Waste sorting in Germany: a practical guide

Germany separates household waste into clearly defined categories. Sorting correctly keeps materials in the loop — saving resources, energy and CO₂. The key categories: glass (by color; no drinking glasses or ceramics), paper & cardboard (no thermal paper or greasy pizza boxes), lightweight packaging in the yellow bag (plastic packaging, cans, beverage cartons — "spoon-clean" is enough), organic waste (no plastic bags, not even "compostable" ones), electrical devices (free drop-off at recycling centers; shops over 800 m² must take back small devices), batteries (never in household waste — fire risk!), hazardous waste like paints and oils (special collection points only), and residual waste as the last resort.

Use the search to find the right drop-off point for any material near you.