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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). And do you know that in Germany it is not only an environmental obligation but also a part of everyday life that reveals a lot about the culture and values of this country? Through the process of getting to know the German recycling system, you can not only learn about their environmental standard, but also enrich your German vocabulary related to environmental protection topics. On the German Everywhere website, we provide advice on how to make practical topics like this part of your language learning.

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 is Garbage Properly Sorted in Germany?

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 in 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

The 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 /brown 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 exactly which container you should put the garbage in 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 do not adequately dispose of this ' Sperrmüll', the fine can be up to 2500 euros.

--> Electronics can be left in stores 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.

Find more interesting topics on our German Everywhere site, where we connect everyday topics with your language development. If you want to learn or improve your German, we are here to help. Click here to schedule your first lesson.