The German garbage system

Green bin: PAPER & CARTON

-          Waste paper

-          Crushed carton

-          Newspaper, magazines, journals

-          Books, catalogues

-          Egg cartons out of paper

-          Paper bags

-          Paper packages and boxes (for example from detergents)

-          BUT if polluted: into general waste!

-          …

Yellow bin/garbage bag: RECYCLABLE PLASTICS & METALS

-          Metals: Food and beverage cans, aluminum packagings, squeezed out tubes, spray cans, crown caps, screw caps

-          Plastics: yoghurt cups, plastic bottles (deposit-free, for example from cleaning agents), films

-          Composite materials: “Tetra-Pack” cartons (from juices and milk for example), polystyrene

-          …

Black/grey bin: GENERAL WASTE – PERISHABLE WASTE AND BASICALLY EVERYTHING ELSE

-          Food waste, scraps

-          Spoiled foodstuffs

-          Cosmetic tissues, paper towels

-          Cotton wool, sanitary towels, bandages, diapers

-          Textiles, leather, shoes

-          Broken glass, small pieces of glass

-          Ashes (cooled), cigarette butts

-          Drugs, medicinal products

-          Rubber parts

-          Hair

-          Chewing gum

-          Candles

-          Tapes

-          Pens (see our pen collection boxes project)

-          Razor Blades

-          Vacuum bags

-          Wood chips

-          Polluted paper

-          …

You can also have a look here.