Waste disposal between Green Point system and deposits on cans

High growth rates in the refuse disposal business may be a thing of the past. The demand for disposal services is influenced more strongly by environmental policies than by general business conditions. The controversy in connection with the introduction of deposits on single-use drink packaging and the discussion regarding the monopoly position of "Der Grüne Punkt - Duales System Deutschland AG" in the areas of the disposal of product packaging have unsettled the disposal industry. Turnover in the industry, which is marked by increasing concentration (5% of the enterprises that had more than €10 million turnover in 2001 accounted for almost 60% of total industry turnover), might stagnate in 2003 as in 2002 - in spite of somewhat more confident business expectations.