Because of outdated chips: Zollernalbkreis has to convert garbage cans!

Because of outdated chips: Zollernalbkreis has to convert garbage cans!

Recently, waste disposal has become more explosive in various German districts, especially in the Zollernalb district. The reason for the excitement is outdated microchips that are used in garbage cans to record the filling level and weight. These chips, which originally worked at a frequency of 4 MHz, may now only be used for military purposes according to the requirements of EU Directive 2014/53/EU. Therefore, it is time to replace them in order to comply with legal requirements and maintain the legal framework. [Schwäbische] reports that around 85,000 transponders in the Zollernalb district are affected and now need to be replaced.

The switch to new technology is no coincidence: previously, the costs for collecting residual and organic waste bins were charged at a flat rate. This often led to the amount of waste not being taken into account correctly. In order to address this problem, many districts, including Heidenheim and Ludwigsburg, have changed their systems. From now on, a combination of basic fee and individual costs depending on the weight of the waste will be used. This is intended to promote waste reduction and raise citizens' awareness of responsible behavior when dealing with waste.

Technical outlook

The replacement of microchips in the Zollernalb district is carried out by Bogenschütz Disposal and Recycling GmbH. The plan calls for the exchange to be completed by December 31, 2026. It remains to be seen whether this will be achieved within the given time frame. What is interesting is that the original time frame for the conversion from 2026 to 2028 has now been shortened to one year. This happened without pressure from the Bundeswehr or the EU, which speaks for a certain calmness in the process. The Federal Ministry of Defense has also confirmed that the Bundeswehr is not involved in this case, so the frequency will not be used.

The legal situation is clearly regulated by Directive 2014/53/EU: It specifies how radio equipment must be provided in the EU member states in order to protect people's health and safety and to avoid electromagnetic interference. These regulations are important to ensure that the new chips installed in trash cans comply with current standards and meet the requirements for efficient use of radio frequencies. [Eur-Lex] sums up these technical requirements.

Sustainable waste management in the EU

A look across national borders shows: In 2022, almost 2 billion tons of waste were treated in the EU. As [Europarl] explains, waste recycling became widespread, with more than half of total waste being recycled or used for other purposes. The development shows that the recovery of materials from waste is becoming increasingly important and the trend towards more responsible waste management is in full swing.

Waste can not only be recycled, but also used for various applications such as landscaping or embankment renovation. These diverse options are not only ecologically sensible, but also of great economic interest. The energy used from incinerated waste is another example of the innovative use of waste in modern waste management.

The developments in the Zollernalb district show that it is also important to take technological and legal changes into account on a local level. By replacing the microchips, an important step is taken towards a more sustainable and responsible waste management that adapts to both the needs of citizens and the EU's requirements.