Germany has consistently maintained the highest recycling rate globally, with over 65% of its waste being recycled.

The primary goal of a recycling policy is to divert waste from landfills and incineration, thereby conserving natural resources and reducing environmental pollution.

Food scraps are generally excluded from recycling programs due to their organic nature and potential to contaminate other recyclable materials.

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach that holds producers responsible for the entire life cycle of their products, including their end-of-life disposal and recycling.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal is an international treaty that aims to minimize the generation of hazardous waste, control its transboundary movement, and ensure its environmentally sound management.

The waste hierarchy is a framework that prioritizes waste management methods based on their environmental impact, with the most preferred option being waste reduction, followed by reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and finally, disposal.

Mechanical recycling is a process where waste materials are physically broken down and processed into new materials, without changing their chemical composition.

Consumer education plays a crucial role in promoting recycling and waste reduction by informing consumers about the importance of these practices, providing guidance on proper waste disposal, and encouraging sustainable consumption habits.

Thermal recycling, also known as waste-to-energy, involves the incineration of waste materials to generate heat or electricity.

Deposit-refund systems aim to encourage consumers to return used beverage containers for recycling by providing financial incentives, reducing litter and waste in public spaces, and promoting the circular economy.

Biological recycling, also known as composting, is the process of converting organic waste materials into compost, a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Zero waste is a philosophy and goal that aims to eliminate all waste generation by designing products and processes that minimize or eliminate waste at every stage of the life cycle.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal includes electronic waste as a hazardous waste, and aims to promote its environmentally sound management.

A waste management policy aims to reduce waste generation, ensure proper disposal, promote recycling and waste reduction, and protect the environment from the harmful effects of waste.

Chemical recycling involves the use of chemical processes to convert waste materials into new chemicals or fuels.