German Society for Waste Management

What German Society for Waste Management does

The German Society for Waste Management (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Abfallwirtschaft e.V., DGAW) is a non-profit professional association registered in Berlin, Germany, with over 40 years of operation since its founding in 1982. The organization functions as a multi-stakeholder expert platform — self-described as the largest expert NGO in the German circular economy — serving approximately 500 decision-makers drawn from industry and commerce, plant and mechanical engineering, engineering, science, public administration, politics, and advocacy. DGAW does not develop or operate proprietary technology; its core offering is an ecosystem of knowledge-sharing services including two podcast series ('Ressourcen Neu Denken' and 'TrashTalk'), the Akademie der Kreislaufwirtschaft (Academy of the Circular Economy) — a scientific platform of approximately 12 professors producing evidence-based recommendations — nine active working groups spanning topics from ISWA-Germany to bioeconomy and landfills, regional specialist events, the annual Wiko Science Congress, and a member portal for publications and downloads. Distribution is primarily direct-to-member through the association's own portal (server41.der-moderne-verein.de) plus regional events, supported by a public-facing bilingual (German/English) website and social channels on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and YouTube.

DGAW's revenue model is dual-stream: annual membership fees set by the General Meeting and payable by February 15 each year (a subscription-recurring stream), plus participation fees from regional specialist events that the board supports through moderation or presentations (a professional-services stream). As a selflessly active eingetragener Verein, the association does not primarily pursue economic purposes; any surplus is applied exclusively to statutory purposes. The organization holds Gold Membership in ISWA (International Solid Waste Association) since 2019 and, jointly with RETech Partnership e.V., has represented Germany as an ISWA National Member since January 1, 2022, granting members access to international journals, working groups, and the global knowledge base. Management is led by Managing Director Sieglinde Groß, Honorary Chairman Thomas Obermeier, and an Executive Board of approximately twelve members including senior academics such as Prof. Dr. mont. Michael Nelles (University of Rostock), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sabine Flamme, and Prof. Dr. Christina Dornack (TU Dresden).

Name

German Society for Waste Management

Legal name

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Abfallwirtschaft e.V. (DGAW)

Website

https://dgaw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The German Society for Waste Management (DGAW) is a Berlin-based non-profit association and self-described largest expert NGO in the German circular economy, serving approximately 500 decision-makers across industry, science, public administration, and policy through working groups, podcasts, the Academy of the Circular Economy, events, and publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees: Members pay annual membership fees determined by the General Meeting. The amount is due by February 15 of each year. In cases of social hardship, the Board may defer or reduce fees. The association is selflessly active and does not primarily pursue economic purposes.
2. Event Participation: The DGAW organizes regional specialist events in Germany on various circular economy topics. The board supports these events through moderation or presentations, generating participation-based revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The German Society for Waste Management (DGAW) is a non-profit professional association that provides an interdisciplinary platform for approximately 500 decision-makers across waste and resource management. It delivers knowledge-sharing services including working groups, regional specialist events, the Academy of the Circular Economy, podcast series (Ressourcen Neu Denken and TrashTalk), publications, and a member portal, focused on consensus-based, fact-oriented input for industry, politics, and science.

Product overview

German Society for Waste Management (DGAW) is a non-profit association (NGO) and the largest expert NGO in the German circular economy. Rather than offering a unified software product or platform, DGAW provides an ecosystem of knowledge-sharing services including two podcast series (Ressourcen Neu Denken and TrashTalk), the Academy of the Circular Economy for scientific recommendations, working groups on specialized topics, events and conferences, publications, and a membership services portal. These services collectively support interdisciplinary cooperation and expert exchange among approximately 500 decision-makers from waste management, industry, science, and policy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ressourcen Neu Denken: Platform for product responsibility and resource conservation
• TrashTalk
• Akademie der Kreislaufwirtschaft

Products and services

• Membership Services Portal An online member portal providing access to presentations, downloads, networking, and association governance for approximately 500 member decision-makers from industry, science, public administration, and policy.
• Academy of the Circular Economy (Akademie der Kreislaufwirtschaft) An academic platform comprising approximately 12 professors from Germany and Austria that develops evidence-based recommendations for a resilient and efficient waste and circular economy through scientific discourse.
• Ressourcen Neu Denken (Resources.New.Thinking) Podcast A podcast series featuring discussions on circular economy topics with expert interviews covering waste management, environmental law, the German Circular Economy Status Report, and circular economy startups.
• TrashTalk Podcast A podcast series covering broader waste management and circular economy topics for professionals in the field.
• Working Groups (Arbeitskreise) Specialist working groups covering topics including ISWA-Germany, fundamental issues of resource management, chemization of waste law, landfills, EU think tank, residual materials, young professionals, biological waste treatment, and bioeconomy/climate protection.
• Events and Conferences Organization of regional specialist events, IFAT exhibitions, and the Science Congress (Wiko) on circular economy topics. The board supports events through moderation or presentations, providing networking platforms for industry participants.
• Publications and Recommendations Scientific publications, position papers, and recommendations from the Academy of the Circular Economy addressing topics such as quotas, waste management, and circular economy policy, aimed at legislators, political representatives, and the specialist public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 professors from Germany and Austria participate in the Academy of the Circular Economy, producing evidence-based recommendations for legislators, political representatives, and the specialist public.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• RETech Partnership e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The DGAW and RETech Partnership e.V. jointly applied to represent Germany as National Members in ISWA (International Solid Waste Association). The ISWA General Assembly unanimously approved the application on October 3, 2021. From January 1, 2022, Germany has been represented as a National Member through both organizations. The joint activities are coordinated through the 'ISWA Germany' working group.
• ISWA (International Solid Waste Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019DGAW has been a Gold Member of ISWA since 2019. Since 2022, DGAW and RETech jointly represent Germany as National Members. DGAW board member Prof. Dr. Michael Nelles coordinates the joint work as National Member and formally represents both organizations in ISWA. Members of both DGAW and RETech have access to ISWA journals, working groups, and knowledge base.
• ISWA Germany Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA joint working group called 'ISWA Germany' pools activities of DGAW and RETech. It informs members about ISWA working groups, activities, events, and publications. The working group is supported by Dr. Haniyeh Jalalipour (ISWA coordinator at University of Rostock) in addition to both association offices. Activities are published at www.iswa-germany.de.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ISWA (International Solid Waste Association): Global membership-based association for the waste management sector, providing knowledge exchange, working groups, and policy advocacy. DGAW is itself an ISWA Gold Member and National Member for Germany, making ISWA the most direct functional peer operating at the international level.
• BVSE (Bundesverband Sekundärrohstoffe und Entsorgung): German federal association for secondary raw materials and disposal. Operates as a domestic trade association serving waste management and recycling sector members in Germany, comparable in function and audience to DGAW but with a more commercial industry-association focus.
• ITAD (Interessengemeinschaft der Thermischen Abfallbehandlungsanlagen in Deutschland): German association of thermal waste treatment plant operators. Directly comparable as a domestic industry association in the waste sector; DGAW even co-leads a Joint Working Group on Residual Materials with ITAD, VGB, and IGAM.
• BDE (Bundesverband der Deutschen Entsorgungswirtschaft): German federal association of the waste disposal industry. Comparable national-level trade association serving waste management companies in Germany with policy advocacy and member services, competing for the same institutional members as DGAW.
• IGAM (Interessengemeinschaft der Aufbereiter mineralischer Rohstoffe): German association of mineral raw materials processors. Co-participates with DGAW in the Joint Working Group on Residual Materials; comparable as a domestic sector association serving adjacent segments of the waste and resource management value chain.
• RETech Partnership e.V. German recycling technology partnership association. DGAW's actual strategic partner, jointly representing Germany as ISWA National Member since January 2022; both organizations serve overlapping stakeholders in the German recycling and circular economy space.
• VGB PowerTech e.V. German technical association for power plant operators. DGAW collaborates with VGB through the Joint Working Group on Residual Materials, serving overlapping stakeholders at the intersection of energy generation and waste/residue management.

Regional players

• WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme): UK-based charity working on resource efficiency and circular economy. Comparable mission and structure as an independent expert body on waste/circular economy, but operates in the UK rather than directly competing in the German market where DGAW is headquartered.

Emerging players

• Zero Waste Europe: European environmental NGO focused on waste prevention and circular economy advocacy. Overlaps with DGAW on circular economy policy discourse and stakeholder engagement but operates with a more advocacy-oriented, less technical/industry-focused mandate.

Others

• ANS e.V. German association explicitly referenced on DGAW's website as a related organization in the waste management community, suggesting an affiliated or ecosystem-level relationship rather than direct competitive overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DGAWev
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCw6pKKG4v3J5h3Cy0Gv2Tcw
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/dgaw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about German Society for Waste Management