When you first arrived in Germany, did you have trouble sorting your garbage in Germany? And until now you still don’t understand the garbage sorting mechanism in Germany? Then let’s find out about this with URIAH!
When did garbage sorting start in Germany?
A brief history of waste sorting in Europe.
In the late 19th century, many people in Paris threw their garbage directly onto the streets. The result was not only a bad image of the city but also a risk of spreading disease. Officials came up with a revolutionary idea. People’s garbage was separated and then processed by companies.
The history of garbage sorting dates back to 1884, specifically on March 7, when Poubelle issued a decree requiring homeowners to place three trash cans in front of their homes. Rags and paper were placed in the first bin, and biodegradable waste was thrown into the second. Glass and porcelain were thrown into the third. Today, there are no more porcelain bins. And since then, the streets of Paris have not been littered with garbage. Many people wonder how exactly organic waste is disposed of.
Poubelle’s decree was initially met with resistance. Parisians were not thrilled with the idea of a high-ranking official taking away their freedom to simply throw trash out their windows. However, after a few minor changes, the new waste disposal method was finally adopted on March 7. This contributed to the development of the city of Paris.
Although the idea of waste separation is not German, they are extremely conscious of waste separation. Since 1895, Germans have issued many laws to encourage people to separate waste. In the late 1970s, Germans set up large containers to separate old glass bottles into white, brown and green for easy recycling.
Modernizing waste laws and targets for waste sorting in Germany
Since 2015, organic waste as well as paper, metal, plastic and glass waste must be collected separately. The focus is on protecting the environment through recycling.
Target: By 2020, 65% of all municipal waste should be recycled and 70% of all construction and demolition waste should be recycled.
These compartmentalized trash bins are found at most train stations in Germany.
How to classify garbage in Germany
51,100,000,000 kg or 51.1 million tonnes of household waste are generated in Germany every year. Not everything can be processed in an incinerator, but is often recycled. Sometimes sorting garbage can be difficult for newcomers to Germany, as each family has two different bins in the kitchen, and on the streets of Germany, each region has large waste containers where people can throw away their glass and old clothes.
Once waste is thoroughly sorted, recycling becomes very easy. Here are a few suggestions:
04 main types of waste disposed of at home / building (there are trash bins available on site for disposal)
Waste classification in Germany
Bio waste (brown bin): leftovers (fruit, meat, fish, rice, soup, candy…) anything that can decompose, tea bags are also in this group. This waste is also commonly called: rotten waste (because if left for a long time, it will decompose and smell)
Paper, cardboard (blue box), writing paper, cardboard, newspaper… Note: tissue paper, facial tissue, makeup remover paper, toilet paper are not papier.
Packaged waste (usually contained in yellow bags or yellow bins): these are types of food packaging, containers of goods such as packaging made from plastic materials (fresh milk cartons, food wrapping nylon, goods wrapping nylon, water bottles…), aluminum Alu (for example Ong Tho milk cans, food packaging, beer cans, espresso coffee capsule packaging?
Waste classification in Germany
Restmüll (grey bin): waste that cannot be classified in the above groups should be classified in this group and disposed of separately. Examples: expired medicines, cups, mirrors, dishes (porcelain), cigarette butts, broken ballpoint pens, broken electronic devices
Types of waste that must be brought to the correct place for disposal (no trash cans available on site)
Bottles, glass bottles (not pfand), usually food containers, cosmetics, wine bottles, usually divided into 3 colors: white, brown and green. At the garbage collection point, there will be detailed instructions as shown in the picture, notes for you to put the garbage in the right place. Note: blue goes with green. Porcelain, glass cups, mirrors, light bulbs are not bottles.
Waste classification in Germany
Batteries: bring them to supermarkets, stores that sell batteries, electronics stores, Dm, Rossman, Müller, all have their own battery disposal areas. If you are unsure, you can ask the staff.
Waste classification in Germany
Bulky waste must be taken to a waste disposal center: TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, beds, mattresses, etc. Depending on the regulations of each place, there may be a fee. Many places have regulations that there are days in the year when this waste can be disposed of without charge, you can ask where you live about this regulation.
Old clothes and shoes can still be used
Waste classification in Germany
In addition, old and still-used German items are not thrown away immediately but are sold at flea markets at very cheap prices or given away as gifts, and the same goes for clothes and shoes.
