all projects

Zero Waste Concept Munich

Client

Munich’s waste management companies

Year

2022

Partner

Wuppertal Institute, rehab republic e. V. and Stakeholder Reporting


The assignment

Munich generates approximately 720,000 tonnes of municipal waste each year. How can waste be reduced, and resources saved?
As part of the project "Zero Waste Concept Munich”, under the leadership of the Wuppertal Institute with rehab republic e.V. and Stakeholder Reporting, we developed a concrete plan of action to make Munich a zero-waste city.

Our approach

Our waste team calculated waste prevention scenarios essential for selecting and quantifying the necessary measures to reduce household-like waste. They include both information measures designed to raise consumers' awareness of waste prevention and proper separation, as well as organisational measures that enable the prevention and reuse of waste.

Between April and July 2021, a total of five workshops were held, aimed at civil society, educational institutions, urban administration and political personnel, businesses, trade, and events, as well as those responsible for waste management. During the workshops, the participants developed measures for the various sectors of the city of Munich to reduce the amount of waste.

Core results

The Zero Waste Concept forms the action plan for waste prevention in Munich until 2035 and is geared towards three overarching goals:

  1. Reducing household waste by 15 percent per capita – from 366 kg to 310 kg
  2. Reducing the amount of residual waste by 35 percent per capita – the potential savings at this point are almost 70 kg per living person in Munich
  3. Raise Munich citizens’ awareness of zero waste

The other objectives and measures set out in the Zero Waste Concept for preventing waste and saving resources, relate to areas of waste management, public administration, education, industry, construction, civil society, trade, and the events industry.

With the comprehensive measures of the Zero Waste Concept and the formulation of concrete goals, the state capital Munich is applying for the "Zero Waste City" certificate, which is awarded by the European association Zero Waste Europe.

Download & links:

Go to the Zero Waste Munich platform (in German)

Further information on the project (Wuppertal Institute website in German)

 

Project team: Dr Bärbel Birnstengel, Marieke Eckhardt

Latest Update: 28.7.2022

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Dr Bärbel Birnstengel

Principal

View profile

Marieke Eckhardt

Project Manager

View profile

Mehr Studien & Projekte zu diesem Thema

More studies & projects on this topic

Carbon management study for the state of Brandenburg

2025
| Project

Prognos examined for the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and Climate Protection of the State of Brandenburg what role CO2 capture, usage and storage could play in the state.

Mid-term review of the Hamburg ERDF programme

2025
| Project

The Hanseatic City of Hamburg has the smallest ERDF programme in Germany. Prognos reviewed whether the programme objectives are being achieved and whether adjustments are necessary.

Ressource efficiency in Bavaria

2025
| Project

Bavarian industry requires large quantities of raw materials. Our study shows how critical materials can be used efficiently and important savings potential identified.

Smart specialisation in Turkey's regions

ongoing
| Project

Prognos supports the CEDIS3 project. The aim is to enable national and regional stakeholders in Turkey to develop and implement viable strategies for smart specialisation.

Sustainability
management concept
for municipal energy
management

2025
| Project

Prognos and bridgingIT developed a concept for future internal sustainability management for a customer in the municipal energy sector.

Prognos article in the European magazine TerritoriALL

2025
| Project update

What impact do global crises have on regional labour markets? The 15th issue of TerritoriALL magazine reports on the OVERLAP project carried out by Prognos.

Design and implementation of the Resilience Expo

ongoing
| Project

Prognos is supporting the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Environment in organising, implementing and establishing the world's first trade exhibition for the climate adaptation industry.

Mid-term evaluation of the public sector loan facility

2025
| Project

The Public Sector Loan Facility is an EU financial instrument to ensure a socially just transition to climate neutrality in the regions. Prognos and t33 srl evaluated the instrument.

German industry’s resilience and sovereignty

2025
| Project

German industry is heavily dependent on raw materials and intermediate products from abroad, especially from China. Prognos analysed supply chains and developed recommendations for action.

Evaluation of the ‘Innovative University’ funding initiative

ongoing
| Project

How can innovations be implemented in practice? This is where the BMBF's ‘Innovative University’ funding initiative comes in. Prognos and Fraunhofer ISI are evaluating the programme.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

Learn more