In Germany, they find treasure in waste


A small part of the vast network of conveyor belts transporting trash past infrared scanners for sorting. Human staff will then pick through the remaining waste for any more recyclable material. — Photos: SIM LEOI LEOI/The Star

IT’S after 11am on a Monday morning and yellow-gloved, apron-clad workers are filing into the “picking lines” at Interzero, one of Berlin’s waste management companies.

They have the tedious job of picking through tonnes of waste – 140,000 tonnes annually – after the company’s advanced infrared system has taken a first pass, looking for items like tin foil and black waste materials.

The Star Christmas Special Promo: Save 35% OFF Yearly. T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
waste , plastic , recycling

Next In Environment

Planetary Health Matters: Sumatra floods are a wake-up call for Malaysia
Wild and woolly crime around the world
The fight to save Malaysia's sea turtles must go on
Turtle numbers are up – but threats still loom large
Ecowatch: COP30 2025, by the numbers
Planetary Health Matters: A call to heal the planet with a bold vision
Ecowatch: How people are saving the world
Planetary Health Matters: The planet is at a tipping point
Elections and their big, bad ‘ungreen’ footprint
Ecowatch: Are we still gulping down oil?

Others Also Read