THE SITUATION AND THE PROBLEMS OF HAZARDOUS-WASTE TREATMENT IN GERMANY

Yearly 4 900 000 tons of hazardous waste are generated in West Germany. The Germany Waste Disposal Act regulates not only the import and the export, but also the transit of wastes. Also avoidance of waste generation and recycling of wastes are emphasized by the act. To reduce waste amounts the collected wastes are treated preliminarily by chemical, physical and biological methods. 740 000 tons of hazardous waste are combusted annually in 27 incineration plants. 18 additional incineration plants are planned. Disposal of diluted acids in the North Sea was completely stopped by the end of 1989. Chlorinated hydrocarbons were burned on a German incineration ship. This was stopped in 1989. The most usual disposal process is the sanitary landfill. Rainfall results in water and soil pollution caused by leachates. A roof above the landfill could eliminate the generation of leachates. The safest disposal is the deep underground deposition in salt domes.