Waste separation explained properly

In short: Waste separation sorts rubbish by material so it can be efficiently recycled or disposed of correctly. Incorrectly sorted waste can disrupt entire recycling processes.

In more detail: Exact rules differ by country and municipality, but the basic principle remains similar.

In detail

• Paper bin: Newspapers, cardboard, and paper belong here, but not heavily soiled pizza boxes.
• Yellow bin/bag: Packaging made of plastic, metal, and composite materials is collected here.
• Glass containers: Sort glass by colour, but not drinking glasses or ceramics, as they disrupt the melting process.
• Bio waste: Kitchen and garden waste is composted or used for energy generation.
• General waste: Everything that cannot be recycled ends up in incineration or landfill.
• Hazardous materials: Batteries, electronics, and chemicals need special collection points rather than normal bins.
• Why it matters: Clean sorting significantly increases the recycling rate and reduces the need for new raw materials (recycling-von-kunststoff, plastikmuell-vermeiden-im-alltag).