Governing Mayor visits Interzero’s central sorting plant for packaging recycling in Berlin

Berlin. Yesterday the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, visited the city’s central sorting plant for yellow bin / yellow bag plastic waste in the Mahlsdorf district at the invitation of Dr Axel Schweitzer, Chairman and Owner of Interzero, Europe’s leading provider of circular economy services.  

The visit showcased Berlin’s status as a circular economy hub and provided the Mayor with a first-hand insight into the recycling process. The plant is the central sorting facility for Berlin and the surrounding area within a 150-kilometre radius of the city, processing 140,000 tonnes of waste each year. It keeps up with steadily increasing waste volumes by leveraging Interzero’s special expertise in this field and continually updating to the latest sorting technology. The Interzero team ensures that up to 60 percent of all waste can be reused, with some of this waste going directly from the plant to Interzero’s own recycled plastics production facility in Eisenhüttenstadt. From 2026 onwards, the company aims to supply a significant proportion of the remaining approximately 40 percent of waste for innovative chemical recycling instead of incinerating it as it still has to do today. The groundbreaking ceremony for the re-sorting plant needed for this process also took place yesterday in the town of Walldürn, Baden-Württemberg.  

With this in mind, the visit also focused on pioneering approaches for a circular economy that works to protect our climate and resources, as well as how consumers can contribute to recycling efforts by consciously disposing of their waste in the right bins. At the same time, it is important to note which items do not go in recycling bins, most notably batteries that present a fire hazard. 

Governing Mayor Kai Wegner commented: “Sustainability is extremely important to the Berlin Senate, especially in the context of climate change. It is a challenge that cuts across every Senate administration. We will continue to push ahead with our waste management plan in line with a zero-waste model over the coming years – which is why expanding the circular economy is also so important for Berlin. We want to provide private households and businesses with more information about how to separate their waste. Interzero is supporting our concept of ‘a zero-waste capital’ and helping to make recycling a success in Berlin with its packaging waste sorting facility.” 

Dr Schweitzer added: “The Interzero team and I would like to thank the Governing Mayor for his visit and express our appreciation for recognising us in this way. Presenting our work to the leader of our city as well as other politicians from across the globe allows us to showcase our commitment in this area and motivates us to continue working towards a zero-waste capital. Berlin is where we develop the circular solutions we provide to businesses and governments across Europe and Asia in particular as we seek to move steadily towards a world without waste. We build bridges to the world from here. However, we can only close material loops by working together with citizens, policymakers, researchers and entrepreneurs. That’s what makes the collaboration and mutual support in this city so important.” 

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