Waste management industry faces rising costs and digital transition hurdles

The waste management and recycling sectors in Germany are facing significant operational and regulatory challenges. Increasing disposal and landfill costs are pressuring municipalities and waste management companies, necessitating more efficient material flow management. Effective volume reduction and early-stage preparation of waste streams are identified as critical factors to reduce transport volumes, stabilize sorting processes, and improve the recovery of valuable materials.

Simultaneously, the industry is struggling with the digitalization of cross-border waste movements. Under EU Regulation 2024/1157, the DIWASS digital system became mandatory for notifying and tracking waste shipments on May 21, 2026. However, a survey by the Federal Association of Secondary Raw Materials and Waste (bvse) indicates that the technical and administrative infrastructure is currently insufficient. Reports suggest that no notifications have been fully processed digitally so far, leading recycling associations to call for an extension of the implementation deadline until June 2027 to avoid supply chain disruptions.