Waste Disposal

Waste avoidance is an important measure in environmental and resource protection. RWTH employees are encouraged to check the necessity of every procurement, because less consumption also means less waste. In this sense, offers such as the sale of “expendable products” via the RWTH Purchasing Portal contribute to waste avoidance. The amount of non-hazardous waste generated has decreased continuously in recent years and amounted to 1,530 t in 2022. The volume of hazardous waste has shown both an upward and downward trend since 2018 and most recently amounted to 152 t in 2022 (see figure).

Waste balance of RWTH (2018 to 2022)

Professional Disposal

If waste cannot be avoided, it must be disposed of properly so that it can be made available again as secondary raw materials in the sense of the circular economy. To do this, they must be collected separately at the place where they are generated. The Service Center Waste Management (SCA) of Department 11 – Infrastructure offers individual solutions and advice. Non-hazardous waste, such as wood, metals, plastics, paper, etc. can be delivered if a telephone appointment is made in advance. Containers for individual fractions and a recycling container for mixed recyclables (wood, plastics, polystyrene) can also be requested on site. The disposal of hazardous waste is subject to strict regulations and must be coordinated with SCA employees. But here, too, the Service Center is constantly striving to offer more environmentally friendly solutions, so in future the Click-Pack containers for collecting laboratory consumables will be made of 50% recycled materials.

The “Yellow Garbage Can” Pilot Project

At RWTH, household-type waste is currently separated into two divisions across the board: Paper, cardboard, cardboard packaging (PPK), and residual waste. While paper waste is recycled, residual waste is sent for energy recovery – in other words, it is incinerated. As a result, important raw materials are lost to the circular economy, as RWTH’s residual waste contains a significant proportion of recyclable materials. This primarily includes sales packaging that could be disposed of in the yellow garbage can.

Plastic, aluminum and tin packaging belong in the yellow garbage can. To ensure that these recyclables are not lost, RWTH buildings have been successively connected to the Dual System Germany – the so-called “yellow garbage can” – since 2022. This is challenging as the buildings are spread throughout the city and they have very different site conditions. In particular, there is often a lack of space for the installation of additional large containers. In addition, incorrect disposal by users means that the large containers are not emptied by the waste disposal companies. There is a great need for information, especially among University members who are not familiar with waste separation.

Two waste bins are next to each other, a yellow one on the left and a gray one on the right. A person throws a plastic bag into the yellow bin.
Hannah Georg

So far, the “yellow garbage can” project has been successfully implemented at nine locations despite the challenges described above (as of mid-2023). It should be emphasized that the “yellow garbage can” pilot project has been very well received by employees and students. There is both interest in the topic of waste separation and a willingness to accept minor inconveniences in the form of walking distances, as not every room is equipped with an additional waste garbage can.

The “yellow garbage can” pilot project will also be accompanied by appropriate communication. For example, information on what belongs in the yellow garbage can and what does not has been placed at the disposal points in the main building, e.g., in the kitchenettes. Newly installed waste garbage cans were also covered with specially created signs.

Three pictograms next to each other. From the left: a blue circle with two white sheets of paper, a yellow circle with a white wrapper, a black circle with a white apple core.
Pictograms for labeling the three waste divisions paper, yellow garbage can, and residual waste.
Pictogram with blue circle and two indicated sheets of paper in white in the center.
Pictogram with a yellow circle and a package in white in the center.
Pictogram with a black circle and a white apple core in white in the center.
Piktogramme zur Kennzeichnung der drei Abfall-Fraktionen Papier, Gelbe Tonne und Restabfall.

The experience gained so far, both positive and negative, is important for the successful implementation of further projects. The aim remains to enable separate collection in all RWTH buildings and thus make an important contribution to resource conservation.

Further information
“Disposal” in the first Sustainability Report
Service Center Waste Management (SCA)