German cities expand metal recycling

In late July 2026, German municipalities continued to broaden free scrap‑metal collection schemes. Herne and Wuppertal introduced a service that picks up iron scrap from a 300 kg minimum at no cost, also accepting non‑ferrous metals such as copper, brass and aluminium. Residents and firms can arrange collections via WhatsApp, receiving preliminary valuations.

A week later, Dortmund and Recklinghausen rolled out professional scrap‑collection operations emphasizing the role of metal recycling in the circular economy. The programmes target steel, copper, aluminium, brass and stainless steel sourced from manufacturing, construction, renovation and household waste. Recovered metals are fed back into production for machinery, construction, electrical engineering and automotive sectors, aiming to reduce reliance on primary raw materials, lower energy use and cut CO₂ emissions.

Both initiatives reflect Germany's broader push to integrate local waste streams into national circular‑economy goals and to safeguard limited metal resources.