In the following we cite the statements made by the CDU to our Federal Association, the BDE, as REMONDIS has not received any more up-to-date responses to date. Saving valuable raw materials and fostering recycling are key topics for the CDU in the next legislative term. The idea of a voluntary recycling label that provides consumers simple information on the recyclability of a product is definitely viewed by the Christian Democrats to offer a possibility to save resources, but they emphasise that product responsibility on the part of manufacturers needs be expanded, e.g. by assuming the costs for collecting and recycling their products. This principle is tried and proven, for example, in the case of packaging waste. The CDU has a clear opinion regarding efforts by municipalities to reassert control over services in this area: competitive solutions offer the best guarantee of high-quality, inexpensive waste-disposal solutions for citizens and the economy. The CDU categorically rejects restoration of public control over this sector, as only competition and strict waste requirements make Germany a leading actor in the international recycling economy. In the opinion of the CDU, the task is to expand and strengthen this successful system. The party also wants to work to ensure that the waste hierarchy is devoted more attention throughout Europe. A prohibition against waste landfills like those applying in Germany is held to be unrealistic in some countries. Nevertheless, placement of waste in landfills is the “worst of all solutions”. The objective of the CDU is to apply Germany’s recycling know-how internationally while eliminating differences between countries in the use of landfills.

As expected, the circular economy is viewed by the Greens to be a key element in environmental policy. The party also emphasises the link between recycling and climate protection, calling for additional investment in the expansion of recycling infrastructure and more ambitious recycling targets by law, and explicitly recognises the importance of the industry as a job engine. With regard to the legislative arena, the Greens attach importance to the Packaging Law and the Circular Economy Package of the European Union. The party is sticking to its declared aim and objective of instituting a law on reusable materials, a quota for reusability and an expansion of legislation to cover all beverage cans and plastic disposable bottles. The Greens are also open to ecodesign requirements for producers and entities introducing products in the market. As far as the question of competencies is concerned, municipalities should in the view of the Greens have the right to decide whether to take over services of general interest or to assign these to private entities based on the municipalities’ right to self-administration. The Party is in favour of leaving value-added tax exemptions largely untouched, while public tender law is to be made stricter with regard to environmental protection, social and human rights obligations. As regards execution and enforcement, the Greens would like to set up a new central office at the Environmental Protection Agency. At EU level, the Greens are calling for an EU-wide ban on landfills.

The recycling industry also plays a major role with the FDP, as in the view of the Liberals recycling will continue to gain importance both in Germany and worldwide in view of ever scarcer resources. At the same time, in view of the positive growth in jobs in the industry, the FDP would like to ensure fair framework conditions at all levels. In contrast to Die Linke and the Greens, the FDP assumes that recycling in Germany would grow even more strongly without the reassertion of municipal control and with fair competition between state and private market actors. The Free Democrats thus view strengthening of the private economy to be of particular importance and are opposed to laws putting private enterprises at a disadvantage compared to state-owned companies. The party rejects an “ecodesign directive”, however, because in the view of the FDP this would be tantamount to government interference in entrepreneurial decision-making. The Liberals would like to revise regulations governing individual waste streams such as municipal, commercial and construction waste with the aim of instituting more ambitious recycling rates. The party opposes different taxation for private and municipal actors and calls for a fair market. Public tenders should be non-discriminatory, transparent, based on due course of law and business-friendly. In the execution and enforcement of laws, the FDP would like to see an improved set of instruments for agencies in charge of supervision and controls as well as government requirements. Internationally, the Liberals want to work to strengthen awareness of the opportunities offered by recycling.