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- Waste and resource consumption in Germany<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How organizations and volunteers are getting involved for zero waste<\/strong><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What you should look out for when volunteering for zero waste<\/strong><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Find your volunteer position for zero waste at vostel.de<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- FAQ – Frequently asked questions about volunteering for zero waste<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
1. Waste and resource consumption in Germany<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Interim](\"https:\/\/vostel.de\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-4-1024x341.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHigh quantities of waste in everyday life<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Enormous amounts of waste are generated in Germany every year. According to the latest provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office, around 37.7 million tons of household waste were collected in 2024<\/strong>. This corresponds to around 452 kilograms<\/strong> per person, around 11 kilograms more than in the previous year<\/strong>. Germany continues to be one of the countries with a very high volume of waste per capita, with a recent upward trend. (Source: Statistisches Bundesamt<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), this waste is made up of different types of waste. These include above all <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- 38 % Household and bulky waste <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 31 % Recyclable materials\n
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- (18% cardboard and carton) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- (7% glass) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- (6% plastics and lightweight packaging) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 23 % Biowaste <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 7 % Other waste, such as hazardous materials or small electrical appliances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
A large proportion is generated in private households and is closely linked to consumer habits and the use of disposable products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Packaging waste and recycling rates<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Packaging accounts for a large proportion of the waste generated in Germany. According to the Umweltbundesamt<\/a>, the amount of packaging generated by private end consumers in 2023 was around 8.42 million tons<\/strong>. Although a significant proportion of this is recycled, recycling rates vary greatly depending on the material. They indicate what proportion of the collected packaging is actually recycled:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Paper, cardboard and paperboard<\/strong>: recycling rate of around 86 percent<\/strong>
<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n- Glass<\/strong>: recycling rate of around 81 percent<\/strong>
<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n- Plastics<\/strong>: recycling rate of around 52 percent<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Throwing away instead of reusing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A significant proportion of waste is generated by products that are replaced even though they could still be used. This mainly includes bulky everyday items<\/strong> that are disposed of as bulky waste. In Germany, around 2.5 million tons of bulky waste were recently generated each year<\/strong>, a large proportion of which consists of furniture that could in principle be reused or repaired (source: Statistisches Bundesamt<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Textiles<\/strong> also make a significant contribution to waste generation. According to industry figures, around 1.01 million tons of used textiles<\/strong> are collected separately in Germany every year, which corresponds to more than 15 kilograms per person<\/strong>, and the trend is rising (source: BMUKN<\/a>), in addition to electrical appliances, <\/strong>which are accepted by primary treatment plants and, according to the Statistischem Bundesamt<\/a>, will amount to around 906,000 tons in 2023 <\/strong>. Some of these appliances could have remained in use for longer if they had been repaired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. how organizations and volunteers get involved for zero waste<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Intermediate](\"https:\/\/vostel.de\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-2-1024x341.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat non-profit organizations do<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Non-profit organizations and initiatives play a central role in promoting zero waste in society. They carry out educational work, develop educational programs and implement specific projects to support waste prevention in everyday life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One important nationwide contact point is Zero Waste Deutschland e.V.<\/a>, which networks local initiatives, provides information material and campaigns politically for waste prevention. Environmental associations such as the German<\/a> Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU)<\/a> also address the issue of waste prevention, for example in connection with resources, species and water protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, various associations such as Ozeankind<\/a> and RhineCleanup<\/a> organize regular local cleanup campaigns to collect waste from the natural environment. Social department stores, Oxfam stores<\/a> and second-hand stores promote the passing on of clothing, furniture and household items. Actors such as AfB gGmbH<\/a> and platforms such as wohindamit.org<\/a> are also active in the field of reuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How volunteers are involved<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Many of these organizations are dependent on support. Volunteers get involved in very different ways depending on the project, for example in the preparation and implementation of campaigns, supporting repair or second-hand projects or accompanying educational and informational offers. Organizational tasks or public relations work in the association can also be part of a volunteer position in the area of zero waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don’t necessarily need specialist knowledge, but an interest in helping to shape projects, support processes and promote zero waste in everyday life. Getting started is usually straightforward. Volunteers often receive guidance and can flexibly adapt their tasks to their time and abilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Typical fields of voluntary work for zero waste<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Intermediate](\"https:\/\/vostel.de\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BLOG-Zwischenbilder-Vorlage-1.200x400-px-1-1024x341.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nVolunteers can get involved in Zero Waste in a variety of ways, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Support for clean-ups<\/strong> in public spaces, such as parks or riverbanks, often combined with discussions about waste prevention
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Participate in repair caf\u00e9s<\/strong>, swap meets or upcycling projects to make things usable for longer
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Help with information stands, workshops or action days<\/strong> where knowledge about zero waste, recycling and sustainable consumption is imparted
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Organization and preparation of events<\/strong>, for example coordination, procurement of materials or supervision of participants
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Support in public relations<\/strong>, for example through social media, newsletters or the creation of information materials
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Assignment in the organization and communication of food distributions and clothing donations,<\/strong> in the acceptance of donations, sorting or coordination in the warehouse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Participate in repair caf\u00e9s<\/strong>, swap meets or upcycling projects to make things usable for longer
- Glass<\/strong>: recycling rate of around 81 percent<\/strong>
- Paper, cardboard and paperboard<\/strong>: recycling rate of around 86 percent<\/strong>
- How organizations and volunteers are getting involved for zero waste<\/strong><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
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