Waste Management at Oktoberfest in Munich as a role model for major events

Through the targeted implementation of the Commercial Waste Ordinance in 1991, the city of Munich has succeeded to reduce the single visitor's waste, at the world's largest folk festival from 2kg per visitor to 0.2 kg per visitor.

AWM

Since 1991, when the first regulations on waste reduction were introduced into the Oktoberfest operating guidelines, all disposable tableware was banned on the whole area of the Oktoberfest. The requirement for all exhibitors and beer tent operators was to use only reusable crockery.

Soft drinks are only sold in returnable bottles for a minimum deposit of one euro. The sale of beverages in cans is prohibited. Reusable transport containers are used for the delivery of food and beer mugs. All waste is sorted and recyclable materials are placed in the designated collection containers. Large catering establishments dispose of used glass in their own containers. Kitchen and food waste is collected separately and recycled separately. Subsequently the waste, before the measure, of 2kg per visitor reduced to 0.2 kg per visitor.

Since 1998, water has been saved at the Wiesn with the help of a recycling project: in some festival halls (e.g. Pschorrbräu Festhalle Bräurosl, Hacker Festzelt, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Schottenhamel and Paulaner Festzelt), resource-saving gray water utilization systems are in use. Thanks to cascade utilization, the rinse water from the beer mug washing machines is not fed into the sewer but is used for the tent toilets.

This was only possible for the city because it owns the land and is the organizer.

Contact

Abfallwirtschaftsbetrieb München (AWM) - Waste Management Cooperation Munich
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 29
D - 80992 Munich

phone:+49 (0) 89 233-96200

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