Abstract
Over the past few years, the German waste management branch has succeeded to achieve a remarkable, internationally accepted standard both in terms of technological and ecological aspects. Due to modified boundary conditions on the market, operating plants are increasingly affected by economical imperatives. To accomplish a sustainable leading position, a continuous identification of internal critical points in the operation process as well as market obstacles is a prerequisite. For the cost-effective and ecological optimization of technical processes, waste management systems, material flow analyses, eco-controlling, hazard and life cycle analyses are established methods. The study features the method of benchmarking as an integrative approach to identify operational critical points on the basis of a branch-wide comparison of technical parameters. As a result of a consequent benchmarking, the plant operator is provided with activity alternatives with regard to operational, economical and ecological aspects to be compared in terms of efficiency in subsequent scenario analyses.