Within the scope of our environmental management system in accordance with DIN ISO 14001, clear regulations regarding the circular economy have been defined for the Integrated Rail System in Germany. For example, when materials and substances are no longer needed, we check whether they can be recycled and via which route they leave the DB Group. We are fundamentally a waste producer, which means that we manage and take active responsibility for implementing legally compliant and environmentally friendly waste disposal via third parties all the way through to final disposal. The contractual design and management of external disposal services is carried out centrally for the Integrated Rail System by Procurement. Specialist waste disposal companies are appointed that have the appropriate waste-related management and economic expertise in accordance with section 56 (2) of the Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz; KrwG). All waste produced in the Integrated Rail System that is disposed of in accordance with existing waste disposal contracts or within the scope of the municipal waste disposal obligation applicable in Germany is considered.

Using our internal waste management system, we collect and dispose of almost every type of waste separately according to individual fractions. This allows us to recirculate the waste and generate revenue for specific waste. Hazardous and non-hazardous waste is recorded via a central IT system, which provides transparency about waste flows and disposal routes. A core principle of DB Schenker’s extensive global environmental management system is that the relevant locally applicable legal regulations for waste disposal are complied with as a minimum requirement. Corresponding contractual provisions are made and monitored at a local level.