Terminological inconsistencies in German construction waste law and their impact on separation practices in the context of the circular economy

Circular economy in the construction sector is significantly hindered by the lack of terminological consistency in German waste legislation. In particular, the Waste Catalogue Ordinance (AVV) does not provide consistent definitions for key terms such as “construction debris” or “mixed construction waste.” This leads to inefficient separation processes and unnecessary mixing of uncontaminated and contaminated materials, which undermines efforts to implement closing-the-loop strategies and effective recycling practices. Container services responsible for the disposal of construction debris and mineral construction and demolition waste apply their own operational definitions. As a result, environmental economic challenges arise, especially for private individuals who, due to inconsistent terminology, are unable to separate waste correctly, often incurring additional costs after disposal.
A website-based benchmarking analysis was conducted to examine and compare the terminology used on the websites of German container services. This was complemented by a systematic literature review to identify relevant characteristics of mineral construction and demolition waste and to formulate definition proposals that could be applied within German waste legislation.
The study reveals a clear discrepancy in terminology and its negative impact on circular material flows. The newly developed definitions enable transparent and systematic separation processes.
These definitions form a foundation for more efficient resource use and pollutant reduction in the construction sector. They may serve as a reference for other countries seeking to improve the regulatory basis for a functioning circular economy in the handling of construction and demolition waste. In the long term, terminology in this field could be harmonized across Europe or globally to enhance connectivity, transparency, and the statistical tracking of material flows.