The threats posed by climate change have become ever more real. Governments around the world are trying to tackle it. Recycling is not the only answer, but it’s an important part of the solution. But which country recycled the most in 2021?
Germany has the highest recycling rate in the world. The nation recycles an impressive 66.1% of its waste. How did it become the world’s best recycler? The key has been no-nonsense government policy and German citizens getting on board.
A Government That’s Tough on Waste
Germany became the country that recycled the most in 2021 thanks to some strong Government rulings.
The Packaging Ordinance (Verpackungsverordnung – VerpackV)
This ruling came into force in 1991. It states that manufacturers and distributors of goods are responsible for ensuring packaging is either returned or recycled. This applies to commercial and domestic goods. Quotas are set for the recovery of materials which manufacturers and distributors must abide by.
The Closed Substance Cycle and Waste Management Act
This act came into force in 1996. Producers of goods are responsible for the avoidance, recycling, reuse, and correct disposal of any waste.
In practice, this means that;
Products should be designed to be more recyclable;
The production process should not be wasteful;
Where the above is not possible, waste should be recovered so resources aren't wasted;
Waste should be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way.
The Green Dot
If a ‘Green Dot’ is on the packaging, it means it's accepted for recycling. If customers see the Green Dot, they know that the manufacturer has contributed to the cost of recycling it. Companies pay a licence fee to join the scheme. Those who don’t have to collect recyclable packaging themselves.
The ‘Culture of Recycling’ in Germany
Germany didn’t become the country that recycles the most overnight. The key to its success has been the combination of strong policies and the commitment of its people.
To get people on board, the government makes it as easy as possible for people to recycle. It’s the norm across Germany to have four bins;
A blue bin for paper and cardboard;
A yellow bin for plastic and soft metal;
A green or brown bin for organic waste;
A grey bin for general household waste.
Residents must recycle glass separately in the collection containers located in most German neighbourhoods.
Getting people to sort their recycling means less contamination and a higher recycling rate.
Pfand: Germany’s Deposit Return Scheme
Another reason why Germany is the country that recycled the most in 2021 is Pfand, its deposit return scheme. When you buy bottles and cans in a supermarket or kiosk, you pay a small deposit on top of the price. You then get this refunded when you return the can or bottle.
Not all bottles are part of the scheme, however. You can get a deposit back when you return;
Non-alcoholic glass bottles;
Beer bottles;
Thicker plastic soft drink bottles;
Glass yoghurt containers;
The following are not included in the deposit scheme;
Wine bottles;
Spirit bottles;
Bottles from other countries;
Milk and juice containers (Tetra Pak);
Residents must recycle these bottles in separate containers located in most neighbourhoods. Tetra-Paks go in the yellow bin.
So there you have it, Germany was the world’s top recycler in 2021. Hopefully, the country’s impressive achievements have inspired you to level up your recycling efforts. For more interesting articles on all things recycling, check out the rest of our blog.
Slovenia and Germany had the highest municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling rates among OECD countries in 2021, at 58.5 and 46.3 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, South Korea boasted a recycling rate above 56 percent in 2020.
The Countries With The Highest Plastic Recycling Rate. South Korea and Germany have the highest recycling rates in the world. Estimates show Germany (65%), and South Korea (59%), are leaders around the world when it comes to the percentage of their waste composted or recycled.
The U.S. ranks quite low when compared to the rest of the world in recycling percentage. Of the major countries that track recycling data, the United States is ranked number 25 out of 32. This ranking is determined by the total amount of waste each country recycles.
According to a report by Eunomia, Germany is the top performer worldwide, with the highest recycling rate of 66,1%, followed by Singapore (60.6%) and Wales (60.2%). The UK is 16th worldwide and the United States 25th, while Russia, China and India are absent from the top 25.
Switzerland stopped burying rubbish in landfills in 2000, and now they recover 53% of their waste through material recovery (i.e. recycling and composting), while the other 47% is incinerated for energy. Sweden are also extremely close to fully recovering their waste at 99%.
Kamikatsu made history in 2003 as Japan's first municipality to commit to zero waste, and since then, the town has revolutionized its waste disposal practices from open-air burning to a circular system of consumption and disposal, all with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality.
With a rate exceeding 80%, Japan is a world leader in the recycling of plastic bottles (made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and called “PET bottles” in Japanese), leaving both Europe (about 40%) and the United States (lower than 20%) trailing far behind.
Germany is the top recycling nation. A new highly-detailed data report produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows the municipal recycling rates for its member countries.
In 2008, Rwanda became the world's first 'plastic-free' nation, 10 years after it introduced a ban on all plastic bags and plastic packaging. Unlike many other countries, the African nation is strict at enforcing its ban. Anyone caught with a plastic item in the country faces a jail sentence of up to six months.
The 10 states with the lowest recycling rates (excluding FFP) in 2021 include: West Virginia (2%); Louisiana (4%); Tennessee (5%); Alaska (6%); South Carolina (6%); Mississippi (6%); Oklahoma (8%); Alabama (8%); Texas (8%); and Colorado (11%).
China, which once accepted the bulk of that waste, in 2018 banned all plastic scrap shipments, declaring that it no longer wanted to be the “world's garbage dump.” Since then, American companies have looked to ship plastic scrap waste to countries like Malaysia and Indonesia instead.
The study ranked each state according to its recycling rate for CCPMs in 2018, with the 10 states with the best recycling rates comprising: Maine (72%); Vermont (62%); Massachusetts (55%); Oregon (55%); Connecticut (52%); New York (51%); Minnesota (49%); Michigan (48%); New Jersey (46%); and Iowa (44%).
Sweden recycles an astonishing 99 percent of its locally produced waste, thanks to its citizens' concern for the environment and sophisticated collection techniques.
With a rate exceeding 80%, Japan is a world leader in the recycling of plastic bottles (made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and called “PET bottles” in Japanese), leaving both Europe (about 40%) and the United States (lower than 20%) trailing far behind.
Nine countries, namely Germany, Austria, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Italy achieved recycling rates of 50% or higher, while another four countries (Cyprus, Malta, Türkiye and Romania) recycled less than 20% of municipal waste.
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