Recycling rate – output resource management
Within the scope of our environmental management system No. 131 in accordance with DIN ISO 14001, clear regulations regarding the circular economy have been defined for DB Group in Germany. For example, when materials and substances are no longer needed, we check whether they can be recycled and how they leave DB Group. We are basically a waste producer, which means that we control and take active responsibility for implementing legally compliant and environmentally friendly waste disposal via third parties all the way through to final disposal. For external waste disposal services, specialist waste disposal companies are commissioned that have the relevant waste management and economic expertise in accordance with Section 56 ( 2) of the Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz; KrwG). All waste generated in DB Group that is fed into waste disposal in accordance with existing disposal agreements or within the scope of the municipal supply obligation applicable in Germany is taken into account.
Using our internal waste management system, we record and dispose of almost every type of waste separately according to individual fractions. This allows us to recirculate the waste and generate income from specific waste. Hazardous, and non-hazardous, waste is recorded using a central IT system. This ensures transparency regarding 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 regarded as a minimum requirement. Corresponding contractual provisions are made and monitored at a local level.
| Total Waste and recycling rate | 2024 | 2023 | Change | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| absolute | % | ||||
| Waste (total) (thousand t) | 8,182 | 7,904 | +278 | +3.5 | 8,112 |
| Recycling rate (%) | 96.0 | 96.7 | –0.7 | – | 96.9 |
Period from October 1 to September 30.
DB Cargo AG is the only part of the DB Cargo business unit included. The waste is generated by our own activities and is managed by third parties outside DB Group.
Figures for 2023 and 2022 adjusted due to the reclassification of DB Schenker.
In 2024, we again maintained our recycling rate at a high level of over 95%. Especially in the construction and maintenance of our track infrastructure and related to our vehicle fleet, we produce waste that contains valuable resources such as metals and mineral building materials. These are already predominantly recycled and continue to be available to the economic cycle.
Using products as long as possible makes an important contribution to greater resource conservation and offers the opportunity to avoid waste and extend resource cycles. We are extending the service life of our trains, for example, through continuous maintenance and modernization (redesign) No. 87. When DB Group discards a vehicle, it is either resold or components that can still be used are removed and the rest of the vehicle is recycled. For example, saleable rolling stock is sold on the market via our used train portals. DB Regional operates an online platform for the sale of used buses.
When we build a new tunnel or otherwise intervene in an area, we transport large quantities of excavated material from the earth. We return the many tons of sand, gravel, clay and natural stone to the cycle. The corporate start-up Erdpool No. 163 offers services relating to the sustainable marketing of mineral raw materials. Erdpool helps to record material and location data, in particular material surpluses and requirements, and enables the search for customers in the vicinity in the event of material surpluses and the search for suppliers in the event of material requirements, as well as an automatic assessment of the potential of material produced. This means that more material can be reused, transport routes can be shortened, disposal costs and environmental damage can be reduced and infrastructure projects can be made more sustainable. By marketing these products, we reduce the extraction of mineral raw materials and also conserve landfill capacities. Erdpool also ensures that the excavated and breaking material is inspected in accordance with the applicable environmental requirements.
| waste by waste type and Disposal method / thousand t | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction waste | 7,749 | 7,493 | 7,657 |
| Recycling | 7,458 | 7,272 | 7,449 |
| Thermal utilization and disposal | 290 | 221 | 208 |
| Scrap 1) | 341 | 319 | 361 |
| Recycling 1) | 340 | 319 | 361 |
| Thermal utilization and disposal 1) | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Electronic scrap 1) | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| Recycling | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 |
| Thermal utilization and disposal 1) | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Municipal waste and plastic 1) | 50.6 | 60.2 | 65.9 |
| Recycling 1) | 28.0 | 31.6 | 32.6 |
| Thermal utilization and disposal 1) | 22.6 | 28.7 | 33.3 |
| Paper 1) | 9.6 | 9.3 | 9.4 |
| Recycling 1) | 9.5 | 9.2 | 9.4 |
| Thermal utilization and disposal 1) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Waste oil 1) | 8.7 | 2.5 | 1.9 |
| Recycling | 8.5 | 2.2 | 1.8 |
| Thermal utilization and disposal | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Other 1), 2) | 22.3 | 17.9 | 16.2 |
| Recycling 1) | 11.9 | 10.9 | 9.6 |
| Thermal utilization and disposal 1) | 10.4 | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| DB Group 1) | 8,182 | 7,904 | 8,112 |
| Recycling 1) | 7,858 | 7,647 | 7,864 |
| Thermal utilization and disposal 1) | 324 | 257 | 248 |
| DB Group including DB Schenker (discontinued operation) 3) | 8,244 | 7,974 | 8,187 |
| thereof DB Schenker (discontinued operation) 3) | 61.7 | 70.1 | 74.8 |
Period from October 1 to September 30.
Individual figures are rounded and therefore may not add up.
DB Cargo AG is the only part of the DB Cargo business unit included.
The waste has been generated through company activities and is managed by third parties outside DB Group.
1) Figures for 2023 and 2022 adjusted due to the reclassification of DB Schenker.
2) For example paint, varnish, sludge and other maintenance-related waste.
3) DB Schenker January 1 to December 31 of the previous year.
- In 2024, the volume of waste was close to the previous year’s level. At about 95%, the largest share was once again generated by construction waste. The recycling rate was 96.0%. By using targeted measures, such as selective decommissioning and contractual commitments to sorting and recycling facilities, we kept the share of recyclable waste high and the share of waste to be disposed of or incinerated at a very low level.
- Waste for incineration is always sent for thermal waste treatment. The energy released during burning is used as electrical energy, heat and/or process steam.
- Municipal waste only accounts for a small share of our total waste volume, but is the most visible fraction on our trains and at our stations. We continued our approach to disposing of mixed municipal waste, with the target of recycling as much of the recyclable material contained therein as possible. We send all recyclable municipal waste to modern pretreatment plants for sorting, so that at least 85% of the recyclable materials contained therein are cleanly separated for recycling.
| hazardous and non-hazardous waste / thousand t | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous waste 1) | 579 | 378 | 384 |
| Share of recycling 1)(%) | 68.0 | 61.8 | 62.1 |
| Share of thermal utilization and disposal 1) (%) | 32.0 | 38.2 | 37.9 |
| Non-hazardous waste 1) | 7,603 | 7,526 | 7,728 |
| Share of recycling 1) (%) | 98.2 | 98.5 | 98.7 |
| Share of thermal utilization and disposal 1) (%) | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| DB Group | 8,182 | 7,904 | 8,112 |
| DB Group including DB Schenker (discontinued operation) 2) | 8,244 | 7,974 | 8,187 |
| thereof DB Schenker (discontinued operation) 2) | 61.7 | 70.1 | 74.8 |
| Hazardous waste 2) | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Non-hazardous waste 2) | 60.7 | 69.5 | 74.3 |
Period from October 1 to September 30.
The waste has been generated through company activities and is managed by third parties outside DB Group.
Individual figures are rounded and therefore may not add up.
DB Cargo AG is the only part of the DB Cargo business unit included.
1) Figures for 2023 and 2022 adjusted due to the reclassification of DB Schenker.
2) DB Schenker January 1 to December 31 of the previous year.
Of the waste generated in 2024, about 93% (previous year: about 95%) was classified as non-hazardous. This includes, for example, municipal waste and the majority of construction waste. The remaining about 7% comprises waste that poses a risk to health or the environment – such as waste oil, contaminated waste wood or contaminated soil and construction waste. Special procedures ensure that this waste is disposed of safely. Here, too, we consider the conservation of resources and look at opportunities for recycling or thermal utilization of waste.
Deviations from the forecast
| Outlook for the 2024 financial year | 2023 | 2024 (Mar 2024 forecast) | 2024 (Jul 2024 forecast) | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recycling rate (%) | 96.5 | >95 | >95 | 95.9 |
Including DB Schenker(discontinued operation).