Collection and processing of biodegradable waste has also boomed: Whereas in 1990 fewer than one million tons of biodegradable waste were collected separately, by 1996 the figure had already risen to over six million tons. According to the statistics for 1993 and estimates for 1994 and 1995, the business community and private consumers have embraced the waste policy of the Federal Government and are gradually translating it into action. The 1993 waste life-cycle analysis showed that the amount of waste in Germany declined ten percent between 1990 and 1993 (from 379 to 339 million tons) and that the percentage of recycled materials rose from 21 to 25 percent. During this same period, the amount of household garbage and similar commercial rubbish, bulky trash and sweepings declined 14 percent; 30 percent of this was recycled (as compared to 13.6 percent in 1990). In the case of production-specific waste, the volume of waste dropped 22 percent, and the percentage of recycled materials rose to 59 percent (as compared to 46 percent in 1990). Hazardous waste exhibited the same trend as well.

The Federal Government’s Soil Protection Concept of 1985 formulated standards for the protection of the en vironmental medium soil for the very first time. With the Federal Soil Conservation Act, the prerequisites will be created for effective soil protection. Its nationally uniform standards will form the basis for efficient action on the part of the competent authorities. The aim is to permanently maintain or reestablish the productivity of the soil in its many different functions, whereby express reference is made to its function as the habitat and source of life for animals, plants and organisms in the soil.