Output Resource management

Policies

As part of the Group-wide efforts to operate more sustainably, the circular economy also plays an important role in DB Group’s resource output.

The “Circular economy and resource efficiency” technical guideline defines clear requirements and processes to ensure that materials that are no longer required are recycled and disposed of in a resource-conserving and legally compliant manner. The aim is to expand environmental benefits throughout the Group, to effectively utilize synergies and to ensure close cooperation within DB Group. The guideline thus makes a significant contribution to the continuous improvement of operational environmental protection and the implementation of binding standards within DB Group in Germany.

Clear regulations regarding the circular economy have also been defined for DB Group in Germany within the scope of our environmental management system in accordance with DIN ISO 14001. 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.

Actions

Using products for as long as possible also makes an important contribution to greater resource conservation and offers the opportunity to avoid waste and extend resource cycles. We therefore extend the service life of our trains, for example through continuous maintenance and modernization (redesign). 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. DB Regional also operates an online platform for the sale of used buses.

Especially in the construction and maintenance of our rail 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. 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 start-up Erdpool offers services relating to the sustainable marketing of mineral raw materials. Erdpool helps to record material and location data 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 so that the potential of the material produced can be assessed automatically. 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.

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.

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.

In the case of waste classified as hazardous, 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.

Targets

DB Group pursues a sustainable waste management policy that aims to combine resource preservation, transparency and efficient disposal. For us, circular economy means keeping products in the output in the value chain for as long as possible (including within the meaning of the KrWG) and – where technically and legally possible – recycling our waste in order to reduce the need for primary raw materials and the volume of waste.

We want to maintain our recycling rate at a very high level of at least 95 %. The rate covers all waste from DB Group, including construction waste, (electronic) scrap, municipal waste, paper and waste oil.

Metrics

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.

The volume of waste increased in 2025. At about 95 %, the largest share was once again generated by construction waste. The reason for the absolute increase in construction waste was the construction projects implemented as part of the corridor modernizations. In 2025, we again maintained our recycling rate at a high level of over 95 %.

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⁾ For example paint, varnish, sludge and other maintenance-related waste.

By using targeted measures, such as selective decommissioning and contractual commitments to sorting and recycling facilities, we keep the share of recyclable waste high and the share of waste to be disposed of or incinerated at a very low level. In 2025, less of our construction waste in particular was classified as hazardous. This had a positive impact on the ratio of our waste, that is recycling compared to thermal utilization and disposal.

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.

Of the waste generated in 2025, about 94 % (previous year: about 93 %) was classified as non-hazardous. This includes, for example, municipal waste and the majority of construction waste. The remaining about 6 % comprises waste that poses a risk to health or the environment, such as waste oil, contaminated waste wood or contaminated soil and construction waste.