The waste hierarchy in strip-out is the order of priority set out in the German Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz, section 6), applied to the removal of shop fit-outs. It is based on the EU Waste Framework Directive and determines which form of recovery takes precedence: the higher the level, the more material and value are preserved.
The five levels in shopfitting
- Prevention: keep using fit-outs for longer or leave them in place.
- Preparing for reuse: inspect, clean and repair components, for example for relocation to another store.
- Recycling: separate by material and recover, such as metal, glass or wood.
- Other recovery: in particular energy recovery.
- Disposal: landfill as the last option.
Limits in practice
Composite components without material purity, fire safety requirements and time pressure when handing back the premises often push strip-out down to the lower levels. For construction and demolition waste, the German Commercial Waste Ordinance additionally requires separate collection.
What retail chains can do
A pre-demolition audit shows in advance which fit-outs will end up at which level. Deconstructable designs (deconstructability) and a buyer within the own store portfolio keep components at the upper levels. Which option best preserves value is described by Restwertrückführung.
Note: This entry explains the principle with reference to German law. Legal obligations follow from the legal text and the individual case.