Technologies as Solutions to Packaging and Environmental Problems in Germany Criticism of the dual system and the current status of recycling

摘要

It was eight years ago when the German packaging standard and dual system, which triggered the packaging and environmental problems, came into effect. Having stemmed from the idea of circular economy, the German system of packaging waste collection, treatment, and recycling seems to work well. In fact however, the recycling of dirty plastic packaging waste, that of mixed plastic materials in particular, is still a headache for DSD System Being responsible to achieve the target recycling rate imposed by the packaging standard, DSD System is concentrating on the de- velopment of a new technology of material recycling. In my opinion, DSD System deserves credit for its policy to continue advocating “circular economy,” instead of giving up trying to find a so- lution, despite a bunch of pungent remarks by the media. In order to make people recognize DSD System as being not worse than what it is said to be, it is vital to establish a far system of disclos- ing information on recycling.