A network of waste advisers is present across the whole of Germany. According to national legislation (Law on Circular Economy and Waste), every municipality is obliged to have waste advisers. They are employees of the municipality or of the public waste management company and inform companies, private households and institutions, associations, schools and the like on issues of waste prevention, recovery and treatment.
In Nuremberg, for example, the public waste management company employs a number of permanent waste advisers. They are in charge of communication with the households. Their work includes giving presentations and being in direct contact with the citizens in order to explain prevention measures and to inform them about correct waste separation. They are also present in schools (on invitation); for this the waste advisers have developed targeted information materials and several different programmes depending on the age of the children, level of knowledge and time available. Moreover, the Public Waste Management Authority of the City is in partnership with a City Environmental Museum for Children which includes a section on resources and waste. The Authority subsidises the entrance to the museum so that children from schools and kindergartens can enter with a reduced fee. Waste advisers are present on site to lead different activities. Finally, waste advisers also provide tailored consulting services to commercial and industrial entities on demand.
In addition to permanent staff, trained advisers have been supporting the work of permanent waste advisers on a voluntary basis since 1991. The voluntary waste advisers operate an “Infomobil” (special waste information vehicle), give advice at different events and take part in campaigns. Since there is an important migrant population, it is important to ensure that foreign language speakers are equally well informed about good waste management practices. Foreign language competency is therefore an important aspect when considering the choice of volunteers.