Trash talk

This isn't the kind of post that is for the faint of heart. Only the strong, the dedicated, the determined should continue reading beyond this point. 

This post is about trash. Garbage. Refuse. Restmüll, Gelbesack, Papier, Bio. And the mastering of the German recycling system. 

I am qualified to speak on this subject because, as of today, I have had exactly four successful weeks of trash pick up in Germany. There really should be some kind of certificate for this. Or a gift. But nothing that comes in a wrapper because that creates more trash. 

The biggest difference between the German waste management system and the United States' trash pick up is that the Germans prefer you not generate any waste. The system actually makes one consider every item brought into the house against its potential to create waste product. In the U.S. the general thought is recycle if it's convenient, get a bigger trash can if it's not. 

I have nothing to say on the benefits of mechanical recycling. That's a debate for another time. What I am concerned with right now is mastering the German system. And, at the risk of bragging, I think I've done it. 

Here is the system in a nutshell:

Recycle practically everything. It's not convenient, because everything has to be separated. It requires several trash cans in the house and four outside of the house. A good bit of it has to be driven to a separate drop off point. Try to have as little actual trash as possible. 

And here it is, in greater detail.

Gelbe Sack-which means "yellow bag." It is the most important one of all. All plastics, cans, aluminum foil, styrofoam, cellophane, milk cartons, water bottles (not German ones with a deposit), etc. go in the Gelbe Sacke, which you have to go pick up in the town where you live. Items must be fairly clean (not washed) and placed neatly in the bag. Gelbe Sack is picked up every other week and there is no limit to how many you can put out, as seen here:

Here is the kicker. The garbage men (or whatever they're called) actually TEAR OPEN the bags and look through them to make sure you don't have one thing in there that doesn't belong. A lone paper plate, random Starbucks cup, solitary toilet paper tube will all get your bag disqualified for pick up. 

Ask me how I know. It's so discouraging to peer out at the curb when you get up and see a bag or two sitting there forlornly, left behind to be sorted properly and re-submitted in two weeks.

You don't get an outside can for the Gelbe Sack. It's best to just stack them up in the garage so animals don't get to them.

And here are the outside cans:

The big blue can in back is Papier-for paper. It is only picked up once a month. Because of that, we have taken to using our fireplace to take care of a lot of our clean paper. We fill that thing UP in a month.

The big black can is really not for anything. We use it as an overflow when needed, but that's dangerous because if you can't fit something in its own can on pick up day chances are it still won't fit in another two weeks (or month!). 

The brown can is Bioabfälle-for biodegradable items such as coffee filters, and paper towels. Picked up twice a month. Also, lawn trimmings, leaves, and food that can be composted (not meat). It is highly encouraged to have a compost can or pile and to use it on your garden rather than recycling it. I haven't gotten there yet.

The Restmüll can is the cruelest of all. It is for the actual trash. What can't be recycled. It is picked up twice a month and it cannot be overflowed. Not bad. Except see where that little ridge below the words is on the can? That's where the bottom of the can actually is. It can reasonably fit two Glad Tall Kitchen bags in it with a smaller wastebasket bag shoved on on the side. For two weeks. 

Glass of all colors has to be taken to a special public drop off point in town and sorted there. 

Batteries must be dropped off to a special place, as do light bulbs. And once a year there is a special pick up for electronics and other items like that.

And of course, most plastic soda and water bottles bought in German stores can be returned to the stores for the deposit (Pfand).

It took me a few weeks and a couple fails, but I am pleased to say that I have mastered the system. I know what goes where, I have a useable and somewhat convenient, system for sorting in the house, and I have learned to watch those containers like a hawk to make sure nothing forbidden is carelessly tossed in the wrong can. 

There you have it. Trash Talk for the Federal Republic of Germany.  ♻️  🇩🇪