How to Recycle in Germany

The moment you move to Germany, you will be faced with a fairly complex recycling system (compared to our non-existent one). In other words, recycling in Germany is mandatory (unless you want to be fined at the beginning of your stay in this country).

I think there is no need to mention the importance of recycling in a world that is full of wild landfills, and we can also see from the example of our rivers what damage a huge amount of plastic can bring.

But in order to recycle properly, you first need to know where to throw what.

How to dispose of garbage properly?

My advice to you is to start sorting waste immediately after you produce it.

The number of trash cans in a typical German household varies, but the following three to four can generally be found everywhere. And in order to know what goes into those bins, keep reading.

Blue or Green Container If you see a blue or green bin, know that paper or cardboard (which is clean and dry) goes in it. So you can put the following in it: -Writing paper and envelopes -Newspaper -Magazines -Egg cartons -Cardboard packaging (folded)

Yellow Container

Die Gelbe Tonne or Yellow Bin can be used for all rubbish and packaging made of plastic, soft metal or any other material that has 'Der Grüne Punkt' or the Green Dot. So, you will throw the following into the yellow bin: -Bottles made of plastic that do not require a deposit -Cans -Cartons and 'Tetra-Packs' (tetra packs of milk, juices, etc.) -Yogurt bottles -Cartons of alcoholic drinks -Aluminum foils

Green Container

If you have biodegradable waste, it must go in a brown or green bin. The color of the bin depends on the city and municipality in which you are located, so be sure to check in which container you should put the garbage before you do it. In the green/brown bin you will throw the following: -Eggshells -Leftover food from a meal -Fruits, vegetables (the goat you smell) -Flowers, grass and other garden waste -Filters and ground coffee From 2015, bins for organic garbage should be in every household. Grey/black Container For all other waste, including sanitary products, a Restmüll or black/grey container is used. If you want to throw away furniture or other large objects, you must arrange for that waste to be 'picked up'. If you delay this 'Sperrmüll' inadequately, the fine can be up to 2500 euros. Electronics can be left in markets that sell electronic devices such as Mediamarkt, Saturn, etc. Note for Glass Bottles Glass bottles, bottles of wine and other alcoholic beverages, as well as smaller jars, must be separated from other waste. That's what the big containers with holes that you may have already seen are for. You have three containers containing 'white, brown and green glass' (Weissglas, Braunglas, Grünglas). Every city should have the locations of these containers available online. What are the Germans Doing with Plastic Bottles? You may have seen Germans entering supermarkets with a large collection of plastic bottles, but you weren't sure why. It is a deposit or 'Pfand'. When you buy water or juices that are in plastic bottles, cans, you pay a deposit of 25 cents on that bottle. At the entrance to the supermarket (Rewe, Edeka...) you will see a machine that 'vacuums' bottles. After you put all the bottles in that machine, you will get a refund that you can then use for purchases. For the end Germany is one of the leading countries when it comes to recycling and they are very committed to preserving that system. If you get the chance to visit or move to Germany, do not violate this system, it will do its part to make your environment as clean and healthy as possible.