Separating waste: our tips for disposing of waste

Why should you separate your waste? On the one hand, we are all obliged by the German Circular Economy Act (KrWG) to dispose of our waste properly - this of course also includes the proper separation of our waste. On the other hand, proper waste separation means that valuable raw materials are not disposed of in landfills, but recycled and thus reused.

So by separating your waste correctly, you reduce the need for new resources. In this way, you contribute to reducing the environmental impact of extraction and production. The correct disposal of your waste can thus contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and helps to mitigate the effects of climate change. A conscious approach to your own waste is therefore an important step towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

How exactly should you separate your garbage? In Germany, there are different types of garbage that should be separated according to the current legal situation:

• Residual waste: Waste such as disposable diapers, cat litter, vacuum cleaner bags and baking paper belong in the residual waste. The residual waste is disposed of in the black bin.

• Paper waste: Paper waste includes paper, newspapers and cardboard. Fold cardboard and cardboard boxes as small as possible before throwing them away. Your paper waste belongs in the blue bin or in public paper containers.

• Waste glass: Waste glass is sorted by colour into amber glass, white glass and green glass. Dispose of the glass according to its colour in the waste glass container provided for this purpose - blue, yellow and red waste glass belongs in the green glass container.

• Packaging waste: Plastic packaging, beverage and milk cartons, tin cans and tubes should be thrown into the designated recycling bin or recycling bag, also known as the yellow bin or yellow bag.

• Organic waste: Food leftovers, garden waste and all other organic waste can be disposed of in the brown organic waste bin.

And these are the most common mistakes when it comes to waste separation:

• Baking paper: belongs neither in your packaging waste nor in your paper waste - please dispose of it in the residual waste.

• Coffee capsules made of aluminum: Here you should check whether they participate in the dual system, then they belong in the recycling bin. Otherwise, they should be disposed of with the residual waste.

• Soiled pizza boxes: Like other contaminated paper, they cannot be recycled with the waste paper. They belong in the residual waste.

• Glass: Packaging for food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics belongs in the waste glass – drinking glasses, fireproof glass dishes or vessels made of lead crystal, on the other hand, have no place in the waste glass.

• Plastic objects: Not everything that is made of plastic belongs in the yellow bag: Please dispose of things such as old toothbrushes, broken children's toys and video or music cassettes in the residual waste.

Proper separation of these different types of waste is crucial to enable efficient recycling and disposal, and to reduce the environmental impact of our household waste.

Choose the right bin liners to separate your waste and ensure hygienic and correct disposal. Change bin liners regularly to avoid unpleasant odours and mould growth.

Here are some recommendations for the appropriate bin liners for different types of rubbish:

• Certified with the Blue Angel: Our eco-waste bags are suitable for your residual waste as well as the yellow bin. They are particularly tear-resistant and tight - and can be easily knotted thanks to the drawstring.

• Choose our Active Fresh Garbage Bags with a slightly lemony scent for your residual waste - their odor absorber becomes active as soon as moisture is created in the garbage. It binds the odor molecules and keeps them to itself.

• Your organic waste is best stored in our organic waste paper bags made of wet-strength paper or our extra wet-strength organic waste foil bags . Both are 100% compostable. Before using our foil bags, please find out whether they are approved for the disposal of organic waste in your municipality.

• Paper waste is best collected in paper bags or empty boxes. These are made of recyclable material and can be recycled together with the paper, which helps to reduce waste and conserve resources.

• Glass: Glass waste should not be collected in garbage bags, but should be thrown directly into glass containers. Store them in separate containers or bags until disposal to avoid injury.

By the way, all our Swirl® garbage bags are made with 100% recycled plastic*. In this way, you show an important responsible use of resources with their use.

* excluding their colourings and additives

How is waste that is not part of the usual household waste separated? Not all waste that accumulates at home can be disposed of immediately. When separating waste, it is also important to observe special rules and regulations. In many cities and municipalities, for example, bulky waste collection takes place, which gives you the opportunity to dispose of larger items such as furniture or electrical appliances separately. There are often fixed dates for this. Often you can also apply for a collection, but this is usually subject to a fee. You may also be able to drive such waste to the recycling center yourself and dispose of it there. By the way, our heavy-duty waste bags are ideal for transporting and disposing of particularly bulky and heavy waste.

In addition, there is a pollutant mobile in many places that is regularly on the road and accepts hazardous waste such as paints, batteries or chemicals in normal household quantities. It is best to find out online about exact dates in your region, and dispose of this waste safely and in an environmentally friendly way. By the way, batteries also do not belong in household waste - it is best to dispose of your used batteries in drugstores and supermarkets that offer collection boxes for this purpose.

If we all separate our waste correctly, we make our contribution to environmental protection and resource conservation. Because if the waste is separated in such a way that as much waste as possible can be recycled, less waste ends up in landfills and less raw materials have to be used. By the way, you can find out more about separating waste in our article Where does our waste end up: Interesting facts about waste disposal. You too can make your contribution to a more sustainable future - we will support you at any time with our expertise and products.