abfalls

Abfall (plural Abfälle) is material that is discarded after use or is otherwise considered unwanted by the person who generated it. In German-speaking countries, the term Abfälle is used officially to describe waste as a resource that should be managed to minimize environmental impact. The form Abfalls is the genitive singular of Abfall and is rarely used as a stand-alone term. Waste generation follows patterns of consumption, production, and infrastructure.

Waste is commonly categorized by source and hazard. Municipal solid waste includes household and commercial refuse. Industrial waste comes from manufacturing, construction and demolition waste from building projects, and hazardous waste contains substances that pose risks to health or the environment (e.g., solvents, heavy metals, clinical or chemical waste). E-waste covers discarded electronics.

Waste management follows the waste hierarchy: prevention, minimization, preparation for reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and disposal. Key steps include separate collection, sorting at facilities, material recycling, composting of organics, and energy-from-waste incineration where appropriate. Landfilling is typically reserved for non-recyclable and non-combustible waste with controlled liners and monitoring.

Policy and governance frameworks at national and regional levels regulate waste management. The European Union Waste Framework Directive establishes the waste hierarchy, definitions, and targets, while specific directives address packaging, batteries, and electronic waste. Countries implement producer responsibility schemes and recycling targets to reduce environmental impact and foster circular economy practices.