The paths of garbage: Where does our garbage end up?

Our organic waste includes, among other things, food scraps, coffee filters including coffee grounds and garden waste - in other words, everything that is 100% compostable and completely biodegradable. With us you can find out where this waste ends up and what the benefits of correct disposal are.

Once you have disposed of your organic waste in the brown bin, it ends up in facilities that specialise in the recycling of organic waste. After collection, the organic waste is taken to composting plants or biogas plants. There it is further processed to recover valuable resources. The exact recycling depends on the regional infrastructure and disposal options. If your organic waste ends up in the residual waste, it cannot be used optimally.

Ideally, your organic waste will be processed or composted in special biogas plants – these are two important recycling routes for biological waste. In biogas plants, the organic waste is fermented in a process, which produces gas. This biogas can be used to generate energy by burning it in combined heat and power plants. This combustion is CO2-neutral: the plants fermented in the biogas plant have bound exactly the amount of CO2 that is released again in the course of combustion. This means that biogas does not cause any additional CO2 emissions. The electricity and heat generated in this process can be used on site or fed into the power grid. At the same time, fermentation produces a fermentation residue that can be used as a high-quality fertilizer.

Composting is the process of breaking down the organic waste under controlled conditions, resulting in compost. This compost can be used as a natural fertilizer in agriculture or horticulture. Both biogas plants and composting contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and promote a sustainable circular economy. The proper disposal of your organic waste is important - our compostable organic waste paper bags or our organic waste foil bags support you in this.

Our plastic waste can take different paths. Some is processed in recycling plants, where it is recycled into new plastic products. Another part is exported and recycled or disposed of in other countries. Unfortunately, a significant amount of plastic waste still ends up in incineration or landfills.

To effectively reduce plastic waste, pay attention to the conscious and sustainable use of plastic, use recycling options and switch to alternative packaging materials whenever possible. You too have it in your hands where our waste ends up: Comprehensive plastic waste disposal requires not only political measures to promote a circular economy, but also individual commitment.

The recycling of plastic waste in Germany faces various challenges – on the one hand, not all types of plastic can be recycled equally. Complex composite materials and certain types of plastic are difficult to recycle. In addition, the separation of plastic waste is often inadequate, which complicates recycling processes.

Nevertheless, there are ways to improve, such as promoting innovative recycling technologies and developing environmentally friendly plastic alternatives. Educate yourself on the correct separation of plastic waste and the use of recycling options and use recyclable garbage bags such as our fixation tape garbage bags for your plastic waste – this way you too can help increase the recycling rate and reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste.

Where does our waste end up that cannot be recycled or processed in any other way? Our residual waste is the least sustainable way of disposing of waste. After collection, it is transported to waste incineration plants or landfills. This is precisely why it is important that you separate everything from it beforehand that can be recycled or disposed of in any other way.

In waste incineration plants, the residual waste is incinerated. The resulting hot flue gas stream is used to heat water and generate steam. This steam then drives turbines, which in turn generate electricity and heat. The energy generated can either be used on-site or fed into the power grid. The energy can be used to generate electricity and heat. Modern waste incineration plants have filtration and purification systems to remove pollutants from the flue gases and minimize environmental impact.

Landfills, on the other hand, are dumping points for non-recyclable waste. The residual waste is deposited and compacted there in a controlled manner. Modern landfills have seals and collection systems to minimize environmental impacts. The decision whether to incinerate or landfill the residual waste depends on various factors such as regional regulations and infrastructure.

After collection, the paper waste is taken to recycling plants. There it is sorted, decolored and shredded into paper fibers. These fibers are then used to make new paper. The recycling process saves valuable resources such as wood, water and energy.

The recycled paper can be used to make newspapers, cartons, packaging and other paper products. We also promote the recycling of paper: By the way, the banderoles of our garbage bags – for example, the Reißfest & Dicht carrying handle garbage bag – are made of 100% recycled paper. By recycling paper waste, the environmental impact is reduced, as fewer trees are felled and less waste has to be landfilled. You have it in your hands where your garbage ends up: If you collect and recycle paper waste separately, you actively support the circular economy.

In Germany, our waste is managed by a well-organised waste management system. After collection, the waste is taken to various disposal facilities. A large part of the waste is recycled to conserve valuable resources. Paper, glass, plastic and metals are sorted, cleaned and processed into new products. Organic waste is composted or fermented to produce compost or biogas. Residual waste that is not recyclable is either thermally recycled in waste incineration plants to generate energy or deposited in landfills in a controlled manner. Modern landfills have seals and collection systems to minimise environmental impacts, but they cannot be completely prevented.

Waste management in Germany attaches great importance to the reduction, recycling and environmentally sound disposal of waste in order to minimise the impact on the environment and promote sustainable use of resources – but there is still a lot of room for improvement here. We have it in our hands where our waste ends up: It is important that we as a society are conscious of our waste and make sustainable choices. By separating waste efficiently and professionally, promoting recycling and reducing waste, we can make a positive contribution to environmental protection and create a more sustainable future.