INTECUS developed a reproducible and updatable representation of the material flows of recyclable waste and, on this basis, describes the contribution of waste management to resource productivity. With a low level of detail, the material flows of metal, plastic, construction and demolition waste and biodegradable waste were presented on the basis of German waste statistics. Based on more in-depth investigations, the material flows of iron and steel, copper, gold, polyethylene (HD-/LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were presented in greater detail. The quantities of waste and secondary raw materials determined in this way were compared with substituted primary raw materials to quantify the raw material, energy and economic savings resulting from recycling. Excluding the upstream chain abroad, these raw material and energy substitutions were related to the use of primary materials by the German economy to determine the DERec (Direct Effect of Recovery) parameter.
