Germany's War on Plastic...Complete compliance with segregated emissions

[Anchor]
Germany has long implemented various policies to increase the recycling rate of plastics and others.If you return an empty plastic bottle

, you will be fined by applying a strict emission separation system as well as a subsidy policy.

Reporter Kim Winter reports on what kind of efforts the Germans are making to solve the plastic treatment problem.

[Reporter]
People who come to the supermarket put empty plastic in an unmanned empty bottle recovery machine.

When the automated machine recognizes the bottle, a receipt with a certain amount is printed out.

It is a deposit system that allows you to get a discount or cash for that amount when you buy something at a mart.

Germany raised its waste recycling rate from 56% in 2002 to 67% in about 18 years through this 'empty bottle deposit system', which is the best result not only in the European Union but also in the world.

[Laura Glock / German Citizen: Empty bottle subsidy system is pretty good in that it can reduce the amount of waste we use, and at the same time, we can use plastic waste multiple times rather than just once.]

Germany's aggressive policy to reduce plastic waste

Since 2022, the use of disposable plastic bags has been completely banned in large supermarkets.

In response, ordinary citizens are also actively participating in reducing the use of plastic, such as using shopping baskets and paper bags.

[Salin Maher / German Citizen: We always try to use and buy plastic unpacked vegetables. Sometimes it's difficult. Instead, you can buy it at these big supermarkets. It's plastic-free.]

It's not just plastic.

Germany applies strict regulations to all waste disposal and segregated emissions,

Thoroughly separate and discharge food, paper, plastic, and glass, and violations will be subject to strong penalties, including fines of up to 5,000 euros and about 7.5 million won in our money.

[Frank Boltman / Environmental Protection Director] The purpose of this deposit system is to prevent waste and to recycle plastic bottles and other things and put them back on the market. And this is a very positive way.]

Despite this leading plastic emissions policy, environmental experts point out that there are still many challenges to be solved.

[Martin Kaim / Head of the Environmental Development Research Center, Bonn University] There are still technical problems to be solved. This is because only a few are actually recycled and the rest are still causing environmental problems. We need to continue to improve this system.]

Using plastic that provides convenience to humans but is accumulating in ecosystems causing pollution problems,
We can't stop using
, but we're in dire need of unprecedented effort and attention for eco-friendly and sustainable use.

I'm Kim Winter from YTN World in Hamburg, Germany.