Circular Economy needs actors and actions.

Actors within a city or a state or an inter-region come from many fields within a socie- ty: public authorities, governments, businesses, non-governmental organisations and citizens. It needs commitment to make efforts to reach the goal.

12 key principles for a transition towards a Circular Economy Twelve fields of actions were defined by the Greencycle project partners as 12 key principles and together they build the following Manifesto for Circular Economy.

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4.1 THE MANIFESTO

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4.2 THE 12 KEY PRINCIPLES AND EXAMPLES IN THE CITY OF FREIBURG

KEY 1: IMPLEMENT CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRINCIPLES INTO LOCAL POLICIES to enable local transition towards circular economy as more sustainable and more resource efficient.

Examples City of Freiburg: Waste Management Concept (AWIKO) Waste Management Statutes (AbfWS) Reusable dishes rule for events on public property Green public procurement rules Sustainability Management Climate action plan Mobility policy towards public transportation, Bicycle and foot traffic

KEY 2: STRIVE TOWARDS THE UNO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS with special focus responsible consumption and production and climate action.

Examples City of Freiburg: Sustainability Report of the department for Sustainability Management Climate action plan Vegetable charcoal plant Mobility policy towards public transportation, Bicycle and foot traffic SolarRegion Freiburg

KEY 3: NETWORK TRANSNATIONALLY with institutions cooperating in the field of circular economy.

Examples City of Freiburg: Sister-Cities-Conference ICLEI Circular economy managers network EU- Interreg GREENCYCLE Climate Alliance e.V.

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KEY 4: SUPPORT MULTI-SECTOR COOPERATION and empower civil society, businesses and Ngo’s to advance circular economy initiatives.

Examples City of Freiburg: Freiburg Sustainability Board Green Industry Park Steering Committee “Ökostation” SolarRegion Freiburg

KEY 5: LEAD BY EXAMPLE and start with all principles in our own institution and encour- age cultural change towards circular economy.

Examples City of Freiburg: Green public procurement Job-Ticket and Job bicycle to promote public transporta- tion and cycling joint fleet of vehicles of the city administration, with a focus on electric cars give-away-shelves at employer No disposable dishes on municipal events 100 % use of recycling-paper

KEY 6: EDUCATE THE PUBLIC on “rethinking on waste” to encourage waste prevention, re- pair, second-hand and better sorting.

Examples City of Freiburg Waste consulting hotline Waste print media Waste classes for schools at “Ökostation” „Green pages“ with addresses for sustainable con- sumption

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KEY 7: PROMOTE CIRCULAR PRODUCTS that are easy to share, easy to lease, easy to reuse, easy to repair, easy to be reprocessed and recycled.

Examples City of Freiburg: Freiburg Cup – deposit cup instead of to go cups FRELO – bicycle to share support car-sharing by provision of exclusive parking space Commodity exchange at recycling center Sale of reusable market bags “Marktsäckle”

KEY 8: PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION PATTERNS to avoid food waste, product waste and energy loss.

Examples City of Freiburg: Green public procurement rules Agriculture Festival in summer Local heating grid in Green Industry Park Support of ecological building consultation Support of consultation for energy saving SolarRegion Freiburg

KEY 9: SUPPORT RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND QUALIFICATION to advance circular economy.

Examples City of Freiburg: Micro-Gasturbine and Vegetable coal plant on waste han- dling station Eichelbuck

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KEY 10: IMPLEMENT FINANCIAL INCENTIVES to promote a transition to a more circular economy.

Examples City of Freiburg: Waste management statutes reward less waste by lower fees Promotion of cloth diapers

KEY 11: INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE that enables material and resource circulation and invest in smart grids and renewable energy.

Examples City of Freiburg: New town hall in Stühlinger is a net plus energy building Biogas and landfill gas provide power and heating in Landwasser The public transportation company VAG invested in: Photovoltaic and solar thermal installations, flywheel stor- age, a fleet of e-cars, rooftop rainwater collection for vehi- cle cleaning Online give-away-market (www.verschenkmarkt- freiburg.de Weekly Second-hand market at recycling center (“Waren- börse”). SolarRegion Freiburg Photovoltaic plant on former landfill Power and heat coupling at TREA

KEY 12: MONITOR AND MEASURE material, waste and energy flows and close the loops as lo- cally as possible.

Examples City of Freiburg: Monitoring of waste streams by the Waste Manage- ment Company The Climate Balance Report every 2 years

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5 THE WASTE MANAGEMENT CONCEPT OF THE CITY OF FREIBURG

The current Waste Management Concept of the City of Freiburg dates from January 2015 and is the basis for this CE-Strategy. The described development in waste management is taken from the viewpoint of 2014, the figures and the data are from 2013, unless stated otherwise.

The Waste Management Concept was first developed in 1991 and has been updated regularly since. The next update is planned for 2020.

5.1 OBJECTIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS VIEWPOINT 2015

Since introducing the first concept of waste management in Freiburg back in 1991, a profound transition from hazard protection and waste deposit oriented tasks to a cir- cular economy of resources and recycling and of waste prevention have been im- plemented and actively developed by the waste management in Freiburg.

Service orientation, protection of resources, climate protection, fair charges and eco- nomics are the main objectives of waste management in Freiburg nowadays. The general overall objective is a balanced ecological and economical waste manage- ment concept that creates a stable foundation in coming to terms with future changes in urban society.

Many targets required by European and national law on recycling rates, material utili- sation per capita as well as obligatory separation of waste fractions have already been achieved in Freiburg. On one hand a differentiated and citizen friendly waste separation and collection scheme was developed. On the other hand, the exemplary engagement of the citizens of Freiburg to reduce and separate their waste played a major part.

 According to the German Circular Economy Act (KrWG) organic waste, paper, metal, plastics and glass are to be collected separately by 2015. In Freiburg this obligation has been adhered to since the introduction of separate collec- tion of organic waste in 1997.

 The success of waste separation for recycling has led to a continually rising collection rate of recyclables recycling rate which reached a remarkably high level of 69% in 2013 and 2014. That already exceeds the quota of 65 % given by Circular Economy Act for municipal waste to be reached by 2020.

 The federal quota for organic waste is to be increased to 60 kg per capita by 2020. In 2013 already 66 kg per inhabitant were collected in Freiburg.

 In 2013, 112 kg per inhabitant of domestic and bulky waste was 22% below the average of the state of Baden-Württemberg.

Waste prevention prior to recovery and prior to deposit has been over a long period of time the target hierarchy of the City of Freiburg. In correspondence to the current 23 City of Freiburg

5-tier waste hierarchy of the European waste frame directive the Waste Management Concept comprehends:

1. Waste prevention 2. Preparation for reuse 3. Recycling 4. Other uses for example energetic recovery 5. Deposit

Freiburg will innovatively continue its measures on waste prevention and further ex- tend collection of recyclables. It will also strengthen the recovery of material and en- ergy from the material streams with an especially increased recovery out of green waste. The Freiburg waste management will contribute to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with these measures. And the marketing of recyclable materials is ex- pected to contribute to stable waste fees.

In 1994 the Freiburg waste fee system was changed to trigger avoiding of waste and better sorting of waste. 3 components newly were combined: the amount of persons per household, the container size and the emptying frequency. A household which sorts and avoids waste needs a smaller container and emptying only every fortnight and thus pays a smaller fee. On the other hand, a household that produces a lot of waste needs a bigger container and weekly emptying and pays higher fees. Since the collection vehicle and personnel costs stay the same, no matter how big the household or the container is, there is a basic allowance. Waste separation into the fractions paper, glass, metal, textiles was promoted by a city-wide net of curbside containers and 4 recycling courts. Furthermore bins for the weekly organic waste col- lection were introduced in the households in 1997. See also chapter 8.5.4.

5.2 OBJECTIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS VIEWPOINT 2019

Recycling rate at new height In 2018 the recycling rate rose to remarkable 73 %. The recycling rate shows the percentage of all the waste which is collected for recovery of resources in regards to the total amount of all collected waste from the private households. Waste separation has reached a very high level. A big part of separating depends on the willingness of the citizens to separate their waste, starting in their kitchens and ending at curb side containers. Not all of them stand within 300 m walking distance.

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Vegetable Charcoal plant closes a loop In 2017, a model vegetable charcoal plant for the recycling of green cuttings waste went into operation on the site of the former Eichelbuck landfill. 300 t of certified coal per year are marketed. See chapter 8.

More photovoltaic modules on Eichelbuck In 2019 the existing photovoltaic system on the former landfill Eichelbuck was ex- tended to become Freiburg's largest photovoltaic plant.

Soil storage will close a loop In 2018 the planning of an excavation soil storage facility with a size of 13 ha started. The objective is to close the loop for excavation material from Freiburg and the Dis- trict of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald within the city’s boundaries. While some construc- tion sites have excess material, others need material for installation, especially in the newly planned urban district of Dietenbach. The first impulse for this solution came from the EU-Interreg-project Greencycle. The application for approval of the plant is imminent. The operation is expected to start at the end of 2020.

5.3 OUTLOOK UPDATE IN 2020

According to the German Waste Management Act (KrWG), public waste manage- ment authorities must draw up and regularly update a waste management concept for the quantities of waste generated in their area for recovery, preparation for reuse and recycling as well as for disposal.

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The new version of the existing waste management concept 2015 will be used in par- ticular to update the disposal situation prevailing in Freiburg. In addition to the presentation of the collection and recycling quantities of Freiburg waste, other focal points are waste avoidance and digitisation. The waste management concept 2020 is designed to identify optimisation potentials across all topics, to derive objectives from these and to identify measures for achieving them.

One of the challenges will be to develop a concept for better sorting of waste in large housing estates.

A special project has started: plans for building a recycling department store for used goods, including repair facilities.

6 LEGAL FRAMEWORK

A legislative framework for waste management is set for the public disposal providers based on numerous guidelines, laws and regulations on a European, federal, state and municipal level.

6.1 EU LAW INCLUDING 2018 AMENDMENTS

The Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Community has set the legal framework for waste legislation in the member states in 2008.

The introduction of a five tier waste hierarchy was first introduced, clearly setting the priorities to

1. Prevention of waste 2. Preparation for re-use 3. Recycling 4. Other uses, for example, energetic recovery 5. Disposal

The priority of recycling in the sense of material utilisation before energetic recovery is also clarified in this waste hierarchy.

The Waste Framework Directive annex contains an energy efficiency formula calcu- lating whether a waste incineration plant reaches energetic recovery status. In ac- cordance with this formula all incinerators in Baden-Württemberg operate as plants for recovery.

New since 2018 In 2018, as part of the “waste package” the European Parliament adopted extensive amendments to the directives on the prevention, recovery and disposal of waste in the EU:

1. The Waste Framework Directive,

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2. The Directive on packaging and packaging waste, 3. The Landfill Directive, and 4. The Directives on end-of-life vehicles, batteries and accumulators, waste bat- teries and accumulators and waste electrical and electronic equipment.

The Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 2018 amended the Waste Framework Directive on waste.

Article 1 states as follows: “This Directive lays down measures to protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the generation of waste, the adverse impacts of the genera- tion and management of waste and by reducing overall impacts of resource use and improving the efficiency of such use, which are crucial for the transition to a circular economy and for guaranteeing the Union’s long-term competitive- ness.”

The amendments to the Waste Framework Directive essentially include

 extended requirements to promote waste prevention,  the setting of higher recycling targets and  the preparation for re-use of municipal waste based on a new (output-based) calculation method,  minimum requirements for extended producer responsibility schemes (EPRs),  extended criteria for assessing the end of waste character and  new requirements for separate collection.

The recycling targets for municipal waste have been tightened to the effect that 65 percent of waste should be recycled by 2035. Member states will now have to col- lect paper, metal, plastics, glass and, from 2025, used textiles separately. Construc- tion waste will also be regulated more extensively.

Member states must take measures to encourage the re-use of products and must put in place systems to encourage repair and re-use. They must also promote the availability of spare parts, operating instructions and technical information. As re- gards to the prevention of food waste and the strengthening of re-use, member states will now have to carry out concrete controls on the success of waste preven- tion measures.

The new Article 4 (3) of the EU Waste Framework Directive states:

"Member States shall use economic instruments and other measures to provide in- centives for the application of the waste hierarchy, such as those listed in Annex IVa or other appropriate instruments and measures.” Here some examples from the Annex IVa:  pay-as-you-throw systems, under which waste producers are charged on the basis of the amount of waste actually generated, and which encourage the separation of recyclable waste at the point of generation and the reduction of mixed waste;

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 tax incentives for the donation of products, in particular food;  extended producer responsibility regimes for different types of waste and measures to optimise the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and control of these regimes;  deposit systems and other measures to promote the efficient collection of used products and materials;  sound planning of investments in waste management infrastructure,  use fiscal measures or other means to promote sales of re-used or recycled products and materials;  encourage research and innovation in modern recycling and overhaul technol- ogy;  use of best available waste treatment practices;  economic incentives for regional and local authorities, in particular to promote waste prevention and to strengthen the introduction of separate collection sys- tems, while avoiding the promotion of landfilling and incineration of waste;  systems for the coordination, including by digital means, of all competent au- thorities involved in waste management.

6.2 FEDERAL LAW

Nationwide implementation of the European Waste Framework Directive of 2008 was carried out by the federal “Act for promotion of circular economy and for ensuring en- vironmental friendly waste management (Circular Economy Act, Kreis- laufwirtschaftsgesetz KrWG) of 24.2.2012. The five tier waste hierarchy of the EU was incorporated. The objective of this law has been the protection of natural re- sources, safeguarding humans and the environment during waste management (§ 1 KrWG). Additional nationwide laws, directives and regulations to control private and public waste management are for example:

 Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act  The Act on shipment of waste  Directive on organic waste  Landfill/disposal site directive  Commercial waste directive  Packaging Act  Waste wood directive

6.3 STATE LAW

The Waste Act of Baden-Württemberg, (Landesabfallgesetz, LabfG) regulates the organisation of waste management. Enforcement authorities are determined and guidelines for municipal waste statutes are defined. Moreover, it contains the obliga- tion to compile and update waste management concepts and the setting up of an annual waste balance. § 1 LabfG comprises further development of conserving re- sources, a low waste circular economy and a community friendly waste manage- ment.

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§ 16 of the state waste Act obliges the public waste authority to state in their waste management concept how to guarantee safe disposal of the waste generated in their area and to be disposed of by them for at least 10 years.

The Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy Management of Baden- Württemberg is legally obliged to establish waste management plans from a trans- regional perspective. The waste management plan for residential waste was updated in July 2015. The waste management plan documents the waste management plants in Baden-Württemberg which offer the required capacities.

6.4 MUNICIPAL LAW

The City of Freiburg as Public Waste Management Authority has the following munic- ipal framework for its waste management in accordance to the State Waste Act, the Community Charges Act and the municipal code:

 this Waste Management Concept 2015 and  the Municipal Statutes on Prevention, Recovery and Disposal of Waste in the City of Freiburg i. Br. (Waste management statutes / Abfallwirtschaftssatzung / AbfWS).

The title of the statutes already indicates how important waste prevention and recov- ery of material is for the City and that Circular Economy is part of the City’s self- conception of sustainability.

The 5 tiers of the EU waste hierarchy are incorporated in §1 of the statutes:

§ 1 Goals of the circular economy

(1) Within the framework of the promotion of circular economy, the protection of natural resources, the safeguarding of the environmentally compatible management of waste and the protection of humankind and the environment in the generation and management of waste (…) the City performs the following tasks:

a) the promotion of waste avoidance, b) the preparation for re-use, c) recycling, d) other recovery, in particular energy recovery and backfilling, e) the disposal of waste.

The municipal waste management statutes of the City of Freiburg contain the follow- ing, among others:

 Connection and usage rights/obligation  Allocation of waste  Obligatory separation of waste for recycling  Waste disposal

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 Levying of fees  the rule for reusable dishes only during events on public property

7 ORGANISATION AND COOPERATION

7.1 ORGANISATION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT IN FREIBURG SINCE 1999

In 1999 the Municipal Council decided to change their in-house operations of waste management and public cleansing department into a company in public-private- partnership. The background of this decision was economic optimisation taking exist- ing standards and a contribution towards consolidation of the urban budget into con- sideration. At the same time, objectives like stability of fees and job security for em- ployees were put into practice. Furthermore, the expansion of the new company´s business activity within the region was supported. One requirement for the partial privatisation was keeping municipal influence on waste policies and the ecological standards maintained by the City of Freiburg.

The Abfallwirtschaft und Stadtreinigung Freiburg GmbH (ASF), company for waste management and cleansing services, was founded with 100 % municipal ownership. Since 2008 the Remondis SE&Co.KG has become the private associate partner of the ASF with a 47% share reducing the municipal majority to 53%. Remondis is one of the largest service enterprises in the water and recycling industry worldwide and also the largest waste disposer in Germany.

A framework management contract over a 20 year period was agreed. The City of Freiburg commissioned the ASF with the following tasks:

 Collection of residual waste, waste paper, organic waste, green waste material and bulky waste  Operation, decommissioning and aftercare of the Eichelbuck disposal and handling site  Operation of 3 recycling centres  Preparing calculation of waste charges, business plans, etc.  Economic management for the waste management authority  Assessment of charges  Waste consulting, public relations  Road cleansing services

Besides, the waste management authority (EAF) remained as a management unit between ASF and the city administration with a range of public authority tasks:

 Supervision of tasks in the range of waste management and waste manage- ment planning  Updating of waste management concept  Supervision and fulfilment of the framework management contract and individ- ual service agreements

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 Updating of service catalogue and contracts with ASF  Calculation of charges, business plan (high level responsibility)  responsible owner for the Eichelbuck disposal site  Waste management statutes, objection and legal proceedings  Co-operation with Breisgau waste disposal company (GAB)  Updates of service contracts and agreements with other system operators.

7.2 CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER PUBLIC WASTE AUTHORITIES

The demands on waste disposal were increasingly tightened in past decades accord- ing to changes in the law. The most serious issue was the national decision to no longer permit household waste deposits in landfills from 2005. That is why the Eichelbuck landfill site had to be closed. In order to meet these requirements it was economically and ecologically reasonable to co-operate with neighbouring public waste authorities. The District of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald and the City of Freiburg started their co-operation in waste management back in 1993 on the disposal of non- recyclable construction waste as well as on contaminated excavation soil and rubble, on the recovery of organic waste and on building a waste incineration plant. Also the districts of Emmendingen and Ortenau joined the cooperation.

8 WASTE PREVENTION EXAMPLES

Waste prevention has always been a substantial component of an ecologically ori- ented waste management concept in Freiburg.

8.1 WASTE EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND THE “ÖKOSTATION”

An important starting point to promote the goals of the Freiburg waste management concept and to practice a responsible attitude towards waste prevention early-on is the work with the youth. Since the collection of recyclables began in 1988 also public relations work with children and teenagers started. They are taught to competently prevent waste to save resources, and how to separate unavoidable waste.

A professional teacher is conducting the waste education for schools. To meet the high demand the “Ökostation” (Eco station) was involved as operator, too. On aver- age 60 school classes and groups of children per year attend classes, approximately 1350 children. A great number of valuable successful modules and day projects were developed like “Einfälle statt Abfälle” (Inspiration instead of waste) and “days of waste at schools” and “low waste school''. Schools are supported in improving their collection of waste and recyclables.

Age-appropriate course units on the subjects of waste prevention, waste separation, recycling and waste disposal are offered as well as information on waste history and legal basics. Boxes with working materials are lent out to students in support of the issue. Boxes of materials are called ''waste at nursery school'', ''waste at primary

31 City of Freiburg

school“, ''compost and paper''. Furthermore, a travelling exhibition called ''The envi- ronmentally friendly schoolbag'' is offered on parents' evenings for first classes.

Paper projects Courses for pupils like paper casting, paper making, paper seals and “An exercise book on the road” are performed regularly. Furthermore a promotion for the use of recycled paper in particular for school supplies is part of the waste education since 2004. The production of recycled paper consumes a lot less energy and water than paper made from wood and is certified with the ''Blue Angel'' award. The municipality provides families a list of stationary shops in town that offer school supply made of recycling paper.

Waste drama on stage Annual theatrical events for Kindergardens and primary schools have been organised since 1999 in the “Ökostation”. Waste prevention and separation are playfully imple- mented on stage.

Further educational offers  Lectures on waste related topics  Tours of ASF plants  Connection to regional excursion spots  Consulting in environmentally educational  Organisation of campaigns (for example “Kunscht & Krempel” at the Recycling Centre)  Media library on various waste topics like recycling, circular economy, waste management.

8.2 PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR WASTE PREVENTION AND RECYCLING

The ASF is assigned to inform the citizens of Freiburg on waste management related measures, regulations and backgrounds to motivate towards responsible and envi- ronmentally conscious behaviour and to promote their interest in urban waste man- agement. For this purpose a catalogue of measures has been developed for citizens:

 Annually appearing waste calendar  the ''Green Pages'' give an overview of repair and rental services  Brochures and leaflets on key topics, for example disposal of construction waste, advertisements, press reports,  Events, lectures and exhibitions  Information in foreign languages  Online presence  Tours at the disposal plant in Freiburg  Consultation on waste management related questions on the waste manage- ment hotline.

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 Promotion of private composting: Weekly consultations on compost are of- fered to the general public in the “Ökostation's” organic garden

8.3 SECOND-HAND REDUCES WASTE

8.3.1 ESTABLISHED MARKETS

At the commodity exchange at one of the recycling centres citizens can buy used items in good condition for a reasonable price every Monday.

The online giveaway market www.verschenkmarkt-freiburg.de contributes towards not throwing everyday items away, but to pass them on to other users. Items like household utensils and furniture, electrical and electronic appliances, books, textile products or sports equipment are given away or swapped. On average 5 to 30 adver- tisements a day are published on this website. Objects in the furniture category and household goods are in special demand.

8.3.2 NEW TOOLS: GIVE-AWAY-SHELF AND PHONE COLLECTION

In 2018 Greencycle launched 2 new tools within the municipality during the campaign European Week of Waste reduction (EWWR):

 A temporary give-away-shelf for used items  The “Handy-Aktion” for collecting used mobile phones.

33 City of Freiburg

The success of the pilot give-away-shelf in 2018 within the department of environ- mental protection with 70 users led to a regular implementation 3 times a year and to promoting the tool to other departments. The success of the give-away-shelves re- sults from fulfilling needs:

 In our busy daily live schedules it helps to reduce time consuming detours for getting rid of no longer needed items. The slogan “Simply pass on used items at work” points that out.  We feel better giving used goods away not as waste but for a longer use.  Nowadays unused items that are stored at home most definitely become waste sooner because they turn faster out-of-fashion or technically old. A reg- ular give-away-shelf helps to let go earlier as long as the items are still attrac- tive for others.  The shelf is close to the working area and always accessible and not in some distant basement.  You can visit the shelf alone, so nobody sees what you bring or take.  A temporary shelf reduces the risk of becoming a waste shelf. It is perceived more like a market stand and people take back their own left-over items in the end.

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Easy to do Mobile Phone collection for re-use and recycling The “Handy-Aktion” is a campaign of the Baden-Württemberg ministry of environ- ment to promote the collection of used mobile phones for recycling and re-use in a certified process and it is easy to run. The collector needs to register at the website, order the collection boxes and start the collection. The phones are sent back in these boxes, addressee pays postage. A certification list with all collected phones is pro- vided, showing which ones will be re-used after running a deletion software. 10 -15 % phones for re-use is possible, the younger and better in shape the phones are. Ac- cording to the waste hierarchy re-use is better than recycling. At the municipal site “Rathaus im Stühlinger” 175 used mobile phones were collected per year.

8.4 OUTLOOK: CITY TAX ON DISPOSABLES TO REDUCE TO-GO WASTE?

Pizza, kebab, sushi and coffee to-go: disposable packaging waste is a problem in cities Tübingen is the first city in Germany to introduce a packaging tax from 2021. Frei- burg might follow and is closely analysing the development in the fore-runner city.

From 2021, paper cups, plastic boxes and pizza cartons in Tübingen will each be charged 50 cents. The aim is to reduce the increasing littering of the cityscape by "to- go" packaging disposed of in public spaces and to provide an incentive to use reusa- ble systems. This tax against disposable culture should be paid by the selling shops.

The Freiburg waste management is convinced that a tax would reduce the piles of waste. From an environmental policy point of view, a packaging tax as a steering in- strument is to be welcomed in principle, but its implementation raises many ques- tions, not least in terms of cost and revenue. Freiburg is familiar with problems and lawsuits regarding the introduction of taxes at the communal level. And the Freiburg Cup shows how difficult it is to introduce reusable systems.

Instead of a local solution, a federal regulation is desirable. There would be greater acceptance among citizens, as well as for snack bars and bakery shops, as there would be no disadvantages compared to neighbouring cities.

The association of municipal city cleaning companies VKU also spoke out against isolated solutions: The federal government could make the manufacturers responsi- ble for the entire area through the EU Plastics Directive.

Closing the loop A closed circular economy loop depends to a big extent on the sorting and the collec- tion of different waste fractions, as well as on recycling facilities. Most to-go boxes are made of paperboard or plastic. The circular economy loop for paper and paper- board is well established. Recycling solutions for plastic packaging are gaining mar- ket shares and acceptance.

35 City of Freiburg

At home citizens mostly sort their waste well into the different fractions. But the loop is braking outside. When eating “to-go” in public space waste sorting is not done and littering dominates.

Many answers need to be found before Freiburg will be able to decide the issue How can to-go packaging be reduced in the first place? Why is to-go eating on the street favoured over eating in the snack bar or café? Why are to-go boxes littered in public space? What causes the lack of environmental conscience in public? What measures would change this behavior? Would waste bins for different fractions in public space and at the selling places help? Is a packaging tax the solution to close the loop? Would a federal enforcement of having the manufacturers of packaging participate in littering clean-up costs re- duce the amount of to-go packaging?

8.5 MUNICIPAL LEAD AND PROMOTION

The City of Freiburg is a leader by example in its own institution, on its properties and with its municipal companies and its contractors.

In the Waste Management Statutes of the City (see chapter 5.2.4 municipal law) the role model function is incorporated in § 2:

“The City of Freiburg shall, in designing work processes in its offices and facilities and in its other actions,

in particular in procurement and contracting and in construction projects as well as at events in its facilities and on its properties, endeavour to produce as little waste as possible with as low a pollutant content as possible. At events, food and drinks should only be handed over in reusable con- tainers and with reusable cutlery, unless legal regulations or reasons of public safety and order conflict. Within the bounds of its possibilities, the City shall ensure that companies under private law in which it holds an interest act accordingly.”

8.5.1 REUSABLE DISHES SINCE 1990

The subject of "reusables on public ground" is still an important part of the waste management concept of the city of Freiburg.

In 1990, for 30 years now, the municipal reusable rule for events on public ground was established to allow only reusable dishes and cutlery. For many years the popu- lation was sensitised to the topic of waste avoidance at events on urban ground. In the meantime, the guidelines for the use of reusable tableware have been accepted by both the festival visitors and the organisers. The organiser's obligation to use only reusable crockery when serving food and drinks is contractually regulated according- ly.

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In order to implement the concept, the corresponding infrastructural and organisa- tional prerequisites, such as the availability of crockery, flushing facilities, water con- nections, electricity supply and sewage disposal, were examined and set up accord- ingly. The Administrative and Financial Committee supported the implementation of this concept and decided on the necessary funds for the purchase of crockery equipment and dishwashing facilities in the municipal buildings.

8.5.2 SUPPORTING PARENTS

The City also provides financial support for reusable nappies: 30 % of the purchase value with a maximum of 50 EUR.

8.5.3 NATIONAL COMPETITION “PAPER ATLAS”

Due to the exemplary use of recycled paper, the City of Freiburg was a multiple win- ner of the nationwide municipal Paper Atlas award. In 2013 the municipality’s annual consumption of 34 million sheets of paper saved about 5.6 million litres of water, 1.1 million kilowatts of energy and more than 30,500 kg of CO2. The Paper Atlas draws comparisons among 92 towns with regard to paper consumption and utilisation rates of recycled paper as well as ecological savings effects.

8.5.4 WASTE FEE SYSTEM

Financial incentives nudge waste reduction. According to the Waste Management Statutes of the City of Freiburg, the fee for the disposal of waste from private house- holds are based on firstly the number of persons in the household (household charge), and secondly on the volume of the residual waste container in use and col- lection frequency (container charge).

Thus each resident in Freiburg has a direct influence on his waste disposal charges by means of waste prevention and waste separation. This freedom of choice is only limited to a minimum volume of 5 litres of residual waste per week per person. Be- sides, there is the possibility for households to join as a waste disposal collective and share the container charges.

The overfilling of waste bins to save waste fees was ended by the campaign ''closed lid only”, where only closed bins were emptied. Overfilled waste containers further- more lead to unpleasant odours, attract animals and aggravate the work of the refuse collection operators.

Charge by number of throw-ins Large housing complexes with lack of space for single containers per household of- ten use large containers with waste-gates. Every household gets an individual chip, which opens the gate for throw-ins of 15 l-bags of waste. The households are charged by number of throw-ins. This system is an incentive towards reduction of waste and waste separation.

All residual, organic waste and green bins were equipped with a chip in 2014 which is electronically read upon emptying at the dustcart. The container identification system 37 City of Freiburg

facilitates the allocation of the around 100,000 waste bins in Freiburg to their respec- tive households or property to optimise the logistics of waste disposal.

Costs and expenses The waste disposal charges are recalculated in Freiburg every 2 years. In the calcu- lation for 2014/2015, the Freiburg waste management assumed an annual require- ment of fees of 20.5 million EUR.

The household fee covers:  the collection, transport, recycling and deposit of - paper and cardboard (every 14 days) - organic waste (weekly) - bulk waste upon request - green cuttings and Christmas trees  the cleaning of organic waste bins (twice a year)  services provided by recycling centres including the collection of pollutants.

The container fee covers:  the collection, transport and disposal of the residual waste.

Former landfill waste causes expenses until 2050 Reserves had to be set aside for the decommissioning and aftercare of the former Eichelbuck landfill site. The remaining provisioning requirement from 2014 on is 28 million EUR until the end of aftercare in 2050.

8.5.5 PROCUREMENT DIRECTIVE DEMANDS SUSTAINABILITY

The procurement directive of the City of Freiburg sets the procurement principles in § 21:

1. The departments shall examine whether new procurement is really necessary or whether re-utilisation or repair is the more economical and sustainable solution.

(2) The departments shall inform themselves in advance (e.g. through training cours- es, Internet research, trade journals) about environmentally friendly and socially ac- ceptable products/materials on the market as well as technologies and produc- tion/execution processes. Follow-up / life cycle costs must be included in the de- termination of requirements and the tender.

(3) For all procurements, sustainable aspects are to consider as part of the determi- nation of requirements, the planning, and the definition of performance requirements and the evaluation of offers. This includes in particular:

Low consumption of resources  Longevity of products/materials and substances  ease of repair  renewable resources

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Waste prevention  disposal properties  recyclability

Climate and environmental friendliness  energy efficiency  Reduction of greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane, hydrofluoro- carbons)  Avoidance of hazardous substances  Avoidance of pollution by pollutants / radiation

9 RECOVERY FACILITIES HELP CLOSING THE LOOP

9.1 BIOGAS PLANT FOR ORGANIC WASTE

Closing the loop Since 1997, organic waste has been collected separately in Freiburg, 100% of which is sent to the Reterra biogas plant where it is energetically and materially recovered. Together with the bio-waste of the District of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald the input amounted to a total of 34,000 t in 2013.

In big fermentation tanks micro-organisms break down the organic components to produce bio gas, liquid fertilizer and compost within 3 to 4 weeks. The bio gas was joined in a new pipeline together with landfill gas from the Eichel- buck landfill site. The combined heat and power station of the regional energy pro- vider Badenova in the urban quarter of Freiburg Landwasser supplied 3,300 house- holds with power and 12,000 with thermal energy.

Additionally to power and heat 6,000 tonnes of liquid fertilizer and 3,200 tonnes of fine compost had been gained from organic waste in Freiburg in 2013. Both are mar- keted to the agriculture and gardeners.

Saving of greenhouse gases by replacement of fossil fuels

Heat and power gained from the bio gas plant is 100% CO2 neutral.

In 2013 the generated total of

 7,500,000 kWh thermal energy replaced 940,000 litres of heating oil (3), 410,000 litres thereof attributable to Freiburg, and  9,900,000 kWh of power replaced a gas volume of approximately 3,000,000 m³ (4), 1,300,000 m³ being credited to Freiburg.

As the calorific value of 1 litre of heating oil is almost equal to 1 m³ of gas a total of 1,710,000 litres of heating oil respectively m³ of gas are substituted from the Freiburg organic waste.

39 City of Freiburg

(1) 1 kWh of thermal energy corresponds to a CO2 equivalent of 261.4 grams and 1 (2) kWh of electricity to 606 grams of CO2 .

In 2013 the energy generated from the Reterra bio gas plant resulted in

 CO2 savings of 8000 tonnes  Thereof 3,500 tonnes from Freiburg´s organic waste alone.

1) According to 2013 German energy mix 2) According to Gemis 4.9 mean value gas/oil 80/20-mix 3) Approval: 0.125 litre of oil are required to generate 1 kWh of electricity 4) Approval: 3 kWh of gas required at an efficiency level of 33%

9.2 VEGETABLE CHARCOAL PLANT FOR GREEN CUTTINGS

Closing the loop In 2017, a model vegetable charcoal plant for the recycling of green cuttings waste went into operation on the site of the former Eichelbuck landfill. First, the green cut- tings are divided into soft and woody material. The crushed, sifted wood portion is carbonised in the plant at 500 to 700 degrees. This produces vegetable carbon, a highly porous material.

Vegetable charcoal is used as a soil improver in agriculture and horticulture, binding nutrients, water and CO2. In waste water treatment it filters waste water and reduces the odour. Furthermore it improves the flow properties and the fertilizing effect of the sewage sludge. Other uses are in building and insulating materials. The capacity to store carbon, reduce CO2 and nitrous oxide emissions make vegetable coal valuable in the climate protection.

For many centuries vegetable charcoal has also been used for the acute treatment of animals. In recent years it has been increasingly used as a feed additive to increase animal health and productivity.

900 tons of green cuttings have been processed into wood chips and vegetable charcoal in a combined process ever since. Approximately 300 tons of vegetable charcoal are produced per year and certified to promote marketing.

(https://www.abfallwirtschaft-freiburg.de/de/news/ASF-Pflanzenkohle%20ist%20zertifiziert.php)

Wood Chip heating system Another part of the wooden green cuttings waste is used to generate flue gas in a wood chip plant. The flue gas in turn is used to generate hot air for driving gas tur- bines. 1,000 tonnes of woodchips are processed into 350 kW of flue gas in the plant.

40 Circular Economy Strategy

Composting Herbaceous materials emerging from the green waste preparation are composted for hygienisation on an area of around 1,000 m². The throughput of the plant amounts to 7,000 tonnes per year.

Compliance of the organic waste directive Upon utilisation of green cuttings the City of Freiburg as a public waste authority is obliged to meet the requirements of the organic waste directive. The following measures guarantee the compliance:  Citizen advice upon collection and at assembly points  Regular visual checks on green cuttings for any pest afflicted plant species and sorting prior to use  Composting for fulfilment of hygienisation obligation

Saving of greenhouse gases by replacement of fossil fuels

Power gained from the green cuttings treatment is 100% CO2 neutral. The estimation of power and thermal energy to be gained annually from green cuttings treatment at the Eichelbuck site was as follows:

 22,080,000 kWh of power, replacing a gas volume of 6,624,000 m³ and  34,500,000 kWh of thermal energy, replacing 4,312,500 litres of heating oil.

The total of 10,936,500 litres of heating oil respective m³ of gas, as the calorific value of 1 litre of heating oil is level with 1 m³ of gas, resulted in

 CO2 savings of around 22,400 tonnes per year from the generated energy.

9.3 THERMAL HEAT AND POWER OF RESIDUAL WASTE IN TREA

From 2005, the waste deposit of residual waste in landfills was no longer allowed nationwide. The TREA, a residual waste treatment and power generation plant went into operation in the Breisgau industrial estate in 2004. It is operated by EEW Energy from Waste GmbH with a contract until 2030. The TREA waste incineration plant ful- fils the energy efficiency criteria according to the federal Circular Economy Act (KrWG) and thus has the status of a recovery plant.

TREA has the authorisation to handle 170,000 tonnes of domestic and commercial waste by incineration. The City of Freiburg can claim a contingent of 29,600 t/a up to 51,400 t/a. In 2013, 29,383 tonnes of residual and bulky waste were delivered from Freiburg to the TREA.

Logistics The City of Freiburg has delivered 100% of its residual and bulky waste to TREA by rail. This logistics concept disburdens the adjoining communities of enormous truck traffic.

41 City of Freiburg

Saving of greenhouse gases by replacement for fossil fuels

A CO2 saving of 50% is obtained from the use of residential waste to generate ther- mal energy and power compared to fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), because about 50% of combustible materials count as biomass (paper, wood, plant or animal waste) and do not produce any additional CO2 upon combustion. Here 1 kWh of thermal en- ergy has an equivalent of 130.7 grams of CO2 and 1 kWh of power equals 303 grams.

By means of a power-heat-coupling operation TREA can feed district heating of up to 160,000 MWh per year into the grid.

In 2014, 71,000 MWh of thermal energy were contracted and replaced 8,875,000 litres of heating oil, resulting in

 CO2 savings of around 9,300 tonnes.

Closing the loop with slag recycling Slag from the TREA has 1/4 of the original waste weight and 1/10 of the original waste volume. The slag is divided into mineral based building materials, scrap iron and non-ferrous metals. After a 3 month period of storage, the slag fulfils the envi- ronmental and structural values to be used as a secondary building material. For ex- ample, it replaces natural building materials like gravel for surface sealing of landfill sites.

Corresponding to the delivered proportion of residual waste the City of Freiburg has contractually committed itself to take back 105,800 tonnes of slag for decommission- ing the Eichelbuck landfill site until 2018 and more beyond.

9.4 INTERIM SOIL MANAGEMENT IN PROGRESS

The construction activity in the city and the region is particularly high and the landfill situation in the region is extremely tense. The local construction industry has great difficulties in disposing of excavated soil within Freiburg and the neighbouring dis- tricts. Until 2014, about 15000 m³ of excavated soil were delivered to the landfills an- nually. By 2018, this volume has increased 4 - 5 times, accompanied by a tripling of the costs. Only until 2020 can excavated soil be delivered to the Eichelbuck landfill and in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald to Bollschweil and Merdingen. The newly planned "Weinstetter Hof" landfill near Bremgarten for contaminated material with excavated soil storage will not go into operation until 2022.

Initiated in 2018 by the EU Interreg project Greencycle, which is intended to strengthen the circular economy in the city, a round table was organised to sound out a joint soil management. The City of Freiburg's environmental protection office, the garden and civil engineering office, the project group Dietenbach, the municipal housing association Freiburger Stadtbau and the district of Breisgau- Hochschwarzwald discussed the matter.

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As a first pilot project, the planning of an interim storage facility with a size of 13 ha for excavation soil for the new city district Dietenbach started. The application for ap- proval of the plant is imminent. The operation is expected to start at the end of 2020.

Closing the loop The objective is to close the loop for excavation material within the city’s boundaries. While some construction sites have excess material, others need material for installa- tion. For the construction of the newly planned district of Dietenbach, enormous quantities of soil material will be needed to fill up parts of the area to form streets and plazas and building ground. To gather that material from other construction sites in the urban area minimizes transportation and is a circular economy solution.

10 WASTE SEPARATION SERVICES HELP CLOSING LOOPS

10.1 RECYCLING RATE

Back in the 1990s, a comprehensive waste separation system had already been in- troduced in Freiburg collecting glass, paper, organic waste, green waste, packaging waste, old clothes, metal, electronic scrap, old wood and even batteries and bottle corks separately. The percentage of the waste collected for recycling to the total of all household waste is the so-called recycling rate. On account of major waste separa- tion engagement by the residents of Freiburg the recycling rate rose from 25 % in 1992 to 69% in 2013 putting Freiburg in the leading position nationwide.

See also chapter 4.2 Objectives and achievements viewpoint 2019.

10.2 RECYCLABLES ISLANDS ALL OVER THE TOWN

Due to the already remarkable low amount of residual waste per capita and the al- ready high recycling rate the expected extra amount of recyclable material from re- sidual waste in Freiburg is estimated at 2.5 to 4.5 kg per capita and year. How to gather that extra amount?

Based on a thorough analysis about benefits, efforts and costs of an ''extended reus- able material bag or bin'' for all households, and after evaluating pilots of other mu- nicipalities, Freiburg decided against this option. Instead 28 recyclable collection points, so-called recyclables islands, were set up in every part of the town since 2013. They offer citizens the facility to locally dispose of waste glass, old clothes, scrap metal and electrical appliances in the respective containers. The recycling con- tainers are mostly painted uniformly, soundproofed and placed in central locations and in superstore car parking lots.

In 2014, 205 tonnes of old clothing, 52 tonnes of electrical waste and 1.5 tonnes of scrap metal were disposed of in the recyclables islands. With regard to the short time after set-up the collection amounts are satisfactory.

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10.3 ORGANIC WASTE

Around 180,000 inhabitants in Freiburg have an organic waste bin. Only in the old town and in some large housing estates it was not implemented due to lack of space or it was withdrawn after bad results from sorting.

Alongside the weekly emptying of the bin, a biannual cleaning of the containers con- tributes towards hygiene and is much appreciated by the public.

With a collection amount of 66 kg per capita in 2013, Freiburg clearly stands above the national average of 45 kg and today already fulfils the Baden-Württemberg Waste Management Plan (status 2013) for the stipulated target of 60 kg of organic waste per resident per year for 2020. In order to maintain this good result, house- holds in Freiburg will be comprehensively connected to the organic waste bin in the future.

Closing the loop Since 1997, organic waste has been collected separately in Freiburg, 100% of which is sent to the Reterra biogas plant where it is energetically and materially recovered. See chapter 8 Biogas plant.

10.4 GREEN CUTTINGS

The citizens of Freiburg can take their green cuttings to 13 collection points all over the city.

In March and November extra street collections take place for the collection of bun- dled green cuttings. Businesses have the opportunity to take their green cuttings to the Eichelbuck disposal site for a fee. Furthermore, Christmas trees are collected in January.

The following total amount of 10,516 tonnes of green cuttings was gathered in Frei- burg in 2013:

198 tonnes Christmas trees, hedge and tree cuttings from street collection 3,745 tonnes Green cuttings delivered to collection points 1,229 tonnes Garden and park waste from self-deliverers at deposit site 4,207 tonnes Commercial green waste 751 tonnes Green waste from recycling centres 386 tonnes Urban cleansing/foliage removal

The amount of green cuttings in Freiburg was 48 kg per capita in 2013.

Green cuttings discarded also in the bio-waste bin According to the waste management plan for Baden-Württemberg 2013 a state-wide average target for green cuttings was set at 90 kg per capita and year for 2020, start- ing from 85 kg per capita in 2013. An explanation for the low amount of 48 kg of

44 Circular Economy Strategy

green waste per capita is found in the high proportion of green cuttings which are disposed of in the organic waste bin during the summer months. According to the operating Reterra GmbH 45 % of the collected 9,000 tonnes of organic waste consist of green cuttings. This equals an amount of 18 kg per inhabitant.

Thus in Freiburg the total amount of collected green cuttings was 66 kg per capita in 2013.

Closing the loop In 2017, a model vegetable charcoal plant for the recycling of green cuttings waste went into operation. See chapter 8.2 Vegetable coal plant.

10.5 PAPER, PAPERBOARD, CARDBOARD

Since 1993 the green bin has served for the collection of paper, paperboard and cardboard. The bins are emptied every fortnight. The disposal costs are levied via household fees.

20,240 tonnes of paper products collected in 2013 correspond to a yearly average of 93 kg per resident. The average of the state of Baden-Württemberg was at 83 kg per capita.

Closing the loop Waste paper from the Freiburg green bins is transported to a cardboard manufactur- er in the region of North Badenia. The factory annually produces 260,000 tonnes of cardboard.

The municipality´s green public procurement rules require the use of recycling paper. See chapter 7.4. Municipal lead.

10.6 GLASS

Separated glass collection has been well accepted for years by the Freiburg citizens on account of the dense container network. In 2013 a total of 300 locations with about 1,000 sound proofed single containers were provided. The used glass shall be separated by the colours white, brown and green.

In 2013 a total of 6,353 tonnes of used glass was collected corresponding to 29 kg per resident. The average for Baden-Württemberg stood at 26 kg per resident.

Closing the loop Used glass is delivered to regional glass factories.

45 City of Freiburg

10.7 LIGHT PACKAGING

In 1993 the collection of light packaging of metal, plastic and composite material started with a yellow bin which was replaced by yellow bags in 1997 demanding less space in the households. Yellow bags are collected from the households every fort- night.

Manufacturers and distributors of packaged products are obliged to take back pack- aging for renewed usage or for energetic recycling. To organise, maintain, sort and utilise this collection comprehensively, the Dual System Deutschland GmbH (DSD) was founded. Nowadays there are 10 different operators. The system is not financed by waste disposal charges but via licence fees from the packaging manufacturers. The consumers bear the costs for the disposal which is priced into the packaged products.

Closing the loop The yellow bags from Freiburg are transported within the region to one of the most modern, fully automatic plastic recycling plants in Germany. Here the recyclable ma- terials are sorted, processed and marketed. The produced plastic granulates are manufactured into high-quality plastic products by customers from all over Europe.

The complex high-tech plant is running smoothly around the clock. Per year 75,000 tons of used packaging are processed into high-quality secondary raw materials and sorted plastic re-granulates.

During the process different fractions and materials are separated from the recycla- ble material mixture:  Very fine particles, for use as substitute fuel by energy-intensive companies, for example cement works.  Metal parts, paper and composite material for usage as valuable secondary raw material by the steel and paper industry.  Styrofoam

Finally only plastics remain. To offer higher quality granulates to the industry the plastics are separated by type, single-variety and even by colour. The quality is so high that many products can be made to 100 percent from recycled plastics. Mixing new granulates with recycled ones is no longer necessary. Such products can be recycled again, by the way.

In 2013 a total of 5,241 tonnes of light packaging was collected in Freiburg which corresponds to 24 kg per resident.

10.8 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC SCRAP

The collection and disposal of electrical and electronic appliances waste is regulated under the Electrical Equipment Act. The recycling lies in the responsibility of the EAR foundation (Stiftung Elektro-Altgeräte-Register).

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Citizens of Freiburg can bring small electrical appliances to the container network all over the town. Bigger old electrical and electronic appliances are picked up during bulk waste collections or may be taken to the one of the three recycling centres.

Closing the loop The so-called “white goods” (kitchen appliances), office, information and communica- tion appliances, as well as small electrical and electronic appliances are self- marketed by the city´s waste management company. The decision on self-marketing is checked regularly according to economic criteria. The marketing revenues flow into the fees budget.

With all the current possibilities to facilitate the disposal of old electric and electronic appliances, the collected amount for 2013 stood at 7.8 kg per capita and slightly above the state average of 7.6 kg. According to the 2013 waste management plan for Baden-Württemberg on residential waste the target of the collected amount of old electronic and electric appliances is at 12 kg per resident until 2016 and 17 kg per capita until 2019. An increase of the collected amount is expected by extending the curb side container network in Freiburg.

It can fundamentally be assumed that the municipal Freiburg collection quota for electric and electronic appliances is not representing the complete number of dis- carded items. First reason being that regular thefts of large electrical appliances in bulk waste collections cannot be prevented since the bulk waste is put outside the households the day before collection.

Furthermore, due to optional and legal take-back obligations for retailers an in- creased number of old electronic and electrical appliances are meanwhile taken back by the retail stores and then passed on to the EAR foundation. These amounts can- not be allocated to individual towns and are losses to the municipal Freiburg collec- tion amount.

Collection volumes of old electric and electronic devices in Freiburg in 2013:

429 t Large household appliances 260 t Refrigerators 734 t Office and communication equipment 266 t Small electric and electronic appliances 13 t Fluorescent tubes 1,702 t TOTAL

Closing the loop The company ALBA Electronics Recycling GmbH in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate recycles 40.000 tons of electric and electronical scrap per year, 2000 tons of which came from Freiburg in 2015 (2015, Innere Werte).

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10.9 SCRAP IRON

977 tonnes of scrap metal were gathered in bulk waste collections and at the recy- cling centres in 2013.

In total, the amount of 5.2 kg per capita of collected scrap metal in Freiburg in 2013 was clearly lower than the state average of 9.7 kg per capita. As with electrical appli- ances, this is due to the fact that curb side placed waste for the bulk waste collection promotes illegal private or commercial collection. Looking at the neighbouring dis- tricts of Freiburg one solution could be to accept scrap iron only at the recycling cen- tres. This indeed would lead to a higher collection and thus to higher revenue amounts but at the expense of withdrawing the annual or biannual household pick-up service for the citizens.

Closing the loop As marketing prices for steel and other metals have clearly risen due to strong de- mand, the marketing of scrap metal has developed into a relevant source of income over the last years. In 2013 the market price was 100 to 150 EUR per tonne. The revenues accrued to the fee budget.

10.10 WOOD

Untreated, varnished or layered wooden components can be taken to the recycling centres or be collected as bulky waste. In 2013, 2,977 tonnes of waste wood (without A IV) were collected. This corresponds to 13.6 kg per resident.

Closing the loop According to the Waste Wood Ordinance old wood is sorted into untreated wood, pollutant class A I, and treated wood with no assumed danger to the environment, pollutant class A II and III. In the material recycling it is processed into chipboard or wood chips. In the energetic recycling it is burnt and the energy recovered. The recy- cling is managed by a local operator.

Class A IV waste wood, like palisades treated with preservatives, is accepted only against charge at one recycling centre or the Eichelbuck site and forwarded for haz- ardous waste incineration.

10.11 CONSTRUCTION WASTE

Citizens of Freiburg can take their recyclable and non-recyclable construction waste to the recycling centres and to the Eichelbuck site, 50 litres per delivery are free of extra charge.

The non-recyclable construction waste is brought to a landfill site. Due to the co- operation agreement of 1993, the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald District holds the re- sponsibility for the final deposit of non-recyclable mineral based and asbestos waste

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until 2030. The capacity of the landfill site (DK 0/I) in Merdingen will be reached by 2020. A new landfill site, at Weinstätter Hof, is in the planning permission procedure and might go into business from 2022.

Closing the loop The City of Freiburg does not operate its own facilities for processing recyclable building rubble, because it is not a sovereign task. Private companies are in charge, such as the local construction waste treatment plant (Freiburger Erdaushub- und Bauschuttaufbereitungsanlage FEBA), certified as a specialist waste management company in accordance with § 56 of the Circular Economy Act (KrWG) since 2009.

10.12 TEXTILES

In Freiburg, the collection of old clothes has proven its worth over many years through non-profit collections of around 220 depot containers in public street space and in the 3 recycling yards.

In 2014, 730 tons of old textiles were gathered in the containers all over the town.

Closing the loop A certified waste disposal company collects used clothing in Freiburg and concludes annual contracts with certified recycling facilities.

According to § 18 of the Circular Economy Act (KrWG), all commercial and non-profit collectors of used clothing have been obliged since 2012 to register their collection with the waste legislation authority at the Environmental Protection Office. The recy- cling routes must be proven by the certificate, which identifies the recycling company as a specialist waste management company, as well as the proof of the licensing sta- tus of the recycling plant.

Prevent waste There are many possibilities for passing on used textiles from the private households and thus preventing waste. Pieces of higher value might bring some sales proceeds to the owners on flea markets, second-hand stores and the digital marketplaces. Also dress swap parties to exchange clothes are in fashion.

11 SERVICES FOR WASTE FOR DISPOSAL

11.1 RESIDUAL WASTE

The continuously enhanced waste separation led to a steady reduction in residual waste.

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This had significantly fallen from 154 kg to 94 kg per resident from 2000 to 2013, when a total of 20,637 tonnes of residual waste was collected. The Baden- Württemberg average stood at 123 kg of residual waste per resident in 2013.

The Freiburg waste management statutes grant every household the right to choose a container size for residual waste and the collection intervals. Bins are available in 3 sizes: 35, 60, and 240 litres, emptied weekly or fortnightly. Containers with 770 and 1,100 litres capacity are available for large housing estates.

Waste prevention The service charge rises with the container size and collection interval, thus creating an incentive for the residents to reduce their waste and to separate the recyclables.

11.2 BULK WASTE

Every household in Freiburg pays for a total of 4 m³ of bulk waste per annum via the household fee. This can be collected at the household or brought to the recycling centres.

The amount of collected bulk waste (excluding wood, electrical appliances and metal) stood at 3,613 tonnes in 2013 which corresponds to 24 kg per resident. This stands above the state average of 20 kg.

Closing the loop For the household collection of bulky waste three vehicles are sent for separation of three different waste fractions: electric appliances, metal and the rest of bulk waste. Thus the secondary raw material recovery is promoted.

Waste prevention Usable household goods and furniture (except electrical appliances) that are brought to the recycling centre St. Gabriel are not treated as waste but offered at its second- hand market every Monday. The transportation of bigger goods does require an ade- quate vehicle. Citizens can also offer their goods online at “verschenkmarkt- freiburg.de”.

11.3 POLLUTANTS

Substances dangerous to environment and human health are taken at three munici- pal recycling centres. Commercial enterprises can also take pollutants to the St. Ga- briel recycling centre for a fee. Additionally, the ASF hazardous waste mobile drives to all parts of Freiburg twice a year. The mobile pollutant collection offers citizens without vehicles the facility to dispose of pollutants from the household via the short- est way. The pollutants are classified, declared and weighed.

The collection of harmful substances was used by 54,265 people in 2013. In total 278 tonnes of pollutants were allocated for recycling and disposal.

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Closing the loop Primarily paints, varnishes, and also cleaning materials, batteries and pharmaceuti- cals are entrusted. The pollutants are brought to an interim storage at the Remondis GmbH and partially conveyed to recycling. Spray cans are conveyed to aluminium and tin sheet recycling after vacuuming the propellant. Lead batteries are recycled up to 100%. Paints and varnishes are partially used thermally as a substitute fuel in ce- ment factories the same as absorption and filter materials.

Laboratory chemicals and pesticides are treated at the HIM GmbH, a company with facilities in Southern Germany specialised in disposal and recycling of hazardous waste.

12 DISPOSAL SAFETY AS OBLIGATION FOR THE PUBLIC WASTE AUTHORITY

The public waste authority is, according to § 16 of the State Waste Act, obliged to guarantee safe disposal of the waste generated in their area. It has to prove that the infrastructure will last for the next decade.

12.1 DISPOSAL SAFETY FOR WASTE FOR DISPOSAL

Residual waste As associates, the 3 districts of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Emmendingen and Or- tenau and the City of Freiburg founded the Breisgau waste management company (GAB Gesellschaft Abfallwirtschaft Breisgau) in 1998. The GAB realised the con- struction of the TREA, a residual waste treatment and power generation plant. It went into operation in 2004 and forms the basis of safe disposal of urban waste. The plant is in a position to annually treat 170,000 tonnes of domestic and commercial waste. The following contingents of this disposal capacity were contractually reserved for the GAB associates under defined price conditions until 31.05.2030.

City of Freiburg 29,600 - 51,400 tonnes per annum District of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald 26,500 - 52,200 tonnes per annum Districts of Emmendingen and Ortenau 20,000 - 40,000 tonnes per annum

Will the combustion capacity suffice in the future? The development of the waste amounts of past years shows that the amount of re- sidual waste has evened out to today's level. The waste separation system in Frei- burg (organic waste, residual waste, paper waste, yellow bags and recycling centres) has proven itself. An increase in waste for disposal would only be expected from a significant rise in population.

Freiburg delivered about 29,400 tonnes of residual and bulk waste to the TREA in 2013 and thus stays at the minimum of the contracted range. It can be assumed that the contingent of the City of Freiburg will cover the amounts of waste for disposal by TREA in years to come, even for unexpected increased amounts.

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Mineral and asbestos waste for disposal Since 2005, the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald District took over the contractual re- sponsibility for the disposal of waste containing non-recyclable mineral and asbestos until 2030. Following the 2020 to be closed landfill site of Merdingen, a new landfill site at the Weinstätter Hof is in the planning permission procedure for kick-off in 2022. The landfill site of Kahlenberg in the District of Ortenau permits the disposal of contaminated waste.

12.2 DISPOSAL SAFETY FOR WASTE FOR RECOVERY

Organic waste Since 1999 organic waste has been processed at the Reterra Freiburg GmbH digest- ing plant in Freiburg’s industrial area north. It was contractually agreed that Reterra would take on accumulating organic waste of the District of Breisgau- Hochschwarzwald and the City of Freiburg over a 20 year period up to 2019. The digestion plant was constructed to an annual recycling capacity of 36,000 tonnes. The City of Freiburg delivered about 14,800 tonnes of organic waste. Organic waste accumulation has evened out to this level. In the event of long term arising amounts, the capacity reserve of 4,700 tonnes from the district and the City of Freiburg can be used in priority over other deliverers. This means that safe disposal is given in spite of rising amounts of organic waste.

Green cuttings The operating period of the green cuttings recycling plant on the Eichelbuck site is unlimited. It has sufficient capacity for the treatment of the usually accumulating green cuttings. The recycling plant is in the property of the ASF.

Paper, paper board and cardboard The public waste authority is responsible for the mayor part of recycling paper, paper board and cardboard waste. Besides, the Dual Systems in Germany are responsible, also financially, for the 17% of packaging waste made from paper, paper board and cardboard. Due to online-shopping this part is on the rise and object of bargaining.

The ASF is commissioned to undertake the tasks of collection, sorting, recycling and disposal of paper, paper board and cardboard under the Master Agreement until 2019. The collection is done in the household paper bins and at the three recycling centres.

Light packaging and waste glass In general the public waste authority is responsible for all household waste. But the responsibility for packaging waste (light packaging, waste glass and paper packag- ing) has been nationwide conveyed to the Dual Systems companies. That implies that the public waste authority bears no responsibility for the disposal safety.

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12.3 THE EICHELBUCK: FROM WASTE MOUNTAIN TO ENERGY MOUNTAIN

12.3.1 DECOMMISSIONING

2007 to 2020 Since 2008, the upper surface of the Eichelbuck landfill site has been sealed up in sections (total area – 210,000 m²). Construction stage 2 of the surface sealing (46,000 m²) was completed in 2014 and the third construction stage (66,000 m²) started. Upon sealing the disposal site, a sealing system based on the prepared waste incineration slag TREAmin® mixed with clay from the Alsace Region had been applied for the first time. By means of this innovative and environment friendly solu- tion waste material is used in Freiburg to permanently cover deposited waste. In the meantime, 125,000 tonnes of prepared waste incinerated slag were built into the new access roads and used as support and base layer material. The target until 2020 is the reception of 155,000 tonnes of slag.

Aftercare, Eichelbuck landfill site (2020 to 2050) The decision for the Eichelbuck development plan was taken in 2011. By fixing a photovoltaic plant in the partial development plan ''Eichelbuck'', the ASF Solar GmbH & Co. KG was able to install a large-scale photovoltaic plant in 2012. A pavilion was constructed on the disposal site plateau for use as an information and education cen- tre. In 2015, an adventure path to the pavilion was set up with various stations for guided visitors. The energy concept 2014 was introduced to the environment and construction committee of the city council as an overall aftercare concept for the Eichelbuck landfill site. This already comprises the existing plants as well as the con- struction of new plants for the creation of regenerative energy from green waste fol- lowing the decommissioning phase. Furthermore, an Initial Environmental Evaluation was carried out.

Declining landfill site gas A new pipework arrangement was built bringing together bio gas from the Reterra Freiburg GmbH and landfill site gas from Eichelbuck. Since 2011, 70% of the bio gas from Reterra complements the declining landfill site gas in order to continue generat- ing electricity and heating at the combined heat and power unit of Badenova in the Freiburg area of Landwasser for the local inhabitants. This energy provides 3,300 Freiburg homes with electricity and 12,000 homes with heating in 2013.

12.3.2 LARGEST PHOTOVOLTAIC PLANT EXTENDED IN 2019

Freiburg's largest photovoltaic plant has been installed on the former Eichelbuck landfill since 2011. In 2019 the existing photovoltaic system was extended to the up- per slope area. It turns the former waste mountain into a real mountain of energy, and what counts most for climate protection is that renewable energy is gener- ated.

The expansion of the plant by 1,350 modules will generate an additional output of 423 kWp and thus increase the total output of the PV plant to around 3 MWp. Further 200 households in Freiburg can be supplied with climate-friendly electricity. 53 City of Freiburg

The operating company ASF Solar is a subsidiary of ASF and the regional energy supplier badenovaWÄRMEPLUS. The plant extension was realised with financial support from the municipal climate protection fund.

Source: https://www.abfallwirtschaft-freiburg.de/de/news/photovoltaik_eichelbuck.php as of 8/2019

12.3.3 VEGETABLE CHARCOAL PLANT STARTED 2017

Part of the 2014 energy concept for the Eichelbuck was the construction of further plants for material and energetic recycling of biogenic waste on the landfill site. It was assumed that 22,080,000 kWh of electricity and 34,500,000 kWh of thermal energy could be generated per year, for replacing a total of about 11 million litres of heating oil or gas. The energetic recycling shall in the long term also replace the declining landfill site gas.

In 2017, a model vegetable charcoal plant for the recycling of green waste from plant clippings went into operation. The crushed, sifted wood portion of the plant clippings is carbonised at 500 to 700 degrees.

Since 2017, around 900 tons of green waste have been processed into wood chips and vegetable charcoal in a combined process. Approximately 300 tons of vegetable coal are produced per year.

Vegetable charcoal is a highly porous material. The high premium quality was con- firmed by a certification process and helps the marketing.

Uses of vegetable charcoal  in climate protection: stores carbon, reduces CO2 emissions, reduces nitrous oxide emissions  in water: can protect groundwater from nitrate pollution, filters waste water  in technical materials: in building and insulating materials  in feed: can increase animal health and productivity, historically used for cen- turies  in slurry: less odour, improves flow properties and fertilizing effect  in the field: improves and loosens the soil, can stimulate humus formation, im- prove plant health, increase yields, binds nutrients and water

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13 SOURCE LIST

Abfallwirtschaftskonzept 2015, Stadt Freiburg im Breisgau, Eigenbetrieb Abfallwirt- schaft und Dezernat für Umwelt, Jugend, Schule und Bildung, Stand Januar 2015 Waste Management Concept 2015, City of Freiburg im Breisgau, Waste Manage- ment and Department for Environment, Youth, School and Education, January 2015

Innere Werte – was in unserem Abfall steckt, Amtsblatt 13. März 2015 The inner value – what is inside of our waste, municipal newsletter, March 2015

Website of the waste management company ASF GmbH https://www.abfallwirtschaft-freiburg.de/

Charta Circular Economy Switzerland www.circular-economy-switzerland.ch

31.1.2020 Badische Zeitung: Bekommt Freiburg eine Einwegsteuer nach Tübinger Vorbild? https://www.badische-zeitung.de/bekommt-freiburg-eine-einwegsteuer-nach- tuebinger-vorbild--182348449.html

Translation: Parts of the text were translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

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