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Waste separation is worthwhile
In 2022, each person in Germany produced 438 kilograms of waste on average (household waste not including old electrical appliances 2022, German Federal Statistical Office). Fortunately, much of this waste can be reused. Plastic, paper and glass can be separated and kept within the material cycle. This is good for both the environment and your wallet.
67.5% of the packaging disposed of in the yellow bin was recycled in 2022 (source: German Federal Environment Agency 2023). A yogurt pot from the yellow bin won’t end up back in a supermarket fridge, but it may make its way back into stores in the form of a flower pot.
Separating Waste Means Lower Ancillary Expenses
There are two parts to the waste disposal system in Germany: Organic waste and residual waste are paid for via the ancillary expense bill for the apartment. However, it is the ‘dual systems’ that are responsible for the disposal and recycling of glass, plastic, metal and composite packaging, as well as paper. The costs of this are covered by the packaging manufacturers, who pass them on via the purchase price. When purchasing such products, consumers therefore always pay for a proportionate share of the disposal costs.
Large quantities of residual waste, which require a larger bin and need to be disposed of more frequently, or even disposed of in special way, drive up ancillary expenses. Tenants themselves can therefore help to keep their expenses lower by separating waste efficiently and preventing waste.
Throwing away less is also good for the environment, as almost all residual waste is incinerated, which releases harmful CO2.
What goes in which bin?
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Residual waste
Things that can go in the residual waste bin: Anything that cannot be recycled.
For example:
- sanitary products, nappies, tissues
- animal litter
- crockery, glass from mirrors and windows
- defective filament light bulbs and halogen bulbs, broken porcelain or glass
- vacuum cleaner bags, sweepings, dirty or coated paper or film
- photos
- wallpaper off-cuts, scraps of fabric
- dried paint
- ash and contents of ashtrays, cigarette butts
- candles, cooking fat and small amounts of rubber, e.g. seals or bicycle tire tubes
By the way: White receipts, tickets from vending machines and baking paper also belong in residual waste, not in the waste paper bin. Soiled cardboard such as pizza boxes or paper bags also go in residual waste.
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Yellow bin/yellow bag
Things that can go in the yellow bin: Packaging not made of paper or glass. This includes:
Plastics:
- plastic bags and films
- food packaging
- pots/tubs e.g., for yogurt, quark or margarine
- deposit-free plastic bottles
- packaging for care and cosmetic products, e.g., toothpaste tubes
- foam materials, e.g., polystyrene trays used for food
- medication blister packs
- metals, e.g., deposit-free drinks cans and food cans
- bottle caps
- aluminum foil, lids and trays
Composite materials:
- drink cartons, e.g., juice and milk cartons
- vacuum packaging e.g., for coffee
- takeaway cups for coffee or tea
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Recycling bin
Some municipal authorities use the yellow bin or yellow bag, which are only used to collect packaging, while others use the recycling bin. Anything made of plastic or metal can go in the recycling bin, including everyday items. The types of waste you can put in the bin are shown on the bin itself.
Things that can go in the recycling bin: Anything that can also go in the yellow bin, as well as other items made of plastic or metal. Such as:
- watering cans, plastic bowls or plastic toys
- empty aerosol cans, e.g., deodorant cans (without a hazardous substance symbol)
- pots and cutlery
- tools and screws
Did you know? Packaging must be empty when disposed of, but it does not need to be clean. By the way: Stacking individual pieces of packaging makes them more difficult to sort. It’s better to just throw them in loose.
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Paper bin
The following can go in the waste paper bin: Anything made of clean, dry paper or cardboard. This includes:
- boxes/cartons, e.g., laundry detergent boxes
- brochures, catalogs
- books, leaflets, writing paper
- paper packaging, e.g., flour and sugar bags
- cardboard boxes and egg boxes
- paper bags and packing paper
- magazines, newspapers
By the way: Bread bags and envelopes with windows can be disposed of as paper waste, as the cellophane windows can be separated during the recycling process. Emptied and clean pizza boxes should go in the paper bin. More than one or two grease stains? Dispose of them in residual waste.
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Organic Waste Bin
Things that can go in the organic waste bin: all organic waste. This includes:
- leftover food (cooked and uncooked)
- old food (removed from packaging)
- fruit and vegetable scraps
- skin/peel, including from citrus fruit
- coffee grounds and filters
- tea and teabags
- egg shells
- kitchen roll
- garden cuttings, leaves and flowers
- garden waste and grass cuttings
By the way: A bowl that can be emptied or a paper bag are best for collecting organic waste – because even compostable plastic bags should not be put in the organic waste bin.
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Waste Glass Container
The following can go in the waste glass container: All glass packaging. This includes:
- bottles, e. g., for juice, wine or vinegar
- jars, e. g., for jam or baby food
- preserving jars
- glass packaging
- perfume bottles
- medication bottles
By the way: Blue or red bottles should be disposed of in the green glass container. Lids and caps can be kept on the glass bottles/jars or be disposed of in the yellow bin. You can find out where your nearest glass container is on the website of the Mülltrennung wirkt initiative.
Bulky and Hazardous Waste, Electronics and Medication
Every household occasionally produces waste that doesn’t fit in the bin outside – and doesn’t belong there either. But what should you do with old chairs, TVs or expired medication?
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Bulky Waste: Arrange a Collection or Take it Away
Bulky waste includes all bulky furnishings and household items that are too big for the household bin. This includes tables, chairs, sofas, mattresses and garden furniture. But watch out: It gets a little more complicated with floor coverings, tiles or doors, as some are treated as bulky waste, but some are also treated as construction waste. Construction waste is generally not collected along with bulky waste – recycling centers or private construction waste disposal companies are responsible for disposing of this type of waste. What exactly is treated as bulky waste and what is treated as construction waste is determined by each individual municipal authority.
You need to dispose of bulky waste yourself. Here’s how it works:
- Municipal or private waste disposal companies collect your waste on set dates, and there are usually restrictions on quantity and size. Costs vary, but you can expect to pay around 20 to 35 euros per cubic meter. In some cities and municipal authorities it is even free of charge.
- If you can’t wait for the next date, you can take your bulky waste to the nearest recycling center yourself – this is sometimes even free of charge.
Electrical Waste
Most of the components of electrical appliances can be recycled, which is why disposing of them as household waste is prohibited by law. Recycling centers accept old electrical appliances such as TVs, monitors, washing machines and kitchen appliances free of charge.
Since 2022, electronics stores and supermarkets have also been obliged to take back old discarded appliances, subject to certain conditions. Large retailers must accept up to three small appliances at a time to be recycled free of charge. Anything smaller than 25cm, such as electric toothbrushes, smartphones or toasters, are considered small appliances.
LED and energy-saving bulbs also need to be taken to the recycling center – but some supermarkets and drugstores will also accept them. The e-waste return finder shows you the places closest to you where you can hand in electrical appliances.
Harmful Substances
Paints, varnishes, batteries and mercury-containing energy-saving bulbs contain harmful substances that must not be released into the environment. They are accepted by recycling centers or at collection points for harmful substances. While dried water-based paint residue and empty paint tins can be disposed of along with residual waste, solvent-based paints and varnishes need to be taken to a recycling center.
Medication
Old medications? Don’t throw them down the toilet! Otherwise the active ingredients will end up in the waste water. You can find out whether your medication can be disposed of along with residual waste, by handing it over to a special harmful substance collection vehicle or at the pharmacy by visiting arzneimittelentsorgung.de.
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Which Type of Packaging is Actually Better: Plastic, Glass or Paper?
If not disposed of properly, plastic pollutes the environment and the oceans – by the ton. But plastic also has its advantages: Plastic packaging sometimes has a better environmental footprint than packaging made of paper or glass.
For example, melting down glass as part of the recycling process requires far more energy and water than melting down plastic. And while renewable resources are used to produce paper, it also requires far more water – unless it is recycled paper. However, the advantage of glass and paper is that they are easier to recycle. Glass is fully recyclable, and paper can even be recycled many times over.
Whether plastic, paper or glass is the best choice for packaging depends on the product in question. The website plastik-reduzieren.de and Naturschutzbund Deutschland can help you to make the right, sustainable choice.
