Proper waste separation to save resources and protect the environment

Separate and dispose of everyday household waste using a “5-chamber system”:

• Glass packaging in the glass container,
• Paper and cardboard in the paper bin,
• All other packaging (e.g., plastic, metal, or composite materials) in the yellow bag or yellow bin/recycling bin,
• Organic waste in the organic waste bin or in your own compost,
• Residual waste in the residual waste bin.

Please note five important “stop signs” for typical household waste before it ends up in the trash can or down the drain:

• Batteries and rechargeable batteries should be disposed of at designated collection points.
• Electrical appliances must be disposed of separately.
• Hazardous waste should be taken to the recycling center or hazardous waste collection vehicle.
• Toilets and sinks are not to be used for disposing of waste or medication.
• Textiles that are still wearable should be placed in the used clothing container.

The following generally applies:

• Talk to your local waste disposal authority or recycling centre. They can answer any questions you have about your waste.
• Before throwing things away, check if they can be given to someone else or repaired.

People who separate their waste correctly are helping to protect the environment and climate. Recycling only works if different types of waste are separated as thoroughly as possible. We see these five types of waste every day, so we should have bins for each of them in our homes. They can easily be counted on one hand:

1. Separate coloured glass waste (glass packaging) in the glass recycling container:
   The production of glass is very energy-intensive. Therefore, make sure you separate your empty glass bottles and containers into three different groups: white, brown and green. Put them in the designated public glass containers. If you are unsure about the colour or if there are other colours, such as blue bottles, the waste glass belongs in the green glass bin. The glass packaging is collected separately by colour and stays separated by colour throughout the recycling process. Only so-called container glass (packaging glass) may be placed in the glass recycling container. Glass tableware, window panes, light bulbs or porcelain, on the other hand, interfere with glass recycling and must therefore not be placed in the glass recycling container. You can find more information on the correct disposal of glass in the UBA environmental tip on waste glass.
    
2. Paper and cardboard in the blue bin or the waste paper container: Newspapers and magazines, cardboard boxes, letters, exercise books and books are made of paper fibres and therefore belong in the blue bin or the waste paper container. To maximise space, large boxes should be broken down or folded. Soiled paper (e.g. tissues or kitchen roll) and special types of paper (e.g. receipts and bus tickets on thermal paper, as well as photos) should be disposed of in the general waste bin. Further information on the environmentally friendly use and disposal of paper can be found in our environmental tip ‘Paper, recycled paper’.
    
3. Other packaging in the yellow bag or yellow bin/recycling bin: Whether made of plastic, metal or composite materials, packaging such as yoghurt pots, tins and drinks cartons belong in the yellow bag or yellow bin. It is important that the packaging is emptied normally and, as far as possible, separated into its individual components. For example, separate the aluminium lid from the plastic container before disposing of both in the yellow bag or yellow bin. Packaging should also not be stacked inside each other, but disposed of individually. However, it is not necessary to rinse out packaging. If there is a recycling bin, you can also put other plastic and metal items in it, such as broken frying pans and plastic buckets.
    
4. Organic waste in the organic waste bin or on the compost heap: Fruit scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, or wilted vegetables can be disposed of in the organic waste bin or in your own compost bin. Please note: Plastic products do not belong in the organic waste bin. This also applies to plastic compost bags, even if they are labelled as ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compostable’. The sorting technology used in composting plants cannot distinguish between biodegradable and conventional plastic bags. Therefore, dispose of empty compost bags in the yellow bag or yellow bin/recycling bin. You can find more information on organic waste, garden waste and home composting in the UBA environmental tips.
    
5. Only put non-recyclable waste in the residual waste bin: Residual waste is usually used to generate energy (electricity and heat) and is therefore no longer available for recycling. Accordingly, only waste for which there are no separate disposal channels should be placed in the residual waste bin. These include cold ashes and cigarette butts, nappies, rubbish, wallpaper scraps, thermal paper and broken ceramics. Those who separate their waste properly and dispose of it correctly will only throw a small amount of waste into the residual waste bin.

Uniform collection point logo for battery collection points

Source: Batterie Zurück

The 5-chamber system makes it easy to separate and dispose of most household waste correctly. In addition, there may be other waste in the household that may contain valuable raw materials or hazardous materials. Dispose of this special household waste separately as well. Stick the following five ‘stop signs’ on your residual waste bin and drainpipe – either mentally or physically:

1. Put batteries and rechargeable batteries in the battery collection: If disposed of incorrectly, batteries and rechargeable batteries can cause fires resulting in millions in damage or pose a risk to the environment and health. They also contain valuable raw materials. Therefore, batteries must be disposed of in the designated return boxes in retail outlets or at recycling centres. You can find more details in our UBA environmental tip on batteries and rechargeable batteries and at http://www.batterie-zurueck.de.
2. Dispose of old electrical appliances separately: Electrical appliances contain valuable raw materials and, in some cases, harmful substances. They must be collected separately. Whether it's a broken toaster, an old LED lamp or a flashing children's shoe: these items must not be disposed of in the general waste bin, but must be taken to a retailer, collection point or municipal recycling centre. Rechargeable batteries or batteries should be removed beforehand if possible. Detailed information can be found in our UBA environmental tip ‘Where to put electronic waste?’ and at www.e-schrott-entsorgen.org.
3. Products containing harmful substances for hazardous waste collection: Paint residues, pesticides, solvents and energy-saving light bulbs contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment and health and must therefore be disposed of as hazardous waste. This is usually done via mobile hazardous waste collection points or directly at the recycling centre. You can find more information on this in the UBA guide ‘Household Waste’. Ask your waste disposal company or check your local council's website to find out how to return this type of waste.
4. Don’t put waste in toilets and sinks: Tampons, cotton buds, old medicines, cooking oil and chemicals do not belong in the sewage system. These substances can clog pipes and pollute and endanger sewage treatment plants and waterways. Toilets and sinks should therefore only be used for their intended purpose and should not be used for waste disposal. Tampons and cotton buds belong in the general waste bin. Old medicines can usually also be disposed of safely in the general waste bin, or in some places at pharmacies or municipal collection points. At http://www.arzneimittelentsorgung.de, you can enter your postcode to find out which disposal methods are recommended in your area. Small quantities of cooking oil can be disposed of in the organic waste bin, while larger quantities must be disposed of separately. Chemicals must be disposed of using the hazardous waste collection service.
5. Place old textiles that are still wearable in the containers for used clothing: Since 2025, old textiles such as clothing or bed linen may no longer be disposed of in residual waste. In many places, however, there are still no alternative disposal channels to the established containers for used clothing that is still wearable. Therefore, place these still wearable items in the used clothing container as usual. For textiles that can no longer be worn or used, contact your local waste disposal authority for information on the correct disposal method. The UBA environmental tip on clothing provides suggestions on how to make your wardrobe more sustainable.

The symbol of the crossed-out bin

If the crossed-out bin symbol is displayed on the old device, it must not be disposed of in the household waste bin, but taken to the recycling centre or returned to the retailer.

Source: Plan E

The variety of products is enormous – and this is inevitably reflected in the amount of waste produced. However, materials can only be recycled if they are collected separately. The municipal recycling centre or waste management department is therefore always the first and best place to go for rare, large or otherwise special types of waste. Alphabetically sorted lists of disposal methods can usually be found on the relevant website of your local authority or district. For bulky waste such as mattresses, carpets, or broken furniture, there are usually collection systems that require special registration. Depending on the municipality, there are special collection points for Christmas trees, construction waste, wood waste, car tyres, oil waste and similar items. Please check with your waste disposal company or on your city's website for more information.

What else you can do:

• When shopping, make sure you avoid (future) waste by asking yourself: Do I really need this product? Is it good quality and durable? Can it be repaired? After all, the best waste is the waste that is never produced in the first place.
• Repair: if possible, repair broken appliances, furniture, or clothing before replacing them with new ones. You can find out how to use products for as long as possible in our UBA environmental tip “Use products for longer”.
• Pass on usable items- through secondhand shops, exchange platforms, or digital platforms.
• Avoid unnecessary packaging and use reusable shopping bags and containers for drinks and food. You can find more information on this in the UBA's environmental tips about reusable bottles and plastic bags.

Environmental situation – Waste separation protects resources and the climate: The separate collection and disposal of waste is the basis for recycling and for a functioning circular economy. Waste such as plastic, metal, composite material, glass or paper packaging, as well as organic waste, contains valuable raw materials that can often be recovered through recycling. This saves energy, conserves resources and avoids CO₂ emissions. When recyclable materials end up in residual waste, they are irretrievably lost, as they are usually used for energy recovery. Misplaced waste – i.e. incorrectly sorted waste – also complicates processing and recycling.

Waste separation helps the climate: packaging recycling in Germany already saves around 2 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. According to a study by the Öko-Institut, this figure could rise to 2.55 million tonnes by 2030 – simply through better separation in households.

Legal situation – Waste separation is required by law: In Germany, consumers are required by the Packaging Act (VerpackG) (§ 13) to dispose of packaging separately – not in residual waste. This also applies to paper, cardboard and waste glass. Other types of waste, such as electrical appliances and batteries, are also subject to separate collection and take-back obligations under the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) and the Battery Implementation Act (BattDG). The aim of the regulations is to promote recycling, prevent environmental pollution and reduce incorrect disposal.