How Do Germans Dispose and Recycle Trash?

Wondering about separating the trash in Germany? Or thinking about why Germany was the best recycler in the European Union in 2022, with an estimated rate of 69.1%. Per capita waste in Germany is around 438 kilograms in 2022.

Why Does Germany Recycle Well?

Germans take it very seriously to separate the trash (Mülltrennung), as they are responsible to enforce governmental and state rules.

Way to Separate Trash

The best time to separate the trash is when it is produced. Failing to do so will make you in trouble in a way that you would pay fine or no one will pick up your trash. Here are the different color trash bins for trash separation;

Blue or Green Bin - Paper and Cardboard

Put all paper waste in a blue and green bin based on your state. Green bins are used in Southern Germany for clean and dry paper waste. (Blaue Tonne oder Grüne Tonne).

What to Put in Green or Blue Trash Bins?

• Boxes of eggs
• Carton Packaging (folded)
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Writing and Addressing Correspondence

What Not to Put in Green or Blue Trash Bins?

• Beverage cartons.
• Paper towels.
• Cardboard soiled with food debris
• Special enormous carton containers
• Giant carton shipping crates

Yellow Bin - Plastics and Soft Metals

The yellow bin (Gelbe Tonne) or bag is used for clean and rinsed plastic waste, soft metal, or coated paper with the Green Dot (Der Grüne Punkt) (Gelber Sack).

What to Put in Yellow Trash Bins?

• Plastic bottles
• Cans with no down payment
• Cartons and Tetra-packs of milk and juice
• Containers for yoghurt 
• Beverage cartons
• Cartons of alcoholic beverages
• Aluminum foil
• Tins

What Not to Put in Yellow Trash Bins?

• Batteries
• Special canisters for light bulbs 
• Styrofoam

Green or Brown Bin - Organic/Bio Waste

All biodegradables will go in the brown or green trash bin. Germany introduced the biotonne or organic trash bin in 2015 for every household.

What to Put in Green or Brown Trash Bins?

• Eggshells
• Filters and coffee grinds
• Flowers, grass, and garden waste
• Food
• Skin of fruits and vegetables

What Not to Put in Green or Brown Trash Bins?

• Ashes
• Dirt
• Litter box for pet waste

Gray or Black Bin - Residual Waste

Rest of the waste such as sanitary products should go in the gray or black bin (Restmüll).

What to Put in Green or Brown Trash Bins?

• Paper towels.
• Cardboard soiled with food debris
• Styrofoam
• Ashes
• Dirt

Glass Bottles

Dispose of wine, spirit bottles, smaller jars, and oil bottles in large containers with holes throughout Germany. These bottles are separated by brown, white, and green glass. If you want to find these containers, Google by typing “Glascontainer + Your city” and check the website of the waste management company in your city to see the location map of the nearest glass containers.

The Waste Management Calendar

Every city issues a waste management calendar (Abfallkalender) every year in Germany which is sent to each resident. If you did not receive it, find it on the website of your city’s waste management company. This calendar tells each type of garbage and outlines the days and times when garbage containers will be collected. You can also read proper methods to dispose of each type of waste on this calendar. If your local waste management company offers an app, you can see the guide digitally. See the Berlin’s Abfallkalender and Munich’s Abfallkalender for reference.

Whenever pickup date is mentioned, place your bins on your front sidewalk for collection. A garbage truck (Müllabfuhr) will visit in the morning.

If you live in a big city, you can set your own waste pickup schedule, or Google ‘Abfallkalender + city name’ to receive the calendar.

Fines and Penalties

If you do not follow the rules, you will pay a hefty fine mentioned on the German Fine Catalog (Bußgeldkatalog). Fines vary from state to state and range between 10 to 1500 Euros for breaching the laws and dumping your waste in an incorrect way.

Facts to Know About Deposit [Pfand]

You do not need to throw all plastic and glass bottles as you pay a 25 cents deposit on each bottle you buy which is called “Pfand”. Check the bill to see if you have paid or not, so you can return these bottles to any supermarket where Pfand machines are available to collect these bottles. Once the machine collects your bottle, you’ll receive a refund of 8-25 cents.

Light Bulbs, Electronics, and Batteries

Electrical devices should only be disposed of at designated locations, so they may be recycled properly. Dispose of the bigger electronic items at electronic markets like Media Markt or Saturn, or at hardware stores like OBI or Bauhaus. Dispose of the small batteries at any local supermarket like Edekla, Lidl or Aldi.

Old Shoes and Clothes

Donate your old clothing and shoes by putting them in a large container for clothes on the streets (Altkleidersammlung). Pack your stuff in a bag and seal it for good safety. You can also pack and drop off at your local post office for free, so they can deliver the package to the German Clothing Foundation. The weight of the package should be between 5 kg and 31,5 kg.

Lacquers and Paint

Dispose of the paint and lacquer residue at your local hardware store such as Obi and Hornbach.

Christmas Trees

Abfallkalender of each city have a certain day and time for each community. Place your christmas tree on the sidewalk in front of your house the night before the scheduled date.

Furniture and Large Objects

“Bulky garbage” is the waste that doesn’t fit in the ordinary trash bin, such as furniture and large appliances (washing machines, refrigerators, etc). Contact your local garbage removal service and tell them what items and when you want to dispose of. Place these items on the sidewalk in front of your home when they are scheduled to pick up. This service is free and paid depending on your city. In Dusseldorf, less than a two-meter cube of things are free to collect. If you do not dispose of Sperrmüll properly,you will pay a fine up to 2.500 Euros.

Final Words

Germany’s waste management system is full of laws and everyone should follow these rules to avoid the penalties. Dispose of each kind of waste according to the instructions given on your city’s calendar. It is very beneficial to separate waste according to the category, so be part of keeping Germany clean and top among the best recyclers.